January In-service Writing Workshop Writing Workshop Cornerstone

January In-service Writing Workshop

Writing Workshop Cornerstone School

Basic Assumptions • Students can learn about the process and craft of writing at the same time they are learning about the conventions of writing. • The writing process for a fifth grader is the same as that of a kindergartener or first grader. It just looks different. • Student ownership is essential. • Teachers need to write, too. • Feedback through conferencing is key!

Goals Launching the Writing Workshop -- #1 Goal in K Teach students to see themselves as writers who work to make the page match their vision 4 Sections: Unit 1 Narrative 1. We are all writers 2. Writing teaching books 3. Writing stories 4. Preparing for publication (Edit and Fancy Up) Reading into the Circle- Publishing Celebration

Writing Workshop Routine • Make sure supplies are prepped (copies, pens and clipboards are put out) • Each conferencing Adult should have conference notes and folders for each child on clipboard

A Typical Day for a Teaching Parent • Mini Lesson – 10 to 15 minutes – TP’s listen to the mini lesson • Writing and Conferring Time – 30 minutes – Conferring with students • Share Meeting – 10 minutes – Listen to students share or highlight what you observed during WW

The Art of Conferring • The architecture of every conference is the same • There are only three types of conferences – Expectation • Behavior – Content • Clarify and/or expand writing and/or drawing – Process and Goals • Teach writing strategies The Art of Conferring- Video Clip

The Short Version: T. R. O. T. S. • TELL: “Tell me what you’re working on as a writer. ” Probe for more information. • REPEAT: Tell the student what you heard. • OUTSTANDING: That’s so smart of you to…I hope you do that every time you write. • TEACH: Make one suggestion. Help the writer clarify and/or expand the content of their story. Or, help the writer learn a writing strategy. Or, redirect behavior. • SUMMARIZE: Name what the writer learned and encourage them to do it now and forever.

Q and A

Classroom In-service

Looking Forward • • • Sign up for class donations-thanks! Open House- Sat. JANUARY 20 th 10 -12: 00 In-service- Tuesday, March 13 th, 6: 00 -7: 00 100’s Day Celebration- Wednesday, Feb. 6 th Valentine’s Day- Tuesday, Feb. 14 th Post Office- Send Valentines in a small envelope & DO NOT ADD CANDY, STICKERS, ETC. . . (glue on address labels) on Monday, January 29 th

Looking Forward • Visual & Performing Arts- Tuesdays – 8: 40 -9: 10 Wang – 9: 15 -9: 45 Rasmussen RECESS 9: 50 -10: 20 – 10: 25 -10: 55 Voss • VPA Show-March 9 th • NO SCHOOL- Jan 15 th and 26 th, Feb 19 th • MCN- Saturday, March 10 • 2 nd Trimester Report Card- Week of March 5 th • March 8 th - min day for Parent Conferences (request only) • March 30 th - min day • Spring Break- April 2 nd - April 6 th • Mother’s Day Show- Friday, May 10 th 8: 30 -10: 00 am

Valentine’s Day We use our Post Office to incorporate writing letters, cards, postcards, etc. Each child needs a card in an envelope for each student in our class. We will provide the mailing labels for the envelopes. Begin bringing cards by Monday, January 29 th please! Your child needs several days to stamp, mail and deliver all of their cards in our Post Office. We will Celebrate Wednesday, February 14 th

Growth Mindset

Teaching Parent Info • Success Tickets • Incident Reports (New and improved) – Please fill out a report if warning was given or time out given • Playground Issues – Please use your judgment about how to keep our grass alive – Scan the yard and intervene with problems • Projects- please double check that they are complete before delivering and note progress if incomplete.

Teaching Parent Pointers • Expect excellence, but not perfection • Some children need to sit next to you to be successful • Separate certain pairs of students that distract each other from learning • Transfer more and more responsibility to children for following directions • Check for understanding • When extra time try to extend lesson or children can check for unfinished work. • Please do not allow them to wander away from group!!

What’s New in Kindergarten? • Read-Aloud Homework-monthly chart • Dramatic Play: Hospital- Jan, Post Office- Feb, Dinosaur Museum- March, Fix-It Shop-April • Science: Winter Arctic Animals-Wang, Weather-RAS, Health-Voss • Game day (Tues & Thurs) games on lower yard (see chart) • Writing Workshop: Starting in February • Oral Language: Sharing Topics (coming soon)

Monthly Read-Aloud Program MANDATORY READING This read-aloud program enhances children's enjoyment of reading. Children can enjoy listening to interesting stories above their reading level. This exposes them to the wonders of reading a great story! It also expands their vocabulary and knowledge of the world. They can also gain enjoyment from the pride they take in being able to read to you! Any time spent reading with parents…is time well spent! Please record all books read on the monthly record sheets 15 books minimum

PARENT RESOURCE: What is Reading? Reading is a multifaceted process involving word recognition, comprehension, fluency, and motivation. Readers must integrate these facets to make meaning from print.

Reading is making meaning from print. It requires that we: 1. Identify the words in print – a process called word recognition 2. Construct an understanding from them – a process called comprehension 2. Coordinate identifying words and making meaning so that reading is automatic and accurate – an achievement called fluency

What Do Good Readers Do? • Look at the picture for clues. • Get your mouth ready to say the first sound of the word. Break it down and Say it fast! • Hop over the word and then go back and try it again. • Ask questions: Does it make sense? Does it sound right? What does it mean? • Chunk it Look for a smaller word within a word. • Track their print (reading finger or wand)

But…. If reading isn’t pleasurable and fulfilling, children won’t choose to read, and they won’t get the practice they need to become fluent readers.

Or…