As I
progress through this Language Arts class, I have learned that writing is a
form of communication that provides students with powerful opportunities to
learn about themselves and their connections to the world. It is a way that students organize their
thoughts, remember information, solve problems, reflect on perspectives, and
learn how to communicate effectively (Ontario Curriculum, 2006). I have explored ways to teach writing effectively
so that students find it engaging and meaningful. Some of the resources include; Twitter,
Pinterest, websites, blogs, literacy apps, the Language curriculum document, and
an article about ways to gradually release responsibility to students writing
any genre. Obviously, it is my goal to
make use of the suggestions and provide opportunities to help strengthen
students’ confidence, comprehension, and competence in their writing.
North.jvta. (February 13, 2014). Find your voice. express yourself. creative writing [Online image]
Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Find_your_voice._express_yourself._creative_writing..jpg
Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Find_your_voice._express_yourself._creative_writing..jpg
The Ontario Curriculum (2006) suggests
writing is a complex process that involves a range of skills and tasks. Students need to become disciplined thinkers
in order to communicate their ideas clearly. This really leaves an impression with me. I realize that the writing process has many
steps to it and is directly related to reading in many ways. It is important that I provide meaningful
writing opportunities for students to express their ideas and feelings in
varied forms individually and with others.
There are many resources out there to
benefit students, teachers, and parents to help children build strong writing
skills. One resource that I think has
educational value and could be engaging for learners in Grades 4 and up would
be SweetSearch, a powerful search engine created for students. The data base has over 35,000 reliable
pre-screened websites that have been evaluated and approved. SweetSearch is owned by Dulcinea Media, a
company that is committed to supplying students with safe and accurate websites
that educators have approved. The site can
be used as a resource in any subject and Its collection of primary sources is
easy to locate. SweetSearch is free and
powered by Google.
SweetSearch has many ideas for teaching
writing. This includes strategies to
fire up hesitant writers and guide the writing process. It also shows us how blogging can improve
writing, provides apps, fun activities, and letter examples. A video of using sensory details to improve
narrative writing and establishing an email dialogue between students from
different schools are suggested. Finally,
strategies like writing workshops to help students ask questions about their
writing.
from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Afro_American_children_sweet_girl.jpg
I like this resource because of its
collection of web-links referred to Sweetsites. This includes a selection of useful web
resources for classrooms that are accessible. There is a section of teacher resources to
improve writing instruction. I scanned
some of the writing lessons. Printing Press helps students create
newspapers, brochures, and flyers. Story Map is an interactive lesson that
includes a set of graphic organizers designed to help students in pre-writing
activities and post reading activities. Upon
finishing, the students can print their final versions for feedback and
assessment.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gozalewis/4151707061
There is a similar section for
students. Fact Monster provides grammar and spelling guides for nouns,
adverbs, capitalization, punctuation, and sentences just to name a few. WritingFix
has 14 word games that work to inspire writing. There are interactive writing prompts for
different grades. Within this site are
suggestions for narrative, persuasive, and creative writing, pen pal letters,
and poetry. This website engages
students with resources that facilitate 21st century learning.
For Grades 4-6, within the
writing strand, there are four expectations that include: Students will:
1.
generate,
gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and
audience;
2.
draft
and revise their writing, using a variety of informational, literary, and
graphic forms and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and audience;
3.
use
editing, proofreading, and publishing skills and strategies, and knowledge of
language conventions, to correct errors, refine expression, and present their
work effectively;
4.
reflect
on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for improvement, and the
strategies they found most helpful at different stages in the writing process.
More
information within the language curriculum can be found here:
Looking at the Language Curriculum documents
(2006), I think that the SweetSearch website is a great source for learning in
the writing strand and helping students in Grades 4 and up to satisfy the
expectations. The site offers a variety
of elements of effective writing (ideas, word choices, language conventions)
and stages of the recursive writing process (planning for writing, drafting,
revising, editing and publishing) that would satisfy the overall expectations.
The website provides many writing forms
that are appropriate for instruction in Grades 4 and up that would fulfill the
specific expectations for students. For
example, students can consider what type of writing (poetry, narrative,
descriptive) is assigned and then explore what will make it effective.
Willitts, Philippa. (May 5, 2008). Dear diary [Online image] Retrieved from
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hippie/2475835909
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hippie/2475835909
More importantly, I see a link to Reading
Rockets (2015) of recommendations to teach elementary school students to be
effective writers that I will consider in my Grade 4 practicum:
- provide daily time for students to write and receive feedback
- teach students the writing process
- teach students to use the writing process for a variety of purposes
- gradually release the writing responsibility from a teacher to the student
- guide students to select and use appropriate writing strategies
- teach students to become fluent with handwriting, spelling, and sentence construction
- create an engaged community of writers
- Help students find an audience for the writing task
Scott, Julie. (June 21, 2014). Let Your Words Flow Button [Online image] Retrieved from
https://www.flickr.com/photos/juliejordanscott/14475654555
Although there are many effective tools to build writing skills, I will encourage my students in Grade four to use SweetSearch. This search engine will help them be better prepared as writers for the world outside of school. I would like to make writing enjoyable. Since it is important to me to make writing more fun and exciting, I will make use of this resource that is relevant for the 21st Century classroom. Some of the writing tasks that I could offer students to express themselves; pen pal letters, prepare formal reports/ book reports, blogging, communicate via email, and correspond with various audiences. Finally, a teaching tip from this strand: Students are more likely to enjoy writing when they understand the value of communication and can share ideas they care about (Portico Books, 2010).
Although there are many effective tools to build writing skills, I will encourage my students in Grade four to use SweetSearch. This search engine will help them be better prepared as writers for the world outside of school. I would like to make writing enjoyable. Since it is important to me to make writing more fun and exciting, I will make use of this resource that is relevant for the 21st Century classroom. Some of the writing tasks that I could offer students to express themselves; pen pal letters, prepare formal reports/ book reports, blogging, communicate via email, and correspond with various audiences. Finally, a teaching tip from this strand: Students are more likely to enjoy writing when they understand the value of communication and can share ideas they care about (Portico Books, 2010).
References:
Grammar and
More. (2010). Top 10 tips for teaching writing. Retrieved from
www.grammarandmore.com/about/portico.htm
www.grammarandmore.com/about/portico.htm
Ministry of Education. (2006). The Ontario
curriculum grades 1-8 language. Retrieved from
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca
Reading Rockets,
(2015). Teaching elementary school students to be effective writers. Retrieved
from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/teaching-elementary-school-students-be-effective-
writers
from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/teaching-elementary-school-students-be-effective-
writers
SweetSearch,
(2010) SweetSearch: More than a free search engine for k12 education! Retrieved
from
https://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/2010/03/14/sweetsearch-more-than-a-free-sech-engine-
fork12-education/
https://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/2010/03/14/sweetsearch-more-than-a-free-sech-engine-
fork12-education/
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