We are in the process of developing really strong characters. Without strong characters, a story will fall flat! The characters are who the reader connects to, so making them authentic is so important. One of the biggest things we are trying to discover about our characters is what they want more than anything in the world. Once we figure this out, we are setting up our conflict. Because, within the plot of our story we will make sure we make it really difficult for the character to get their desire. This makes a great plot.
The excitement and energy in the room the last few days is amazing. Everyone is really in to their writing and most importantly, everyone is working hard to take on the identity of a writer. We are getting a lot of awesome inspiration from one another too!
Tomorrow we will be collaborating in writing groups based on similarities in our writing topics or styles.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
What is a story?: Reading like a Writer!
We are working really hard to read like writers in room 603! We are using authors as mentors and reading their work looking for their craft moves. What do they do to make their writing so powerful? So far we have decided that all of the powerful writing we have read so far includes the following components:
Description - powerful words and phrases that show instead of tell
Voice or emotion - the author uses words to create emotion or empathy in the reader
Figurative language - similes, metaphors, idioms all paint a picture for the reader and add an element of beauty to the writing
Dialogue - authors develop characters by using carefully planned dialogue at just the right times
We are working really hard to realize that writing is messy, and we are giving ourselves a chance to be "messy" when we are writing. We are reading "Spilling Ink" by authors Ellen Potter and Anne Mazer. They are giving us great, real advice that we are putting to use!
Along with reading like a writer, we are also thinking about the structure of a story which will help us as we begin to compose our own stories. We are using our read aloud "Wringer" and also lots of picture books and short stories to help us.
We will be learning from lots of mentors for the next few weeks! I am really excited to see the imaginations of each and every kiddo shine.
Description - powerful words and phrases that show instead of tell
Voice or emotion - the author uses words to create emotion or empathy in the reader
Figurative language - similes, metaphors, idioms all paint a picture for the reader and add an element of beauty to the writing
Dialogue - authors develop characters by using carefully planned dialogue at just the right times
We are working really hard to realize that writing is messy, and we are giving ourselves a chance to be "messy" when we are writing. We are reading "Spilling Ink" by authors Ellen Potter and Anne Mazer. They are giving us great, real advice that we are putting to use!
Along with reading like a writer, we are also thinking about the structure of a story which will help us as we begin to compose our own stories. We are using our read aloud "Wringer" and also lots of picture books and short stories to help us.
We will be learning from lots of mentors for the next few weeks! I am really excited to see the imaginations of each and every kiddo shine.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
AMERICA READS DAY!
America Reads Day is quickly approaching. If you have time and are willing to come read to us, please use the sign-up genius link below.
There are 4 time slots available, however, if we need more I can add more.
If you wish to read to my homeroom, that would be the morning slots. If you wish to read to Mrs. Pickering's homeroom, that would be the afternoon slots.
If you have questions, let me know!
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C044DA5AE28A3FB6-america
There are 4 time slots available, however, if we need more I can add more.
If you wish to read to my homeroom, that would be the morning slots. If you wish to read to Mrs. Pickering's homeroom, that would be the afternoon slots.
If you have questions, let me know!
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C044DA5AE28A3FB6-america
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Powtoon
Great things are happening in regards to the intersection of technology and literature in room 603!
Students have been working really hard on a Powtoon assignment.
The premise of this assignment was to identify the theme in one of my son, Elliott's, books and then find three places in the text where I could stop and discuss this theme with him.
So, in other words, we are identifying theme and finding evidence in the text to support our thinking!
Once students put this into the "Some people think…." structure, they were ready to share their thinking using Powtoon.
"Some people think…" structure = a prompt that helps us to organize our thinking. See prompt below.
Some people think the book _____________ is just about ____________, but it is about SO much more than that. It is actually about _______________. I know this because ____________. Also, _____________. Finally, _______________.
Powtoon = a really cool app through google that allows us to put animation and sound to image and text!
Below are a few images of us hard a work!
This work will really help us eventually move into writing thesis statements (for literary essays, personal essays…) and supporting them with evidence.
Students have been working really hard on a Powtoon assignment.
The premise of this assignment was to identify the theme in one of my son, Elliott's, books and then find three places in the text where I could stop and discuss this theme with him.
So, in other words, we are identifying theme and finding evidence in the text to support our thinking!
Once students put this into the "Some people think…." structure, they were ready to share their thinking using Powtoon.
"Some people think…" structure = a prompt that helps us to organize our thinking. See prompt below.
Some people think the book _____________ is just about ____________, but it is about SO much more than that. It is actually about _______________. I know this because ____________. Also, _____________. Finally, _______________.
Powtoon = a really cool app through google that allows us to put animation and sound to image and text!
Below are a few images of us hard a work!
This work will really help us eventually move into writing thesis statements (for literary essays, personal essays…) and supporting them with evidence.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
BOOK ORDERS
It is past time to get book orders up and going! Below is a link that will take you to our team's site. At this link, you can order books and the books you order will earn us points for our classroom library!
Please let me know if you have any questions. I also offer the kids the paper copy of the book order to anyone who would rather do it that way.
Thanks for your support!
Book Order Link: https://orders.scholastic.com/JLGPP
Please let me know if you have any questions. I also offer the kids the paper copy of the book order to anyone who would rather do it that way.
Thanks for your support!
Book Order Link: https://orders.scholastic.com/JLGPP
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