Writing toThe End !

Tips to Improve Student Writing

By Jeff Helming

During this presentation you will learn tips to…

• Improve student motivation.

• Differentiate for your students.

• Incorporate technology.

A Quick Review…

The Writer’s Workshop Model

• Writer’s Workshop is a differentiated method of teaching writing.

• Basic components – Mini-lesson– Independent writing time– Teacher/student conferencing– Sharing

• Here is a great slideshow about the basics of Writer’s Workshop and why it should be used.

Teacher Enthusiasm Is KEYIt all starts with the teacher!

• Students are motivated when their teachers are!

• You do not have to be a good writer to be a good writing teacher.

• You do not have to love everything about writing to be a good writing teacher.

• You do have to show genuine enthusiasm.

TIP Draw upon childhood experiences

when composing your own writing!

• Children love stories about their teachers making the same mistakes they do!

• Write about: favorite toys from your youth, the first time attempting something new, or other childhood memories.

• Students also love stories about their teacher’s children!

Mini-Lessons

• Aside from basic writing strategies, focus mini-lessons on prewriting strategies such as planning stories and getting ideas.

• Students need to hear as many good examples of writing as possible:– Stories by other students– Short stories by authors– Your own short stories

Want something different? How about Celebrities reading stories to your students?

Storyline Online

Prewriting Strategies

Prewriting Strategies• Graphic organizers • Drawing• Talking with a partner or

group• Acting our story actions

Why these work• Give authors time to plan

out their stories.• Helps to break down the

task for struggling writers.• Meets the needs of a

variety of learning styles.

Links to graphic organizersedHelper

Education Place

TIP Collect and copy examples of good student writing and share it often!

• Students are motivated by hearing strong pieces written by writers their own age.

• Promotes an ‘I can do that too!’ attitude.• Student writing can be referred to as examples

of good traits or memorable techniques.• Authentic student writing can be used for

revision and editing mini-lessons.

Independent Writing Time

• Choice!! Students are more engaged when they choose what they are writing about.

• While students write, the teacher can conference with students or, on occasion, model independent writing.

• A little BUZZ is okay – Students can talk as long as they are talking about writing and making progress on their pieces.

TIP Have students write their drafts on

loose paper rather than in notebooks.

• Students are more productive.• It is easier for students to

manipulate the story and spread it out.

• Use a folder to keep finished and unfinished writing organized.

Conferencing

• Keep conferences positive.• Listen carefully when a student

reads his or her piece to you.• Express the feelings the piece

makes you have (ex. laugh when funny).

• Begin with positives.• Give the student ONE thing to

fix – Don’t be picky and point out every mistake! Joanne Portalupi and Ralph Fletcher

share their thoughts on positive conferencing in this short clip.

TIP Conference at the student’s desk.

• This is less disruptive.• Nearby students benefit

from overhearing the conference.

• You can see if a student is is really ‘cooking’ and shouldn’t be interrupted.

Here’s a video about how students should not peer review. Are you a “Picky Patty” when you conference with students? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBuq4qgRhCc&feature=related

Writing Partnerships

Writing Partnerships• Partners should be carefully

chosen and rarely changed.• Pair students based on:– similar ability– interest

• These partners should meet regularly, at least once to twice a month, to share and edit/revise each other’s pieces.

Why it works• Promotes collaboration and

positive interaction.• Students do not have to

wait for the teacher.• Authentic practice editing

and revising.

This is a great article about setting it up:Hsu, C. (2009). Writing Partnerships. Reading Teacher, v63 n2, 153-158. doi: 10.1598/RT.63.2.6

Sharing

• Student and teacher feedback should be both positive and constructive.

• Choose students who you conferenced with so that you can…– Share comments from the conference with the entire

class.– Highlight the strengths of a student’s piece.– Choose students who attempted a strategy taught in the

mini-lesson.• Pieces do not need to be finished to be shared.

TIP Provide a powerful purpose for

writing by finding exciting uses for it.

• Find an audience for student writing by inviting family members or peers.

• Publish student writing on a website.• Encourage entries into local and national

writing contests.• Create your own classroom or grade level

writing contest.

Publishing and Celebrating

Ways to Publish• Type it on the computer.• Rewrite as a hardcover or

mini-book.• Publish on a website.• Use an online site to create

a soft or hardcover book.

Ways to Celebrate• Publishing party!• Invite guests into the room:

– Family members– Principal– Teachers– Students

TIP Take advantage of technology

to motivate student writers.

Sites to write and/or publish student writing. Click on them and check them out.

• Kids’ Space• Kidpub• Storybird• TikaTok

Resources – Check out these sites!• http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/index.html

• http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/

• http://www.mguhlin.org/2010/07/5-steps-to-digitizing-writing-worksho

p.html

• http://www.barebooks.com/

• http://www.mandygregory.com/StartingWritersWorkshop.htm

• http://www.jmeacham.com/writers.workshop/writing.mini.lessons.htm

• http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/classmags/storyworks.htm

Resources – Check out these books!

Books for Teachers• Craft Lessons by Ralph Fletcher and

Joann Portalupi• Writing Workshop by Ralph Fletcher

and Joann Portalupi• Notebook Know-How by Aimee

Buckner• Writing Through Childhood:

Rethinking Process and Product by Shelley Harwayne

• How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms by Carol Ann Tomlinson

• The Art of Teaching Writing by Lucy Calkins

Books for Students• Author: A True Story by

Helen Lester• What Do Authors Do? by

Eileen Christelow• Arthur Writes A Story by

Marc Brown• Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk• The Best Story by Eileen

Spinelli

FINAL TIP Remember to keep writing enjoyable for both you and your students!

Please stop by my new wiki: The Writing SpotOr you can check out my blog of the same name and leave your comments.

Thank you for Reading to The End !!!