A special note;
Two chats took place this evening. The chat that occurred before Isabell Cardonick's arrival is included here after the chat with her.
meeha/ece/tx - Hi, Isabell! welcome --we've been talking about your book!
meeha/ece/tx - We're so glad you could join us tonight, Isabelle!
Isabell - Have you all been doing Kid Writing?
rere - isabell, can you explain the basics of your program?
xokindy - i have it, and am reading it now.
MR - Just started in December!
Isabell - We get kids started writing on the first day of school. We create a joyful, risk-free environment with high levels of challenge and support. We allow children to choose their own topics. We constantly demonstrate writing while modeling the thinking processes involved. Children write for authentic purposes. There is so much to it- it is impossible to tell you everything in this type of forum. I can tell you that it's the most exciting way to teach!
simmons - Isabell, just so you know, there are others of us just listening to the chat out here too.
frosty 2 - Isabell, could you give us a short background on why/how you developed KW?
kindermom - I started in September
Gann - Just getting ready to start next week.
kindermom - I agree. I've never been so excited in my 12 years
Isabell - Kid Writing explains how to get children who don't know the alphabet writing, beginning on the very first day of school.
M.E. - I started last spring after reading the book, the first grade teachers could really tell a difference. I have a very young class this year- they are just not hearing sounds- I do a lot of Building blocks ideas and phonemic awareness stuff. Hope to start wriitng more after holidays
Doug - isabell- yes I use it and it is fantastico....the more advanced forms other than journaling have not been as successful....with K do you suggest to just sticking to the journaling activity
txtchr - tell us who don't have it why we need to get it>>>what is unique about it
Isabell - There are lots of books out there on writing workshop, but nothing before on writing workshop for emergent writers.
rere - did u develop this method, isabell?
Isabell - One of the biggest differences in the way we do journals with young children is that we don't have them go off and write on their own until they are able to use sensible phonetic spelling.
Isabell - My co-author, Eileen Feldgus started to experiment with it back in the 80s.
kindermom - Yes. The thinking was to give kids pencil and paper and just let them "write"
Isabell - Through trial and error, she came up with a wonderful system. She wanted to get her kindergarteners writing, but wasn't sure how to do it. In the beginning she had the kids writing after they knew all of the sounds and letters. Now we know that the kids learn the sounds and letters through the Kid Writing.
rere - isabell, do u teach now?
Snooky - I'm all ears - but I have kids that still don't know letters and others that are reading - what do I do?
Isabell - Then, together, we developed it further.
Isabell - I'm still in the classroom teaching full day kindergarten.
Isabell - Snooky,one of the wonderful things about Kid Writing is that it is multi-level. You take the children from wherever they are and move them from that point. They will take what they need and are ready to learn from your mini-lessons.
kindermom - In previous years, I showed parents pages of drawings with no writing or just scribbles and some attempts at letter/sounds
Laura - Isabell, how do you respond to those people who say we shouldn't be writing on the child's page, that it somehow diminishes their writing?
Isabell - Laura, the children's writing is constantly celebrated - never diminished. For one thing, the kid writing is done in magic marker (big, bright and bold) and the adult writing is done in pencil (small, usually at the bottom of the page.) The adult writing is done for the purpose of teaching, not for correcting. I find (as do the many teachers I've corresponded with) that the children don't mind at all. In fact, they love to see how their writing compares with the adult writing. (We only talk about the positive things we see.)
Paula - I am used to writing workshop, and really like the new ideas for making it more appropriate for K. My questions are more management ones, like time alloted, and scheduling it into my program. also, the conferencing one to one is a little tricky. I am trying to picture kids working at different stages, so I guess it becomes more manageable as time goes on, right?
Isabell - Paula, the book addresses all of these issues. I'd like to mention here, though, that the conferencing is not really one to one. Many children are tuned in while the conferencing is going on. You're all sitting around on the rug together. It's very informal.
rere - cool, isabell, I'd like to hear how you schedule your day
Isabell - Rere, there is a chapter on a typical day, as well as a sample schedule. The next edition will include a sample schedule for a half day, but you can now find that information on our website: www.kidwriting.homestead.com.
MR - Isabell, I notice that some of my students will use sensible phonetic spelling if I am with them but left on their own, they try to rush through their writing. Does this mean they need more support with an adult even though they know their sounds?
Isabell - MR, Yes, continue to support them until they are ready to use sensible phonetic spelling independently. When you coach the children, you are doing more than just helping them with their sounds. You are showing them how to track what they've already written so they can figure out what to write next, etc. You are also praising them for accuracy, creativity, etc. They are highly motivated to write beautifully and are excited about their writing.
Isabell - Remember, there is no rush to independence.
Laura - That is so important to remember, Isabell. Why do we feel such a need to rush these children into independence?
meeha/ece/tx - Isabelle -- I work with special needs preschoolers. Several will be entering Kindergarten in the fall. Is a very early phase of this method appropriate for group writing experience with these children -- at their interest level?
Isabell - Meeha, Yes! Head Start teachers have been using Kid Writing successfully. We suggest that you work with small groups of children rather than the whole class. You need to do lots of demonstrated writing and interactive writing at this level.
Isabell - I find that with Kid Writing, all of my students leave kindergarten knowing all of the sounds and letters... even the "at risk" children.
Jo - I have an all day kindergarten class and we write in journals every day. I use their journals for mini-lessons.
Doug - Isabell- do you have any suggestions with K classrooms that are half day and are encouraged to also use guided reading, interactive writing and shared reading?
Isabell - Doug, I hear you! It's so hard to fit it all in! I think that I would do the shared reading and not worry as much about the guided reading in a half day kindergarten. But I would provide the children with leveled books for independent reading so that they have opportunities to read "just right" books.
kindermom - What should we do with the kids that are ready to write more?
Isabell - Let them write! In the Kid Writing set-up, kids can write as much as they are ready for. Introduce the book writing, news stories, writing on chart paper, etc. gradually and give them lots of choices. Journal writing is the way we get them started, but we branch out into different kinds of writing as the year goes on. One child may want to write a friendly letter, then work on a few pages in a book, then do a journal entry, all in one day! Another may only want to write in his or her journal.
rere - isabell, are most of your K's reading?
Isabell - rere, at this point in the year, about half of my kids are reading.
Paula - Doug, we have the same issues!
Deb - I looped with my k class to 1st. How can I conference with 27 students?
Isabell - Deb, You don't have to get to all 27 in one day. The good news is that in first grade, you can coach the children who need the most help while the others are writing independently. Remember, many children benefit from the coaching of one child's writing. Sitting together on the carpet facilitates this.
M.E. - Isabell, do you still allow visitors ?
Isabell - M.E. Yes, I do have visitors.
Paula - I've always done guided writing during literacy centers with my K's. Later in the year, we do whole group writing, everyone together, when they are more independent.
Jo - My "at risk" children are just beginning to attempt a label or letter. We use the 4 blocks and the "at risk" kids can read patterned stories. What more can I do with letter rec and phonics?
Isabell - Jo, Kid Writing is the best thing you can do to help them with letter rec and phonics! It's not just one thing that you do, it's everything that you do within a balanced program.
kindermom - You say that kids shouldn't write indep. until you can read their writing. However, I find they are afraid to write without me. How can I help these kids?
Isabell - Kindermom, you can wean them by saying something like, "Go and write 'My mom and I' by yourself. Then come back and I'll help you with the rest."
frosty 2 - I currently have a child who is struggling at mid year to even remember how to write his name. Any ideas to help him within the framework of KW?
Isabell - Frosty, We all have children at various levels. I find that if you stay with the program, every child will reach and even surpass what we believe his or her potential to be. There are many activities you can do to provide extra help for this child, though. For example, have a volunteer work on helping him write his name in shaving cream or fingerpaint, trace his name, etc. But keep doing Kid Writing. The lightbulbs always go on at some point in the year. Some sooner than others, of course.
Isabell - Contact me at KTeachMSC@aol.com if you'd like to arrange an observation day.
rere - that's amazing, isabell, do u attribute their reading to this KW program?
rere - isabell, where r u located?
Isabell - rere, when I taught 1/2 day kindergarten, I didn't have much time for shared reading, guided reading, etc. But I did Kid Writing every day and they learned to read. Now with a full day program, I am getting even more exciting results, because Kid Writing is just one (very important) component to a balanced literacy program.
Rere, I teach in Philadelphia, PA.
1st - kindermom-I have seen the same fear to write w/o me.
xokindy - isabell...are they reading because of the kw? or a bright class?
Isabell - The children in my class come to school in September at varied levels, of course. A few know the whole alphabet. Most of them know some letters. A few have no knowledge of the alphabet or the alphabetic principal and have no concepts of print.
I do attribute their amazing progress in large part, to the Kid Writing.
Denise - I am a first year Kind. teacher. I taught 1st grade before I took a few years off to be with my children. My new collegues are suggesting I let my Kind's write based on invented spelling. I don't feel comfortable with this b/c some don't even know the letter sounds yet. Is this wrong to feel this way?
Isabell - Denise, in Kid Writing, the children use invented or phonetic spelling, but you provide support, so that they learn the letters and sounds as they go along. The book shows you how to do it.
Deb - some of my children that know all the letters and sounds cannot write on their own but if I sit with them they can write. Why does this happen? immaturity?
Isabell - Deb, there is more to writing than just knowing the letters and sounds. They need to learn how to to map the sounds they hear in words onto paper. They need to learn to stretch the words to hear all of the sounds. You are obviously giving them the support they need when you sit with them. Follow the approach outlined in the book and they will develop the confidence and skill they need to do it on their own.
Ginny - I have seen a fear to write when children K teachers have insisted on accuracy rather than developmentally appropriate invented spelling
rere - well, isabell, if they are sounding out words in their writing, it makes sense that they can sound out unknown words in the reading
Paula - Can I expect good progress if I have 30 minutes of writing, rather than the 45?
anne - ginny, I agree, that's why I had ? about the underwriting. Can you help out, Isabell? Thanks!
Jo - Isabell, how much time in the full day do you take for Kid Writing?
Ginny - some of the most at risk children seem to benefit the most from writing as they learn to read
Deb - How can I buy the BOOK???
meeha/ece/tx - Deb ... the website is - Published by Wright Group, $19.95 http://www.wrightgroup.com/pdg_catalog.htm#kidwriting ... you can go there ... it will be posted again toward the end of the meeting.
simmons - I am not using KW. But have those kids who want everything to be exactly correct even though I suggest lines and invented spelling. At a workshop, the "try it" card was explained. Students must use their skills to try spelling the word but then the teacher goes over it with them to spell it correctly.
Isabell - Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions that are unanswered here tonight.
Isabell - simmons, we train the kids from day one to do Kid Writing. They know that this is the way we write in this classroom. Labeling their writing Kid Writing goes a long way in taking away the risk of making mistakes.
Isabell - We differentiate between Kid Writing and adult writing.
Denise - I do let the children use invented spelling if they feel comfortable. However, the ones who don't I write the sentences out for them. I hope this is still ok. This is how I did it when I taught first
Isabell - Denise, when you write for those children, the message they get is "You can't write, so I'll do it for you." We want them to get the message, "You CAN write and we are going to help you do it."
Isabell - When I first taught K, I also took dictation from the kids, so please don't feel badly about that.
Ginny - Isabell, do you use sound boxes to help children hear all the sounds in words?
txtchr - Elkonin blocks? (http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo/Departments/commute/americareads/handbook.htm#GuidedWriting)
Newteach - Isabell, I bought your book and was very excited to use it. I differentiated between Kid writing and adult writing, but I find my students wanting to write only like an adult. They want perfection.
Isabell - Newteach, the book explains how to create the emotional environment in your classroom to help you overcome this problem.
Isabell - We are finding that they will progress so much faster and so much more and feel great about themselves as writers when they do Kid Writing.
M.E. - What do you do if as you ask the child what sounds they hear in the words in their sentence if they just keep saying the same letter that they hear for each word?
Isabell - M.E., you are describing a child who is not tuned in. Ask him to look at your mouth as you say the word. Having that visual usually helps. Also, try doing a phonetic alphabet song, like A says a for apple, etc. - using words to match the pictures on your alphabet chart, and pointing to them as you sing.)
Paula - About how much time does each child's conference take?
Isabell - Paula, it's important to note that you are not conferencing with the children individually. It is a very informal atmosphere with many children sitting together on the rug, helping each other. There is a very important social component to Kid Writing.
Laura - In discussing Kid Writing on another mail ring, someone else who uses it commented about how children know when they're writing and when they're not, and it almost does them an injustice when you call it something that it itsn't. They know when they're writing and when they're not, and the magic line, especially lets them write to the best of their ability. But then, as the teacher, you're still there to help move them to the next level.
Ginny - I use sound boxes at first ( 1 box for each sound in the word)and then as children begin to hears sounds sequentially in words, they graduate to letter boxes - one box for each letter
Isabell - Ginny, using Elkonian boxes works well for Reading Recovery, but it is definitely not appropriate for Kid Writing. It would slow the writing process considerably and interfere with the flow of the story.
Ginny - I agree.
Ginny - I'm rethinking my 1st grade groups that I pull from the classroom because the teacher prefers it that way.
Ginny - I'm thnking that kid writing would be very helpful for them.
MR - Please give an overview on how a typical day goes, including your classroom mangement
Isabell - I should mention here that we do have a website for Kid Writing. http://www.kidwriting.homestead.com.
Isabell - It does have a Q and A section, as well as writing samples from last year's class.
Isabell - MR. There is a chapter on the typical day.
Isabell - I'll just say that we do Kid Writing first thing in the morning.
anne - Thanks, Isabell. If you are working with a small group on the rug doing the writing, what are the rest of your students doing?
Isabell - There is lots of modeled and interactive writing (and reading)
Isabell - all day long.
denise - Is there a sample schedule for 1/2 day kind also?
Isabell - Writing is integrated with everything we do, and writing is always done for authentic purposes. The kids really do love to write!
MR - If the children are helping each other, does it mean they can do their kidwriting before an adult comes over?
Isabell - No, MR. They help each other in the presence of the adult.
Isabell - Kid writing needs to be a natural process.
Paula - Isabell, re: parent volunteers. I was planning on having them stay after they bring their children, but only to work with kids on rereading previous entries. Do I need to have them stay the whole time to conference, too?
Isabell - Paula, parents need to be trained to help kids with the sounding out process.
Paula - Yes, and I really liked the letters you provide in the book. I do plan on having a little inservice. My current parent helpers are super, they should be great for this, too.
Jo - I used writing workshop before I saw Kid Writing. The children in my room use both. Writing workshop is used when a specific prompt is given. Kid writing in my room is strictly self-selection. This makes a difference in how much they write! I was afraid that the adult underwriting would take away ownership, but the children know that I am writing what they have said. I was happy with writing workshop until I found Kid Writing. It is fantastic! We write through science, math, and everything.
Isabell - Jo, thanks so much!
simmons - I'm not familiar with KW and am wondering how the kids choose a topic to write about.
Isabell - simmons, We model everything for the children through think-alouds ... including the thought process involved in choosing a topic.
Ginny - Yes! Modeling is SO important!
anne - Isabell, thanks for all the info tonight. Guess I'll be ordering the book! Bye all, it's been educational for me tonight. Thanks!
Isabell - anne, enjoy the book!
Isabell - And get back to me with your comments.
Laura - Isabell, someone mentioned earlier that your next book would address Kid Writing in grades 2 and 3. Is that your plan or would there be another with even more information and ideas for the emergent level?
Isabell - Laura, Eileen and I met just today to discuss our next projects.
Isabell - We are now working on the next edition of Kid Writing.
Isabell - We are also thinking about another book with lots of Kid Writing mini-lessons, more questions and answers, dos and don'ts, etc.
Deb - My school is now using America's Choice Writer's Workshop. How does Kid Writing compare to that?
Isabell - I'd like to hear more about America's Choice Workshop.
meeha/tx/ece - Isabell's book, Kid writing is published by Wright Group, $19.95 http://www.wrightgroup.com/pdg_catalog.htm#kidwriting
Laura - Mini-lessons! That would be great! That's one of my BIG areas of weakness in embracing Kid Writing!
Isabell - Yes, Laura, We find that most teachers feel that way.
simmons - mini lessons would be great, it's something I could really use!
Isabell - Eileen and I do staff development with an emphasis on mini lessons.
meeha/tx/ece - Part 1 of Isabell Cardonick's "Help With Kid Writing" article in the Teachers.Net Gazette http://teachers.net/gazette/JUN00/cardonick.html
Paula - Like so many of us, I just got my copy and have read it, and am rereading and flagging pages now. What is most important as I introduce this next week? Do I start out with less writing time, and add more as the children get used to it, or just jump into 30 minutes?
Isabell - Paula, I think you'll need at least 30 minutes, even in the beginning.
meeha/tx/ece - Part 2 of Isabell Cardonick's "Help With Kid Writing" article in the Teachers.Net Gazette http://teachers.net/gazette/JUL00/cardonick.html
meeha/tx/ece - Here's the addy for the Kidwriting Website: http://www.kidwriting.homestead.com/
Laura - Do you have any suggestions you can share with us tonight, Isabell?
meeha/tx/ece - An earlier chat with Isabell Cardonick is archived at http://teachers.net/archive/ec082900.html
Isabell - Laura, there is so much to tell you!
Paula - do you ever come to CA to inservice? Where can I find out info about having you present to our district?
Laura - I imagined that there would be...to much to squeeze in between now and 10:00!
Laura - Can you offer any basic guidelines?
Isabell - Paula, I'm sure we could arrange a visit to CA! There's so much there I'd like to see!
Isabell - I would hate to oversimplify, Laura. Just know that Kid Writing is a joyful process for both teacher and child.
Laura - Okay...I can remember that!
txtchr - Isabell, when do you do your minilesson? You said you write first thing, when is the minilesson?
Jo - Isabell, we have a new approach we are working on for teacher training and we would like you to visit our school also, in PA. How do we handle the details?
meeha/tx/ece - Isabell, thank you so much for coming in this evening and sharing with us about your work of love ... Kid Writing! How about if we give you the last few minutes to share you favorite experiences with Kid Writing ... some new insight into how/why it works so well?
Paula - I've gotten lots of good support tonight, and hope that as I begin this in my class, I can find some of you that would like to chat about things that will come up. Let me know if you'd be interested in being a 'mentor' or support person!
Isabell - Meeha, Kid Writing is the most natural, honest way of teaching literacy.
Isabell - Everyone is absolutely amazed at the levels of reading and writing - even during the kindergarten year.
Isabell - I'll stay on for a while longer to make up for being late, if you'd like. If there's no other chat planned.
meeha/tx/ece - based on what I've seen this evening it won't be long in coming! I'll talk with Kathleen later this evening!
rere - I Need this book!! by next Wed. Jan, 3rd, can I get it overnite??? LOL
txtchr - by looking at your student's writing samples, I see you do lots of nature things with your kids...so your kids have lots to write about...that is a main key point
meeha/tx/ece - Isabell -- no other chat is planned for here this evening. You can stay and chat as long as you like! We really appreciate you sharing your time with us this evening!
Isabell - rere, wish i could do that for you. The good news is, the Wright Group has just run another 5000 copies!
aggie/1/ca - I suggest that everyone interested in a chatboard/mailring for Kid Writing write bob@teachers.net
Isabell - I hope everyone will stop by the web site. And, please sign the guestbook!
Isabell - Are there any last minute questions?
meeha/tx/ece - Here's the addy for the Kidwriting Website: http://www.kidwriting.homestead.com/
txtchr - Do you do lots of nature things?
Laura - Thank you, Isabell! :c)
Paula - Just one...ideally, how many times per week do you personally conference with each child?
Isabell - Thanks!
Isabell - Paula, I reach about 10 kids a day.. (30 kids in the class)
meeha/tx/ece - well, thank you, everyone for coming in for this chat tonight. We shared a lot of information about Kid Writing. And thank you to Isabell Cardonick for sharing with us!
meeha/tx/ece - Published by Wright Group, $19.95 http://www.wrightgroup.com/pdg_catalog.htm#kidwriting
aggie/1/ca - Thank you so much, Isabell and meeha, for bringing us this information!
Isabell - I really want to thank everyone for being here.
Isabell - Please do contact me with any additional questions.
Isabell - And let me put in a plug here for Eileen Feldgus.
Isabell - She is my brilliant co-author, mentor and friend.
meeha/tx/ece - I'm going to excuse myself for the evening. Thank you all for coming to this meeting tonite ... it was great!
Isabell - Enjoy Kid Writing, everyone!
Isabell - Good night all!
Earlier in the evening...
Kathleen - Isabell
Cardonick is co-author of Kid Writing: A Systematic Approach to Phonics,
Journals, and Writing Workshop
meeha/ece/tx - Good
evening. Welcome to this evening's discussion of Kid Writing!
bullpup - has anyone
signed in used kid writing
Hat/k/CA - not me.
here to learn
bullpup - hat/k/ca
have you used kid writing
Gumbo/K/La - no,
but have the book.....read it last summer and intended to start it, but
just couldn't get to it......
Paula - I just got
my copy of KidWriting and am not sure how to manage it in my half day class
Hat/k/CA - i just
downloaded the order form to order the book
meeha/ece/tx - 'evening
all ... I want to learn more about KidWriting so I can use some of it with
my kiddos ...
Garf/Sped/GA - Is
Kid Writing a computer program?
Hat/k/CA - no it
isn't
Garf/Sped/GA - O
most of my kids need something for the computer.
Kathleen - Lots of
people interested in Kid Writing!
Cathy - I am reading
the book now i love the ideas
bullpup - Cathy can
you share one or two ideas
Cathy - It has great
ideas to help kids write
Paula - Anyone else
at this meeting teach a half day K program?
Cathy - There is
a difference between kid writing and adult writing
Hat/k/CA - i am extended
day- we go until 1:10p
Laura - I teach half-day
K!
Sassy - 2nd grade
here, Paula
Alli - sorry paula
i teach full day kinder
ranmac - I teach
half-day
MR - I teach 1/2
day kindergarten
txtchr - I am full
day
Paula - Laura, MR,
have you incorporated KidWriting into your program yet?
Celeste - I'm excited
about this chat!! Is there anyway to retrieve the notes from this chat?
I'm doing a workshop on Kidwriting for K&1st teachers in my district
in Jan. and would love to review this session!!
bullpup - I taught
half day for 9 years and this is our first year full day
meeha/ece/tx - Kathleen
-- do we have a website through which the book can be purchased ... or
a website for the authors?
teech5 - Iteach first
grade
MR - Just received
the book in December & just started
Laura - Yes, I've
been doing it daily since October. I just read the book over the summer.
kindermom - My first
time too. I looove kid writing!
txtchr - give me
a quick review of what KidWriting is
meeha/ece/tx - Alli,
the author will be coming in and visiting with us, answering questions,
people will be sharing ideas, etc.
Paula - Do you do
45 minutes daily?
Cathy - I am excited
about trying some journal ideas with my k's in Janurary
jd - I teach a first
grade bilingual class. First time hearing about Kid Writing
Laura - Me, too!
Writing with children never made sense to me until I read Kid Writing.
Laura - We write
for 30 min. every day.
MR - I began with
3x per week but will move to daily in January
Alli - great...i
am using kid writing for the first time this year and my principal is in
love with it..now i have to present an overview of it to the staff
bullpup - Laura what
do you write for 30 minutes?
Paula - How has the
conferencing with each child gone
Cathy - MR daily
journal writing ?
meeha/ece/tx - Well,
some of you have read the book, some have experience with it in the classroom.
This is my first look into Kid Writing ... can some of you who are more
familiar with its concepts and theories share some information with us,
please.
Kathleen - Published
by Wright Group, $19.95 http://www.wrightgroup.com/pdg_catalog.htm#kidwriting
but I'll post that again, so don't leave to go there now.
mevans - Is it too
late to start the Kid Writing program in Jan?
kindermom - I've
never seen kids progress so quickly in my 12 years of teaching K
kindermom - It's
never too late!
jd - Is Kid Writing
geared for Kindergarten
meeha/ece/tx - mevans
... it isn't ever "too late" to start something good with your students!
Laura - I know what
you mean, kindermom...I have to agree.
MR - There is a lot
of pressure from the school to do it daily
Elizabeth - Hi, I
teach 3rd grade. I'm having difficulty getting kids to elaborate in their
writing. Any suggestions??
txtchr - please give
me a quick review of what KidWriting is
Celeste - I started
in Aug. and my first grader's progress is phenominal!!
meeha/ece/tx - Good
evening, Frosty and knottma -- welcome to tonight's discussion of Kid Writing!
Laura - And she's
right, they way it's stuctured, you can start anytime.
rere - kindermom,
how does it all work? Please explain
Mrs. J. - Can I ask
a question? Is Kid Writing like Writer's Workshop?
knottma - I'm new
to this and am not sure how things work
Paula - It is very
similar to the writing workshop I've done with older students...I wonder
how well the little ones do independently?
kindermom - you basically
are helping kids write a sentence that goes with the picture they draw
that day while honoring their own writing and teaching indiv and group
minilessons
Kathleen - Part 1
of Isabell Cardonick's "Help With Kid Writing" article in the Teachers.Net
Gazette http://teachers.net/gazette/JUN00/cardonick.html
Hat/k/CA - sounds
like writing workshop
Laura - It is a process
of coaching and bringing the children to greater levels of independence,
but only when they show signs that they're ready.
Kathleen - Part 2
of Isabell Cardonick's "Help With Kid Writing" article in the Teachers.Net
Gazette http://teachers.net/gazette/JUL00/cardonick.html
rere - kindermom,
do u have to conference individually with each child each lesson?
txtchr - and you
only do it for 30 a day?????
anne - would like
to know more about KW - is it appropriate for K?
Kathleen - An earlier
chat with Isabell Cardonick is archived at http://teachers.net/archive/ec082900.html
Celeste - Here's
the addy for the Kidwriting Website: http://www.kidwriting.homestead.com/
alli - it is definitely
appropriate for kinder kids
Sassy - thanks celeste
Laura - We do it
for 30 min a day because that's all I have time for, and right now I find
that's enough for the children as well. But maybe that's just me...
Kathleen - Thanks,
Celeste!
ranmac - How does
it differ from writers workshop
kindermom - I try
to at least get to them every other day but that gives kids a chance to
write a bit on their own
bullpup - Cathy can
you share one or two ideas
Kathleen - Still
trying to reach Isabell, perhaps weather is causing technical problems,
preventing her from logging on...
Laura - Although
some of the children are ready to move to the next level, and I'm re-reading
Kid Writing so I'll know what they should /could be doing.
meeha/ece/tx - How
will it work with a preschool group getting ready for kinder ... used as
a "group writing lesson"? (I've not read the book yet ...)
kindermom - rammac,
there's much more scaffolding going on with the kids
Cathy - kindermom
Do they write on their own?
Snooky - Are their
prompts or do the children generate their individual writing topics?
frosty - I have ordered
the kidwriting book, but have not rec'd yet. I have done something that
I believe to be similar in my K class since the beginning of the year as
a whole group while I circulate helping individuals. I think I have the
children to the point where i can start pulling small groups for conferencing.
Any suggestion for grouping or for "lessons" these small groups? to start
Celeste - I use the
Four Block approach to literacy and find that Kidwriting fits right in
to the Writing part of 4 Blocks
kindermom - rammac,
there's much more scaffolding going on with the kids
alli - i dont give
them prompts
Laura - The kids
aren't given prompts.
alli - most of my
students are writing at least one solid sentence
bullpup - Do they
write in journals and do you give them topics?
anne - I see that
you think it fits with f Blocks - how about with the building blocks?
mevans - Do you use
the 4 block approach with a full or half day schedule?
Celeste - I really
thought my kids would want/need prompt-hasn't happen!! They love to Kidwrite
and they always come up with something to write about!!
Hat/k/CA - frosty-
you could find a group of 4-5 students who need the same lesson (for e.g.
use a capital at the start) and do a lesson on that (or using a period).
Paula - I, too, have
been using BuildingBlocks in my class. I havent' givent them journals yet,
but plan to when we return next week. Usually I continue with guided writing,
which is simililar to the conferences in KW, but small group, not one to
one.
mevans - or with
the building blocks?
kindermom - Cathy,
yes they write on their own. I put my penci down but a main part of kw
is modeling the grownup or adult writing underneath their kid writing
xokindy - i just
got my book, so any helpful hints to get me started? have only read a couple
chapters.
Hat/k/CA - has anyone
ordered the building blocks video?
Celeste - Kid Writing
is wonderful with Building Blocks!! The K teachers at my school are using
it and loving it!!
kindermom - Celeste,
thanks for the info on building blocks. That is my next step. Can't wait!
Celeste - Four Blocks-full
day first grade
Snooky - so what
do you do to integrate the KidWriting?
Celeste - I didn't
know their was a BB video!! I can't wait to tell my K teachers!!
Laura - I would be
interested to know more about how Kid Writing fits in with the building
blocks...I teach half-day K.
knottma - I have
tried to get my kids to draw and write at least one word but they say they
can't, Now what
Kathy - Could somebody
who knows about this explain what it is to get us started?
Paula - Do you feel
that it is important to begin each day with writing? Or can it be as effective
later in the morning?
Celeste - Our kindergartners
started writing the first day of school with Kid Writing
michele - knottma,
you have to model kid writing. MOdel how you sound out words draw pics
everything you would want them to do
Bill - I find that
my students seem to naturally integrate what they're writing about with
what we've been learning about. If I want them to write about something
specific, we usally don't write it in our KW journals.
kindermom - knottma,
are you having them tell you a sentence first before they write?
Snooky - I've seen
the BB video and it's pretty good as far as introducing BB - I got a lot
of ideas from "reading the walls" while listening to the video : )
kindermom - Paula.
I start right out with it but others do it later
txtchr - when they
say they can't i always come back with oh, do i need to call mom and tell
her you're not paying attention to my lessons?---I just taught you how
to write>>>>> lol
Cathy - Do you do
your writing first thing in the morning
Gann - This is so
exciting! My back ordered KW came TODAY! My k-kids have been doing daily
writing all year. But I have not been ?"underwriting". In fact, after language
experience, I taught myself not to....I plan to begin next Tuesday.
anne - is KW similar
to interactive writing where you help the kids write the words? (done small
group) or do you do this individually? I don't have book and wanted info
before I got book.
Snooky - what is
underwriting?
Laura - We don't
write first thing, but after our opening routine...calendar, shared reading,
etc. Then we write.
frosty - What is
underwriting?
Hat/k/CA - gann-
is underwriting just writing their text in readable text
knottma - I usually
do that a before I give them their journals but some of them just copy
what I do or did if I erase it
kindermom - I was
always taught not to underwrite on the same page as a childs writing but
I have changed my thinking after using KW
Bill - at this point
in the year my students (almost 100%) will say "I'm having difficulty or
I'm having trouble" instead of I can't. They know that I will offer help
in the form of pulling information from them. In the first couple of chapters
of KW, you're given samples of the way to help.
Paula - Laura, that's
what I hope to do. It sounds like we have alot in common...BB, KW, 1/2
day etc.
Laura - Yes, it's
the adult writing that shows them how an adult would write what they have
written.
kindermom - underwriting
is your writing underneath in conventional spelling what the child wrote
Celeste - I started
my year with doing writing first thing. But am varying it to adjust to
my crazy schedule-on some days we do it later in the day. I do model first.
Gann - What I am
calling underwriting [haven't done more than peek at the book] is the adult
printing after students do what used to be called invented spelling.
Hat/k/CA - Laura-
how often do you do underwriting with each child- a few a day?
Cathy - I liked the
idea of telling the kids there is kid writing and adult writing I think
this will give them some more confidence to write
xokindy - so, for
those of you that have been using kw, what is the best aspect of it in
your classroom?
Hat/k/CA - I mean
how many children do you underwrite with on each day?
alli - I have called
it sound spelling and book spelling
Laura - I have parent
volunteers come in, and we manage to get to nearly everybody over the course
of two days. That is, nearly everybody writes with an adult at least every
other day.
knottma - I also
was taught not to underwrite because it would make the child feel bad
Bill - I find more
writing happening all around the room since implementing KW. It empowers
students.
txtchr - I put it
on a sticky note instead of writing on their papers
Celeste - The Kindergarteners
in my friends room come to my room every day at all different times showing
me what they've written. My first graders know to stop what they are doing
and read it and let them know what a tremendous job they are doing!!
meeha/ece/tx - So,
it sounds like the process is: a child illustrates a concept, writes a
message (a.k.a. sentence) about the picture, then the teachers writes --
inconventional writing -- the child's words again. Is that it in a 'nutshell'?
Is there a "group" type lesson daily?
Cathy - What about
6th graders helping instead of adults Do you think this would work?
anne - Bill, how
long have you been doing KW?
MR - Can the children
do their kidwriting before an adult comes to them or must they wait for
an adult?
rere - laura, do
u have to train the parent volunteers?
Celeste - In Kid
Writing you do not underwrite-you adult write at the bottom of the paper-away
from the child's writing.
teech5 - I just got
the book. Does anyone have any ideas how to start it in Jan. with first
graders
Laura - Yes, I've
been told that, too. But the kids in my class never seem to be bothered
by my writing under their own. You praise everthing they wrote that was
correct, and then show them how an adult (who has been writing for YEARS
and YEARS would do it.
Bill - I've been
using KW for 2 years. I am still learning. I have to reread KW periodically
because I either missed or forget some of the details.
rere - that's neat
, celeste
meeha/ece/tx - thank
you, Celeste!
Maggie - Is there
a time limit for the illustrating and then the writing begins?
Laura - Yes, I had
to train my parent volunteers.
rere - good question
MR
Celeste - There is
a whole section in KW dedicated to training volunteers.
rere - celeste, do
the children use invented spelling
Cathy - Laura Would
it work to use 6th graders instead of adults to help the kids
Laura - For the most
part, they do really well. The worst thing I can say is that one mom writes
everything in caps rather than just using caps at the appropriate time.
frosty - is the only
difference between underwriting and adult writing the placement on the
page?
Celeste - Bill, I
read it 3 times before implementing it!!
kindermom - Mr, I
sometimes let kids do their own. I don't want them to think they can't
write without me.
knottma - Do you
write exactly what the child says even if it does not connect with what
they drew?
Laura - I also keep
a checklist, just for my own sake, and I give the parents a little "blue
book" and ask them to just write down the names of the children they write
with on any given day.
anne - When you underwrite
do you do it so the kids see what you're writing? I, too, was trained not
to do that.
kindermom - underwriting
is adult writing underneath the child's writing
Lynn - I have a question.
I teach second grade. Is Kid Writing more appropriate for "kindergartners",
or could I use it with my second graders?
Celeste - I have
no
volunteers. I did conference with each child almost everyday for the first
6 weeks. Then I conferenced 5-6 a day. I keep a writing conference log
to guide me!
xokindy - laura,
did you find that in the kw book> haven't read that part yet...
Laura - Then I just
check off the names on my master list so I know which children have written
with an adult and which haven't. It gives me a sense of how often some
children are writing and how long others are working on their pictures.
alli - how can i
get my kids to limit the talking when writing? they talk about things that
dont pertain to their writing at times
kindermom - knottma,
yes. I often discuss their picture with them before they formulate their
sentence. This helps them stick to topic
xokindy - celeste,,,if
you conference with each child, what else can you get done in one day?
Celeste - I think
K W is for K and 1st graders. I heard they were writing another one for
2nd and 3rd. I hope the author comes so we can ask :c)
Laura - What part
do you mean, xokindy?
Bill - I too believed
that the 'adult writing' might give a wrong message to the kids BUT my
kids are writing more than ever so I have to believe I was mistaken. It
all depends on what manner children are shown how adults would write it.
Celeste - The conferencing
goes real fast at the beginning of the year. I get it done in about 45
min.
Snooky - Do you ever
ask the children to recopy what the adult wrote?
Kathleen - I have
a feeling Isabell is having technical difficulty. If she doesn't arrive
during this chat, I'm sure she will reschedule. Please continue the peer
support.
txtchr - 45 min is
a long time for writing
xokindy - laura,
i meant about training adults helpers...
Paula - What about
the Magic Line? This is something different than the usual writing workshop.
kindermom - Bill,
one mom told me that her daughter won't let her write on her childs writing
at home but only at school. Interesting
rere - celeste, how
many kids do u have in your class? I have 25 kindergarteners
Laura - I don't ask
them to copy...it would be too difficult a task for my Kinders. The focus
would be on handwriting and not on the process of writing itself, I think.
kindermom - Everyone
writes "is", "the" and many write "ing" now without looking!
Celeste - Each child
is at a different part of the writing during writing time. Some may be
finishing up from yesterday and I have their conf. immediately and then
give them a date stamp for that day and they start to write for that day
after the writing conf.
meeha/ece/tx - Paula
-- what is the "Magic Line"?
Laura - Yes, xokindy.
In the appendix in the back of the book is a handout you can xerox for
your volunteers.
Snooky - good point
Laura - thx
Laura - My class,
too, Kindermom! Pretty cool, huh?!!
Cathy - I love the
magic line idea I think the kids will too
txtchr - you mean
they use those words properly in a sentence?
txtchr - explain
the magic line please, Cathy
Maggie - is writing
all done in a journal or can students choose the type of paper they want
to use?
Paula - They use
it when they don't know a sound/word. It is like a place holder, someone
else want to define better?
kindermom - Laura,
it's amazing! I can't keep up with their needs. However, I still have several
kids that still don't know all their letters but I think where they would
be w.o KW! At least they are learning!
xokindy - ok, baby
steps. what should i do first?
Celeste - The magic
line is one of the keys to K W!! It frees the child from struggling to
spell a word correctly. My kids are using magic lines less and less, but
used them a lot at the beginning. Some even knew part of a compound word
like man of fireman and he drew a magic line for fire then wrote man at
the end. So I did a mini lesson that day on compound words.
Tia - Can someone
sum up KW? I was thinking of buying the book. I teacher Grade 1
Laura - I have one
child in particular who really needs to rely on the magic line because
of other issues he's dealing with...focusing on ANYTHING is really hard
for him. The magic line keeps him on-task and lets him get some writing
done.
Cathy - If they can't
spell the word they make a magic line and then the adults helps them with
the word. Also can just be a vowel that they can't figure out
kindermom - And the
magic lines allows everyone to be a writer. You will never hear "I can't
write" again
meeha/ece/tx - what
a great idea ... the magic line replaces unknown sounds or words!
xokindy - tia, so
many teachers have raved about it in several ec webrings, that i had to
get it. just starting out...
frosty - I love the
magic line! It has given the children in my room "permission" not know
cera\tain parts of a word, yet continue to write. Before they would get
"stuck" on not knowing letters or sounds.
kindermom - Could
anyone share ideas on what the kids do when they are done writing? I need
some help
txtchr - I use Elkonin
squares---they draw squares for the sounds they hear--that at least has
them trying to sound it out
Laura - That's a
problem I have, too, kindermom.
rere - would it be
possible to use this type of writing without purchasing the book, it sounds
pretty simple to implement
Bill - At the very
beginning, I had a couple of students who just wrote magic lines and a
few letters for a whole sentence. There were the right number of lines
for the words left out! That was good enough for me at that point.
Tia - xokindy - so
what is so great about it? I would really like to know what it is all about
Celeste - Just one
more thing-kindermom, I let my read a book when they finish-and it really
works!!
kindermom - Magic
lines also help with one to one correspondence: one line for each word.
It teaches kids what a word is. I took that so much for granted before
using magic lines. Most kids don't udnerstand the concept of a word in
beginning K
xokindy - what i
like about magic line concept is that kids KNOW when it's spelled wrong,
this way they can attempt without fear of failure.
anne - Bill, what
grade do you teach?
Laura - I thought
about having them move right into literacy centers, but I don't separate
my centers like that..."literacy" and "others."
Doug - I remember
reading that the message teachers need to give with the magic line is that
when we read what we wrote, there needs to be something to represent the
sound/letter or word. I like it to show how 1:1 correspondence is necessary
in both reading and writing.....just a thought...
MR - My students
can read a book or listen & read along at the listening center
Bill - Kindergarten.
I have taught both half and full day. I have only used KW since I've been
in full day. I can see where a half-day would change things--I'd still
use it. I'm not sure what kind of time I could allot.
xokindy - tia, that's
what i'm wondering too! living and learning...but i like the sound of all
this learning going on for the kids...
Snooky - Bill - what
kind of time do you give KW now in full day?
txtchr - during my
writing time, that is all they can do---i tell them to add more detail
to their drawing--that will help their writing later
Laura - Tia, Kid
Writing lets your students write from the very beginning of the school
year on the level that is appropriate for them.
rere - bill, do u
do this in the morning or afternoon time slot?
xokindy - bill, and
when in the day do you use kw?
Snooky - one pic
a day or continued writing aout same pic for how long -
meeha/ece/tx - txtchr
-- how long do you commit to writing each day?
Tia - what do you
have your kids writing in? notebooks? writing folders???
Doug - One problem
I am having with Kidwriting is that it takes around 45 minutes.....and
so does guided reading and so does shared and interactive writing and so
does math.....I teach half day Kindergarten
txtchr - 20 to 30
minutes--depending on daily schedule>>>when we leave for p.e
Bill - KW is about
setting a climate-environment. It's about supporting students attempts.
It's about using feedback to formulate mini lessons for individuals and
groups. It would take too long to write a summary here. Maybe on the mailring?
kindermom - Has anyone
started using word family houses yet? I would like to make some with the
kids next sememster
knottma - How much
time should this take in a 2.5 hr aday k
Laura - My kids write
in journals made from 30 pieces of white xerox paper bound together.
xokindy - does it
take everyone 45 min. a day???
rere - wow, doug,
that's alot to fit in
Laura - It's interesting
to me that you do it for 45 min...my class wouldn't be able to handle that
long.
Tia - Laura: when
do they start using lines? What grade do you teach?
MR - I have moms
that volunteer to put monthly journals together. Construction paper cover
and plain newsprint. We staple a calendar on the back and the children
have to also write in the date before they begin writing. It works out
well.
xokindy - laura,
how do you house and store their journals?
kindermom - How long
is your KW sessions, Laura?
meeha/ece/tx - Even
though kids are involved with the process ... that is a LOT of time for
kinders or even 1st graders to focus on a single activity, are activities
compartmentalized where there is more than a draw and write component?
some group instruction? HOW do you keep kids on-task for that long?
Gann - Since my students
are used to writing on drawing paper, I will probably have them do this
after they write in their "new" journals next week. Does this sound logical?
Laura - I teach Kindergarten,
and I don't use lines. Maybe near the end of the year...it will probably
depend on when their handwriting skills show me they could handle lines.
Snooky - does anyone
keep any of the journal writings for portfolios?
xokindy - if meeha
is compiling links for us, does anyone here have a website we could visit?
Tia - Do you simply
call these their journals? or do you find this title confines their writing
a bit?
rere - we have a
full day K, and now since it's 2nd semester , we are no longer having a
nap time in the afternoon, could this be done in the afternoon? or would
the kids be too cranky?
meeha/ece/tx - xokindy
-- this meeting will be archived ... http://www.teachers.net/archive/
Doug - xokindy- you
can buy the book under professional books try http://www.wrightgroup.com
xokindy - does anyone
use lined paper for kdg?
kindermom - Snooky,
Absolutely! You can clearly document progress with KW. My conferences in
Oct were the best ever, showing kids going from all magic lines to random
and some letter/sound correspondence !
Tia - I find that
when my students go to the writing centre during literacy centre time,
that they write a lot more interesting stories than when they are writing
in their "Writer's Notebook" or journal
Snooky - I teach
fullday rere and we've never had nap time - the kids adjust quite well
I think
txtchr - that's when
I do it>>>when they come in from lunch, we get our journals, school boxes
and sit anywhere around the room and write---i conference with about 6
a day
Laura - I keep ther
journals in a big dish tub filed behind a piece of paper that says, "Ready
to Write" or "Working on a Picture." When we start eaach day, I pass out
the "working on picture" journals first, and then have those children that
are ready to write, choose an adult to write with.
xokindy - thanks
doug, i just got my book...still reading...wanting to jump in!
Snooky - thx kindermom
- I have my children (prior to KW) use 5 sheets of paper a week in a folder
and on fridays we choose the best one for their portfolio -
Doug - Laura- that
makes sense...thanks for the idea
rere - yall, does
this help advance the kids in their reading skills?
MR - I also notice
that my students like to create their own books & stories during center
time at the writing table
Laura - We call them
journals.
meeha/ece/tx - Information
and ordering can be done through: Published by Wright Group, $19.95 http://www.wrightgroup.com/pdg_catalog.htm#kidwriting
frosty - We start
out writing in spiral bound notebooks, ignoring the lines. We writing the
date at the top in the "space" illustrate in the middle and write at the
bottom. Later in the year they will get a special journal with half page
to illustrate and several line to write on at the bottom.
Gann - txtchr, what
is a school box?
txtchr - I save one
page each 9 weeks for their p/folio
txtchr - crayon box--pencil.....
meeha/ece/tx - Part
1 of Isabell Cardonick's "Help With Kid Writing" article in the Teachers.Net
Gazette http://teachers.net/gazette/JUN00/cardonick.html
Laura - At conference
time, the journals were wonderful for showing progress!
Bill - I am having
technical diff. with the response box continuing to disappear. I use KW
in the a.m. most of the time for about 30 minutes, more if the schedule
permits.
meeha/ece/tx - Part
2 of Isabell Cardonick's "Help With Kid Writing" article in the Teachers.Net
Gazette http://teachers.net/gazette/JUL00/cardonick.html
rere - this is getting
me psyched for second semester, thanks for all the ideas
Gann - thanks, txtchr
MR - I select a page
from each monthly journal to put in their portfolio.
meeha/ece/tx - Here's
the addy for the Kidwriting Website: http://www.kidwriting.homestead.com/
anne - right not
I'm doing journals 2-3 times a week - have done this for years - just heard
about KW. My k kids keep their journals in chair pockets I made for them.
works great!
meeha/ece/tx - An
earlier chat with Isabell Cardonick is archived at http://teachers.net/archive/ec082900.html
Snooky - thanks guys
- it ALMOST makes me ready to go back LOL
Laura - Bill, do
you have any children ready for more than just the regular, daily writing
session as you've been doing it so far
meeha/ece/tx - Bill
-- I'm having trouble with my page refreshing ... you're not alone!
Paula - I've always
done my minilessons before writing workshop. KW has us doing it after...why
is this more effective?
txtchr - i do like
the plain paper 5-10 pages for journals---cause they seem to tear up the
spiral ones so much
Laura - I wonder
that, too , Paula. I find my class less attentive to mini-lessons after
they've been writing for half an hour...
kindermom - Paula,
because you use the writing that they did that day. Much more meaningful
Snooky - Anne - what
kind of material did you use for your chair pockets?
Laura - And I wish
I had a lisst of mini-lessons that I could just present on a regular basis...miine
are always just based on what I've seen children do or not do or repeatedly
do...
txtchr - I do my
writing mini-lesson the next morning>>>I use one of their writing samples
as my focus
meeha/ece/tx - txtchr
... when I have used spiral journals it has been a challenge to help the
children learn one page a day ... or two ... in SEQUENTIAL order -- we
seemed to have pages all over the book if they didn't wait for an adult
to help them through the initial stages!
xokindy - how many
of you do kw in the afternoon? wondering about where to fit it in...
kindermom - oo, Laura.
I often am stumped at what to do
Laura - I feel brainless
that I can't think of what I should be presenting to the children as far
as mini-lessons go.
txtchr - I agree
with that too Meeha
Doug - paula- great
question. I believe it is placed at the end so children are focused on
writing rather than copying an idea that was discovered during the author's
chair cycle. For me it makes sense to put it at the end and to focus on
one teaching item and to use a child's writing as the example.
anne - I used canvas
duck cloth. They are very handy. I used lots of different colors with different
color bias tape along the edges so no two are alike. that way kids can
tell theirs. We have to stack chairs everyday for cleaning crew.
Paula - I do an author's
share, and bring up all the good stuff the students do, mentioning a little
something to work on, but my formal modeled writing or teaching takes place
before. Do I need to switch? Isn't the modeleing you do before KW time
a mini lesson?
Laura - I teach afternoon
K right now and we do K W about 45 minutes after we arrive.
txtchr - caps and
periods, spaces are all i focus on>>>besides topics
rere - me too, xokindy,
I'd like to try it in the afternoon
Laura - Caps and
periods, capital letters where appropriate, leaving spaces, we've touched
on question marks and exclamation points.
Snooky - In KW -
do the children share their writings daily?
MR - I do writing
with my PM class as soon as they come in.
Laura - What else?
Laura - I don't have
my children share, but I really think I should be doing that!
kindermom - For spaces,
I used Popscicle sticks with faces we call "spacemen". Very effective
Doug - Mr.- is there
a cross-over period of time with the AM class?
Laura - They get
a big kick out of that, and it lets me point out something good about every
writer.
xokindy - cute, k-mom!
kindermom - Snooky,
My kids partne up so everyone can share
meeha/ece/tx - kindermom
... I've heard of that -- our O.T. uses that ... seems like a fun idea!
MR - Since I have
AM & PM sessions & time is limited, one child shares their journal
per day in each session
txtchr - I have a
special stool they sit on when reading/sharing their writings
Laura - I did too,
kindermom. I actually saw a spaceman in a catalog today that teachers could
buy just for that purpose!
rere - kindermom,
cool idea
Paula - I've presented
mini lessons on descriptive words, "painting a picture with words", along
with the mechanics, etc.
anne - tongue depressors
work great for "spacemen" too.
MR - Doug - our AM
class leaves, I have lunch for 30 minutes and the PM class arrives.
Snooky - THe teacher
next to me has a cinderblock (painted) and decorated as Writer's Block
-
Paula - I use tongue
depressors in K for space men. Atleast at the beginning when their letters
are so large.
frosty 2 - The children's
writing improved dramatically when they could share it. Page organization
and quality of work improved as weel because everyone would see it!
M.E. - How can we
arrange a visit to watch Kid Writing? We have some K teachers that are
not comfortable just reading the book. I have read the book and adapted
the ideas and love it.
Doug - kindermom-
in the book...KW gives the idea for spacing to use spaghetti and meetballs
to show the space differences between letters and between words.
Laura - I also glued
a frog die-cut onto a popsicle stick to show how we have to "hop" down
to the next line when we run out of room, even though we may not be done
writing our sentence yet.
Doug - Mr. that makes
sense.....good use of time
meeha/ece/tx - Laura
-- that is a good idea, too!
Laura - Wish I could
say I thought of it myself...
meeha/ece/tx - Does
anyone need to use green stars/red stop signs to set directionality of
print at the outset?
Doug - laura- excellent
idea
rere - these are
great ideas
Deb - my kids have
been writing daily for about a year now and you should see how wonderful
they write
kindermom - Deb,
how is your average student writng and what age?
meeha/ece/tx - http://www.wrightgroup.com/pdg_catalog.htm#kidwriting
Laura - I don't,
because when the kids are writing, I'm right there to show them where to
start. By the time they are writing on their own, they are doing so because
one of the things they know is where to start.
Deb - 1st grade and
using invented spelling
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