TeachingWritingK12

Dr.LeahFowler

The Language Arts Curriculum for Alberta

General Outcome #1Studentswilllisten,speak,read,write,view,andrepresenttoexplorethoughts,
ideas,feelingsandexperiences.
1.1 DiscoverandExplore
ExpressideasanddevelopunderstandingExperimentwithlanguageandforms
ExpresspreferencesSetgoals
1.2ClarifyandExtend
ConsiderothersideasCombineideasExtendunderstanding
General Outcome #2Studentswilllisten,speak,read,write,view,andrepresenttocomprehendand
respondpersonallyandcriticallytooral,print,andothermediatexts.
2.1UseStrategiesandCues
UsepriorknowledgeUsecomprehensionStrategiesUsetextualcues
UsephonicsandstructuralanalysisUsereferences
2.2RespondtoTexts
ExperiencevarioustextsConstructmeaningfromtexts
Appreciatetheartistryoftexts
2.3UnderstandForms,ElementsandTechniques
UnderstandformsandgenresUnderstandingtechniquesandelements
Experimentwithlanguage
2.3CreateOriginalText
GenerateideasElaborateontheexpressionofideasStructuretexts
General Outcome #3Studentswilllisten,speak,read,write,view,andrepresenttomanageideasand
information.
3.1PlanandFocus
Focusattention(patterns,topics,audience)
DetermineinformationneedsPlantogatherinformation
3.2SelectandFocus
UseavarietyofsourcesAccessinformationEvaluateresources
3.3Organize,Record,andEvaluate
OrganizeinformationRecordinformationEvaluateinformation
ShareideasandinformationReviewresearchprocess
General Outcome #4Studentswilllisten,speak,read,write,view,andrepresenttoenhancetheclarity
andartistryofcommunication.
4.1EnhanceandImprove
AppraiseownandothersworkReviseandedit
EnhancelegibilityExpandknowledgeoflanguageEnhanceartistry
4.2AttendtoConventions
AttendtogrammarandusageAttendtospelling
Attendtocapitalizationandpunctuation
4.3PresentandShare
PresentInformationEnhancepresentation
Useeffectiveoralandvisualcommunication
Demonstrateattentivelisteningandviewing
General Outcome #5Studentswilllisten,speak,read,write,view,andrepresenttorespect,support,and
collaboratewithothers.
5.1RespectOthersandStrengthenCommunity
AppreciatediversityRelatetextstoculture
CelebrateaccomplishmentsandeventsUselanguagetoshowrespect

TeachingWritingK12

Dr.LeahFowler

5.2WorkWithinaGroup
CooperatewithothersWorkingroupsEvaluategroupprocess

Some Leah Short Answers to Questions about Teaching Writing:

1. HowdoIbestinitiatewriting?
writingfromobservationfeelofanartifact(toy,sculpture,tool,instrument,etc.)
listeningto/writingduringapieceofmusic/60beatstominute(sounds)
lookingintentlyatapicture,portrait,drawingartastheprompt
writingfromsmell(herbsandspicesforinstanceortastesremembered
(lemon)orfoursensorytastesamples(salty,sweet,sour,bitter)
structuredfreewritingfromagivenstem[Itwasadarkand;tigersare]
writingwithyourstudentsandputtingallwritinginaportfolio
(workingportfolioandperformance/showportfolio)
2. Whatdostudentsknow?askthemforothersamplesofwriting;talkaboutwriting
andwhatiseasyandhardforthemKnowWant[Wonder]Learn(KWL)
WhatshouldIexpect?
Thatonethirdshouldbepersonal writing,onethirdshouldbe
literarywritingandonethirdshouldbeexpository writing
Thattheyengageinthewritingactivitiesatwhateverlevel
theycan[awordaboutShameandBlame]andprogressfromtheircurrentlevel.
Thatthewritingprocessandtheeditingprocessshouldnothappenat
thesametime[AmIlookingatwriting(ideas,thought,information)orediting?]
Thatwritingisdifficultandfrustratingbutalsoawaytogetattruth,
expressrealfeelings,emotions,knowledge,understanding,communicationand
thatwritingbyhandoncommandmaynotbepossibleforall.
Thatwritersimprovebywriting(yesandreading)sogivelotsofwriting
everyday,everyclass.[time,enthusiasm,coparticipation]
Thatwritersneedopportunitiestowriteinallkindsofgenres/forms:
a. narrativeb.descriptionc.explanation(definition)d.classification
e.comparisonandcontrastf.process(procedure)g.summaries
h.reportsi.argumentj.persuasionk.memosl.letters
ThatIwritewhenthestudentsarewriting
ThatIsetupconditionsthatenhancewriting:focus,music,light,quiet
3. Howdoweachievecontinuityfromonegradeleveltothenextandwithineach
gradelevel?
MeetingbeforeSeptemberandliketodayanddecide/shareworkload
Havingawritingplanfortheyearsoallkindsofwritinghappen
Lookingatthecurriculume.g.Fivegeneraloutcomes:Monday=#1
4. Howdoyouencouragestudentstobrainstorm?
provocativestatements/promptsfreewriting,conversation(notmuch)
waifs?promptstheymaynotwanttoSPEAKbutjustwrite[a
wordaboutsafetyoptout/privatepapers/filecabinet/journals/FOIPP]
5. Howdoweimprovequalityofwriting?

TeachingWritingK12

Dr.LeahFowler

bywritingbyseparatingwritingandeditingchoiceoftopics
immediatefeedbackrealaudiencesrelevanttopictochildren
6. Howtowegetthemtowritedownwhattheyarethinking?[Properlyexpress]
improper,informal,uncensored,wrong,bad(dignity)firstINVITEthem
7.Onetooneeditinginlargeclasses?:Self,peer,parentalnotallpieces,selection
DevelopingBetterWritersinGrade4,5,6
Writingtogetherasacommunityofteachersteachingfromwithin
TheCurriculumforGrade4,5,and6LanguageArtsandTeachingWriting
Besttheoryaboutwritingpracticeslookatourbestwritersandbestteachers
Beststrategiesaboutwritingandtheteachingofwriting
writingworkshops,portfolios,theNet,publicationclassanthologies,book
making,kidspublishing
5. Difficultiesinteachingwriting:sharedexperience,wisdom,andencouragement
1.
2.
3.
4.

GenericWritersWorkshopOrganizationalPattern:
1. Focussedpromptvisiblefromentryintotheroompaper,surprise
2. Talkaboutthepromptandthewritingtaskforthedaygoals,outcomes
3. Freewritingindependently,thenselfreadingandhighlightingofwriting
(ALLwriteduringthistime,teacherincluded)
4. Workshoptime
studentswritealoneorwithapartner
studentsreadtheirwritingaloudaloneandwithpeerorteacher(rotate)
studentsrewrite(stilltheWRITINGprocess)untiltheycantimprove
theideas,content,informationsatisfied,THEN
5. Conventionwork/editingwithamarkingrubricself,peer,otherclass
editingexpertsandoralreadersforconsulting(shiftingresponsibility)
6. Rewritecorrecting,formatting,publiccopy,oneforworkingportfolio
7. Checklistinportfolio(theywriteinthetitlesoftheirworkandtheform/genre
andonceaweek,theychoosethebestsampleofwritingtogointotheir
ShowcasePortfolioforgradingbytheteacher.[Rotationsoyounevermark
morethan8aday,andusuallyjust4or5.Onceamonthonebestpiece.]
BestTheoryaboutTeachingWriting
1. Writeeveryday(aboutrealfeelings,realevents,realinformation)
2. Provideprompts,time,conditionsconduciveforwriting
3. Teacherwritingwithstudentsproducesbesteffects
4. Writingforarealaudience(share/publishproduct)
5. Noticethestagesofthewritingprocessandgivetimeforeach
6. Separatewritingfromediting;separateevaluationfromboth,after
7. Talkwithrealwriters;readgoodwriting;readfromeachotherswriting
8. Encouragestudentstohavetwoportfolios:WorkingandShowcase
Writinginstructioninvolvesteachingaboutthreemainthings:

TeachingWritingK12

Dr.LeahFowler

1. FormsofWriting:expressive,poetic,transactional,persuasive,narrative
2. TheWritingProcess:prewriting,drafting,revising,editing,sharing,publishing
3. SkillsinWriting:spelling,grammar,capitalization,punctuation,handwriting
Abalancedwritingprogramwhichcontributestotheworldincludesthreegeneral
categoriesofwriting:
1. Personalwriting:whichincreasesknowledgeoftheself(recounts,journals)
2. Literarywriting:narrativeincreasesknowledgeofother(responserepertoire)
3. ExpositoryWriting:whichincreasesknowledgeoftheworld

PeerEditingandSelfEditingofaSinglePieceofWriting
Empatheticreaderandhelpfuleditorwithquestionsaregoodmetaphors:
BEFOREREADING:
1. Whatwasyourpurposeinwritingthispiece?
2. Whatarethegoodthingsaboutthispieceofwriting,thatyouasawriterlike?
3. Whatpartsofthiswritingwerehardforyou?Whatdidntyoulike?
4. Whatplanshaveyouforthiswritingnow?Isthisreadyforyourshowcaseportfolio?
5. Whatwouldyoulikemetonotice,focusonasIreadthis?
6. Wouldyoulikemetoreaditoutloudtohearhowitsoundstoknowifyoudidwhat
youwantedtodoorifyouneedtomakechanges?Wouldyouliketoreadittome?
AmIbeingareaderoraneditorthistime?
AFTERREADING:alwaysreadforcontentfirst!
1. Myreactiontothispiece.Ifeel..Ithoughtabout.
2. ThingsIthinkyoudidwell(developcharacter,setmood,givesuspense,shift
perspective,createeffectiveimagesorpictures,interestingvocabulary)
3. QuestionsIhave..Ididntunderstandthepart.Couldyouwriteabitmore
about.becauseIwonder
4. Mysuggestionstomakethisevenbetterwriting,sharing,publishing.
Aquickwaytorespondistwostarsandawish:
Iliked...andIliked...andIwish
Evaluation:Halfforprocess;halfforproduct;seeprovincialexamplestoo.
Formative:
DocumentationofProcess:(Writinglog,freewritings,minimumnumberofentries,at
leasttwopiecesoffinishedwork,selfevaluationorreflectionabouttheprocess)
AssessmentofQualityofProduct:Content,mechanics,risktaking,presentation
Summative:
GiveOpportunityforPracticeatProvinceWideExaminationWritingSections.
TheNet:ShareKidpubsites,authorsites,literaryprizesites,useyourstudentsforthis.