Sharing Poetry Projects

I really enjoyed getting to hear what each person in my writing circle did for their poetry project.  I learned something from each person in my writing circle.  I could see that each person had great results from their project and were impressed with what their students accomplished.  In conclusion, my writing circle felt like we needed to spend more time in the revising process of our poetry project.  We also felt like our students enjoyed the poetry projects because we gave them choices and the opportunity to have ownership over their work.  Personally, I was extremely impressed with how my well my students did on their I-Poems.  I am looking forward to implementing this project with my class next year. 

Poetry Project

I just finished my poetry project!  I am really excited to share what my students did with my writing circle tomorrow.  I  am also excited about hearing what the lady’s in my writing circle did for their poetry projects!

Multigenre Presentations

WOW!  I have never been so excited about observing presentations before!  I was truly amazed at the amount of effort and time my fellow classmates put into their multigenre projects.  As each member in my writing circle were presenting  their multigenre projects, Icould sense the pride and ownership they had over each piece they were sharing.  I learned about the Titanic, Dr. Seuss, Bears, and Egypt.  I gained insightful information on each subject matter.  I could truly tell that each person in my writing circle enjoyed doing their multigenre project and took more away from it than any research paper they had everwritten.  I truly enjoyed doing my multigenre project on penguins because I can use it in my 1st grade classroom.  I can also continue to build on my project.  I was so glad to be presented with the opportunity to complete a multigenre project.  I am excited about implementing a multigenre project on penguins in my 1st grade class next year!

Thoughts on Graphic Novels/Wordless Picture Books

Growing up I always loved reading the comic strips on the back of the news paper, well I still enjoy that today.  So, I was excited to get to read Owly and To Dance: A Ballerina’s Graphic Novel.  I absolutely fell in love with the book Owly.  I was completely drawn into the story and all the characters, especially Owly.  This story seemed to be grade appropriate for my 1st graders.  I am planning on reading it to them on Friday and discussing Wordless Picture Books.  I can’t wait to see what they have to say about the story. To Dance: A Balarina’s Graphic Novel was also a great read.  I loved how the pictures told the story, at times, better than the text did.  I was drawn into this girl’s story and truly desired the best for her.  I think this story would be a great read for older students, because they have more life experiences and could relate easier.  However, I think my 1st graders, especially my girls would enjoy hearing this story read to them.  I plan to do this in the future as well.

I never really thought about the effects Graphic Novels/Wordless Picture Books have on students until I read the articles.  Graphic Novels and Wordless Picture Books provide struggling readers and ESL students with a since of confidence and encouragement to read.  Being a 1st grade teacher, I never really thought about using Graphic Novels/Wordless Picture Books to help my struggling readers.  What a great way to teach them to read without them even realizing it.  Graphic Novels and Wordless Picture Books  also help students increase their vocabulary skills, express themselves creatively, understand plot, relate to the characters, make inferences, and develop better comprehension skills.  These skills are vital in learning how to become a better reader and writer.  I loved the idea of having the class develop a Wordless Picture Book and read it to a lower grade level.  What a great way to support and encourage your students.  I really think my 1st graders would enjoy making a Wordless Picture Book based off the story Owly.  I plan to start this fun adventure next week.  I can’t wait to see the final outcome!

Memoir Teaching to Bilingual Students

I really enjoyed getting to read this article.  I truly believe that each student is so important no mater their background or language.  As an educator I love to discover ways to reach all of my students.  The thing that stuck out to me the most in this article was the fact that the teachers encouraged the bilingual students to use both of their languages in their memoir writing.  What a great way to make those students feel welcome and free to truly write about a memory that means something to them.

Thoughts on My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother

I read this book to my class today and my students loved it.  As I was reading about the little girl always wanting to show her brother that she could beat him in something, many of them laughed and said they have told their siblings the same thing.  This showed me that my students were able to relate to this story very easily.  It also showed me that teaching first graders about memoir writing would not be as hard as I thought.  I think the big key is marinating them in memoir text and taking the time to study that particular genre.  This is something I would like to explored next year.  That way I can use the summer to learn more about memoir writing and how to use it in my classroom.

Thoughts On Memoir

Before I read the two passages on Memoir writing, the only thing I knew about it was writing about a memory.  After I read these articles, I realized it is so much more.  It is taking a portion of your life, a special memory, and taking time to revisit all the details of that memory.  Then, writing about that memory in a way that opens readers up to your thoughts, conversations and feelings about that particular memory.  A memoir is one of the best ways to show authenticity as a writer.  I have never really thought much about keeping a memoir.  I think it would be great to do this when I have children and then give it to them when they are grown.  They would be able to see my thoughts, conversations and feelings about when they were growing up.  What a special treasure that would be to pass along to them. 

Final Thoughts on “Writing Without Boundaries”

I enjoyed reading this book because it had a lot of helpful tips in it and it was an easy read.  I was able to obtain some helpful ideas on different types of genres I could use for my Multi-genre project.  One thing that really seemed to stick out in my mind as I was finishing the book, was the amount of parent and community involvement.  I never really thought about involving the parents and community in my students work.  What a great idea.  This really seemed to motivate the students and give them confidence.  In the future I hope to be able to involve my parents in my students’ writing process as well.  I think my little 1st graders would love to have their parents, principal, friend, etc… come and hear them read a poem or view their writing.  This book also really made me wish I could have done one of these projects in high school and college instead of all the lovely research papers I had to do.  I am already learning so much about Penguins.  I am excited to see where this Multi-genre project will take me.  I am even more excited about sharing my thoughts and ideas and obtaining feedback from others.

Multi-genre Project

Last night I thought I wanted to do my Multi-genre project on Abraham Lincoln.  However, after thinking about my different teaching units and looking at other Muli-genre projects, I have now decided to do mine on Penguins.  Penguins are amazing creatures and I think my 1st graders will absolutely love learning about them through my project.  If anyone has any books, movies, etc… on Penguins I would love to check them out.  Thanks for your help.

Thoughts on Moulton Article

After reading the article, I really wished that I could have done a Multigenre Project in high school and college to replace all the boring research papers I had to write.  It sounds like the majority of students got more out of their Multigenre Project than writing a research paper.  Multigenre writing seems to give students freedom, creativity and a since of ownership over thier topic.

I am a little nervous and excited at the same time about starting my Multigenre Project.  I am not really sure how I can bring this down to a 1st grade level.  I am open for any ideas or suggestions.