Schedule writing every day or at least on consecutive days
2. Limit the use of prompts that have no real audience (such as, "Write a letter to the author telling him one thing you would change about the story").
3. Provide more choice of writing topics. Students write more easily about something they are interested in.
4. Integrate test preparation.
5. Teach basic skills in context.
6. Teach students to revise and edit as they go; this saves time later on.
7. Expect high-frequency words to be correctly spelled. This saves correction time and aids speeding of writing.
8. Expect legible handwriting. This saves time for your students and for you.
9. Encourage invented spellings within reasonable, agreed-on-guidelines. This speeds up writing and encourages broader use of words.
10. Use parents as final editors in the classroom.
11. Tell students why - make writing purpose understood. Students will invest more in their writing.
There are some really great teachers that teach at my school but I think they spend way to long at school everyday. I stay for a little while but I know that there is a little boy and a great husband waiting at home and I really don't want to miss a minute that I can spend with each of them, especially together!
Kelly,
ReplyDeleteI took note of the same key ideas as I was reading this chapter. I think that I am most likely one of those teachers who spends too much time at school. There is so much to be done, I just have to learn that no matter how much you work, there will always be something to be done. You are right, there is so much going on in the world that we shouldn't miss out on! Everything will get done in time. :) This is where we can also give students more ownership and responsibility in the classroom!
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ReplyDeleteTwo important points I will also take with me are allow choice in writing and provide topics with a real audience. These seem so simple yet so valuable. I have seen expensive writing curriculums that fail to provide these simple qualities. We have to keep those professional conversations going about best practices, expectations of excellent teachers, and common writing goals and criteria.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea of staying too long. I am single, and am really bad about staying late. I found what you took notes on to be of interest to me as well. I especially agree with teaching concepts within context. I know from personal experience that if the topic is not relivant to me I tune out. I image it is the same for our students.
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