writing activities

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Home : 2004 : September : 27

writing activities
By Katie

Hello - I live in California and my district uses Open Court. I have all of the ideas from the program, but I have been doing something different. I am using a web that has a circle in the middle and 4 on the outside.
Because these are new writers, I have been filling in the web for them. For example, we just read a unit about, "Things That Go." I changed it so the writing promopt was, My favorite place to go is... it was about our favorite place to go and how we get there. I basically filled out the web for them, giving them a few examples at the bottom of each circle for them to choose from. I

wrote the beginning sentence at the top of the page. I got really frustrated about their lack of abilities after 30 min on the first day and I stopped it. The next day I did it again, same as the day before and they did a fantastic job. I did it once again showing them what I expected.
Because the web has the beginning sentences with lines for them to fill in, like a Mad Libs, it was fool proof. The kids are able to write a complete paragraph.
My circles included: In the center: favorite place to go. How I get there: Who I go with: What I do when I am there and if I will go there again.

All 20 of my kids did 3 rough drafts and a final.

They all were so excited about their work. I was too.

From now on, at least for the next couple of months, I will fill out a web in advance. I will have the sentence stater at the top and a few choices at the bottom of the circle for them to pick from.

I was so pleased with how this worked. I hope it helps.