Journal Spelling Grammar WWW Composition Writing Presenting
We’ve all had moments in which that perfect word, ingenious idea, or profound thought was forgotten for good because we never bothered to write it down. Published writers keep a journal or “writer’s notebook” to capture such contemplations, ideas, or perceptions because they know that key thoughts can go as quickly as they come. To help 4 th, 5 th, and 6 th graders improve their ability to generate good ideas for their writing, and to develop their own personal “writing bank of thoughts” they will journal like professional writers during Writing Workshop.
Entries at Home One journal entry requirement per school night 5 required entries per week but students are not expected to make journal entries on off days from school including weekends, holidays, or institute days. Spend a minimum of 5 min per entry Entries count toward your homework grade Any WWW activities such as word gifts or examples of good writing will first be displayed in class and then added to journal Students may pre-write in their journal (brainstorm ideas or create an outline for an upcoming writing project.) Entries in Class
Examples of journal entries include but are not limited to: Diary like entries Story or poem starters Pasted examples of good writing from newspapers, magazines, or copied out of books etc. Various forms of brainstorming Doodling Feelings and perceptions about the world Words or phrases we love that we might want to use in our own writing one day Lists Responses to books, movies, songs, poetry, or even artwork
No pretest Students receive a new list of words which gets pasted in their spelling notebook Teacher facilitates a spelling mini-lesson Teacher may call small spelling groups to target pronunciation and spelling pattern instruction Student studies spelling list during course of week for homework and takes final test on Friday
Students receive 2 new grammar rules which they have to memorize as homework for a test on Friday Teacher facilitates a grammar mini-lesson about new rules Class completes exercises relating to new grammar rules together in class Teacher may call small grammar groups to target difficulties Students are mindful of applying the new grammar rule to their writing from this week and on Students study grammar rules during course of week for homework and take final test on Friday. Test includes: writing down the rule correctly One to four of the sentences that were done together in class on Tuesday so students must also look over all the exercises we completed since some of them will come up on the quiz.
WWW stands for words and examples well-written work. Every Wednesday I will assign a “hunt” for good words or examples of writing that show exemplary use of a certain skill we are learning in class like sensory words. Students will share their finds with their classmates on the following Wednesday. Students will be given a rubric to follow for these assignments.
After the daily writing mini-lesson the teacher will pull small groups to study an excerpt or a small piece of classical writing such as a fable, a myth, or a bible story. Students will learn about various classical components of writing that were utilized to craft the piece such as: recognition, reversal, suffering, echphrasis, and dialogismos. The teacher will guide students to use some of these components in their own writing to achieve more clarity and effect.
Writing will be taught in a writing workshop format. During Writing Workshop: Teacher facilitates a daily 5-15 minute mini-lesson on a writing skill related to the genre we’re currently studying After writing mini-lesson and any other mini-lesson of the day, students get about min of independent writing time. During that time: Students will follow the writing process (pre-write, draft, revise, edit, publish) to take mandatory and free-choice writing projects to completion teacher pulls small groups or works with individual students to help clarify and strengthen particular writing needs
Students will present most of the mandatory writing projects they complete throughout the year Presentation skills will be taught and practiced for about a week at the completion of every mandatory writing project Spelling, grammar, and composition lessons will be postponed during a presentation learning and practicing week Students will present their writing in many different ways: Author Days: formal presentations to parents and loved ones School Fair: Students will informally present their work to interested onlookers Oratorical Festival: everyone formally presents their oratorical essay in front of judges. Three winners present their essays at the Saint John the Baptist Church Oratorical Festival during lent
MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday 5 minute journaling Study spelling list for final spelling test (approximately min per week) Memorize 2 new grammar rules and review grammar exercises for Friday’s grammar quiz (approximately min per week) Find interesting words or examples of good writing (always due the following Wed) (approximately min per week)