1. Teaching Children To Have Fun Learning to Write Laurie Anderson Presented by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and All Prints

2. The Brain and Attention Span Maximum attention span of an adult is 18 minutes. Child’s attention span is age plus 2 minutes.

3. Writing Learning to Write Writing to Express What They Have Learned

4. Why Writing Matters Writing is associated with… Improved Math Scores Improved Social Studies Scores Improved Science Scores Reeves, Douglas B. (2003). Building on Success: Case Studies in Collaborative Success in Omaha.

5. Why Writing Matters Writing Across the Curriculum Students benefit three ways: better understanding of the content practice a technique that aids in retention they begin to write better -Walker, 1988; Kurtiss, 1985

6. Reasons Students Should Write Writing improves reading comprehension Writing improves achievement in other academic areas Writing contributes to a sense of connection and personal efficacy Reeves, Douglas B. 2002. Reason to Write: Help Your Child Succeed in School and in Life Through Better Reasoning and Clear Communication. Kaplan: New York

7. Heart

9. Survey Findings 80 percent of companies with greatest growth potential – assess writing during hiring Half of all companies take writing into account when making promotion decisions Whatever the form of communication, these skills are expected: –Accuracy –Clarity –Correctness

10. Survey Findings More than half of responding companies report they “frequently” or “almost always” produce –technical reports –formal reports –memos and correspondence

11. “…the most worthwhile goals of writing… Writing –to think –to move another person –to create something that will be remembered –to develop a unique personal voice –to develop and maintain a spirit of unrelenting curiosity –to be wholly comfortable with the act/process of writing” - Vicki Spandel, The 9 Rights of Every Writer, 2005

12. Writing Instruction Language Experience Approach Shared Writing Interactive Writing Guided Writing

13. 13 Vocabulary and Print Awareness Letter formation and position Word awareness and formation Prior knowledge and experiences “Hearing the sounds in their heads” Building a repertoire of words based on experiences with books, print, and life.

15. Words that tickled my ears Puzzling Words Words that make me laugh Eye-Pleasing words Words I’ve heard someone use Words that make noise Smart Words Words that make me wonder

16. TOPIC SENTENCE DETAIL Summary/ CONCLUSION

18. CUBE IT Character Character Setting Setting Problem Problem Solution Solution One Detail One Detail Wow! Detail or Wow! Detail or Best Part…

19. 19 Cubing Describe It! Describe It! Color, shape, size… Compare It! Compare It! Is like/ different … Associate It! Associate It! Reminds you of… Apply It! Apply It! How to use it… Sense It! Sense It! Taste, smell, feel… Feel It! Feel It! Emotions… Emotions…

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22. Circle Map Island

23. Opinion Paragraph Voice Claim Reason Evidence

24. 24 How can schools help ESL students develop their writing? Regardless of their developmental stage, children need continuous opportunities to: –Write on a daily basis –Write for many different purposes, both personal and academic –Make choices in what they write about –Make small books in content areas –Take risks in trying new ideas and experimenting with new skills

26. 26 10 Tips to Help Children Become Successful Writers Accept drawings and scribbles in early stages of writing Allow students to dictate phrases or sentences to accompany illustrations Model writing for students Encourage students to use development spelling in their early writing as a way of building skills, not to encourage carelessness!

27. 27 10 Tips to Help Children Become Successful Writers Use a class experience approach to get started Set aside a special time for writing time Praise students for any writing which they attempt Display student writing in the classroom Read student writing aloud Save and date writing samples to share with parents and to document writing progress

28. 28 We don’t teach writing, we teach writers.

29. Thank You! Laurie Anderson laurie.anderson@hmhco.com Presented by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and All Prints