1. DESCRIPTIVE WRITINGDESCRIPTIVE WRITING POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Jeanette Woods Brooks Elementary School 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Bldg. 300C Windsor, CA 95492 (707) 837-7717 http://ctap295.ctaponline.org/jwoods/

2. DESCRIPTIVE WRITING (OR HOW TO GET YOUR RESOURCE STUDENTS TO IMPROVE THEIR WRITING)

3. DEDICATION This entire project from beginning to end is dedicated to the real Angells of Windsor - Kathy and her husband, Mark. Without their constant help, this website and presentation would not exist.

4. As a special education teacher of 4th and 5th grade students, I chose to do a lesson on descriptive writing because I have noticed over the years that writing paragraphs is one of our students’ biggest challenges. I have been seeking ways to make writing more “fun” for kids. After being introduced to this CTAP computer course using websites and the internet, I felt that this may just be what is needed to “turn kids on” to writing.

5. EXPECTATIONS ¤ When I first signed up for this course, I thought I would be learning how to operate a computer. Up to this time I had only used a computer as a glorified typewriter. ¤ If I had known I would be designing a web page and how complex this course was really going to be, I might not have signed up for this course, particularly since I don’t yet own a computer other than an Apple II GS.

6. MY RESULTS/WHAT I LEARNED ¤ I learned that I was really over my head, but that someone would help me to get this project finished. (KATHY ANGELL) ¤ The CTAP program itself has gone through changes since I began last summer, so what I was learning at the beginning may be different now. ¤ Some of my links disappeared before the final project.

7. RESULTS/WHAT I LEARNED ¤ The best thing I learned is that the Internet is a wonderful tool for educators, for anyone. I loved looking at other people’s “stuff”.

8. SUCCESSES ¤ I was able to stick with the program with the constant support of our instructor Kathy Angell. ¤ I am hoping to buy a computer this summer with the money I’ve made doing this. ¤ I now feel more like a contemporary professional instead of a total dinosaur. ¤ The students are much more interested in writing when a computer is involved.

9. FAILURES ¤ I was not able to purchase a computer during the school year; this impeded my progress somewhat. ¤ My computer at school could not handle the amount of information needed to produce a website.

10. SHORTCOMINGS SO FAR…. ¤ I will have to spend the next school year really getting into the process of using the internet and my website in my special education program. I really didn’t have enough time or expertise this year. ¤ I have not yet had time to see if using this website and the computer in my classes will actually improve the quality of my students’ writing; but I am hopeful!!

11. PRE-TEST/POST-TEST DATA

12. REVISIONS TO LESSON PLAN ¤ I tried to reformat the print in my lesson plan because words were pushed together after a few months. ¤ Some of my links had disappeared, so I had to look for new websites. ¤ I realized that the kids needed more time to write rough drafts and final drafts before typing their descriptions of monsters on the computer.

13. REVISIONS TO LESSON PLAN ¤ I found that I had to limit the kids’ drawings of monsters to shapes that could easily be described in writing and easily reproduced by the other student who was reading the description. ¤ I made a list of shapes that could be used and a word bank of difficult words such as “rectangular”, “horizontal”, etc.

14. CONCLUSIONS ¤ I think using technology such as the computer, my very own website, and the internet to discover other educational websites will vastly improve my “with-it- ness” as an educator and will change students’ attitudes towards writing. ¤ I learned that there is a whole lot more to learn!!!!

15. CONCLUSIONS, continued ¤ I really think I have learned something that will continue to benefit me as an educator and as a 21st century adult. ¤ I am sure that this course will inspire me to proceed with technology and improve my instructional strategies.

16. CONCLUSIONS ¤ Using the California Standards insures that I am being a responsible and informed educator and this should impress parents, administrators and board members ¤ Student learning is supported through the use of technology by the fact that students need a new modality for learning. Computers are a “hands on” experience.

17. CONCLUSIONS, continued ¤ I absolutely love exploring educational websites and hopefully I will keep updating my own.