EWalker

This week I read Craft Lessons Teaching Writing K-8 pages 14-43. These pages were focused on lessons that can be used in kindergarten through second grade classrooms. This chapter focused on different mini lessons lessons that build a strong writing and reading foundation. The mini lessons gave a topic. It then gave the resource material need for the lesson, the discussion, and how to teach it. I found these lessons very useful. I would like to have a copy of all of these lessons for my files. One of the lessons focused on cause and effect. It used the story Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse as a story to use to help teach this lesson. We have read this story in the classroom a few times this year and my kids love it. I am going to teach this lesson to my class using the story and see how it goes. I enjoyed these lessons and I am excited about teaching them in my classroom!

In the first chapters of Craft Lessons it focuses on setting the table for writing in the classroom. In order for students to become better writers they need time. It is very important that students have time to write every day! Conferences between the student and the teacher are also very important. This book gave a few tips on what to do during a writing conference that are helpful to the teacher. One of the tips is to be positive. I think this is very important especially as young children are learning the how to write. They need to build their confidence in what they are doing.

The first chapter also focuses on literature as an important part of a writing workshop. It also gives ways that literature can be used as a model to writing. Another important thing that this book discusses is the importance of rereading. Children often want to turn their work in as soon as the finish. It takes a lot of effort and time to teach them to reread before turning it in. I think that this book has a lot of insight that I will be able to use in my classroom.