I'm sad I didn't see this mini-lesson in action!! I heard about it second hand from my kiddo's so I hope I get it right!
One of our cute moms hid different objects in paper bags. One object to a paper bag. She then paired each child up with a partner. One was supposed to look inside their bag and see what they object was. Then they needed to describe it to their partner without saying what it was. The partner needed to guess what the object was. My son got a yellow pencil in his bag.
What a GREAT way to help kids practice describing things and gain ideas on how to use descriptive words in their writing!!!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Mini-Lesson: Create a Character
Here is the list of questions I used with the Provo group to help them create a character. We didn't make it through the list so I told them I would post it here!
Step 1- Create a fictional character and answer the following questions about him/her.
1. What is the character's name?
2. Where was s/he born and raised?
3. What is his/her religion and ethnicity?
4. Briefly (though don't get bogged down with cosmetics), what does s/he look like? Fat, thin, tall, short, muscular, flabby, gray, bald?
5. What does s/he believe in?
6. Where has s/he failed or triumphed?
7. Is s/he married, single, divorced?
8. What kind of work does s/he do? Is s/he happy or discontented with it?
9. What are his/her hobbies? Sports? TV?
10. Is s/he neat or is s/he a slob? In order to establish this on paper, you might wish to describe clothing, closet, a drawer of his/her desk, or the trunk of his/her car.
11. Can your mind picture your character making something? Can you see him/her using a simple tool, perhaps, to shape the hull of a mode clipper ship?
12. How do his/her hands behave? Relate them to the tangible things that surround him/her?
13. Is s/he musical? Is there one special instrument that s/he plays well or badly? Does s/he play it alone, for him/herself, or can s/he jam it up for an audience of friends or strangers?
14. What was his/her school and schooling like? Who was the teacher s/he respected and why?
15. What are the events, items, pets, pals that s/he remembers for years?
16. What are his/her idiosyncrasies? Odd habits? Quirks? Pet Peeves?
17. Other than memories, what are the tangible trinkets s/he saves and treasures from his/her past?
18. Is s/he witty? If so, you cannot tell your readers that s/he is instead, you must let the character show that s/he is witty.
19. How does s/he drive a car, tie a tie, gargle? Does s/he cough often, snore, hum, whistle?
20. Read the editorial page of your newspaper and choose which opinions s/he agrees with or disputes? Does s/he argue bitterly, silently, or to anyone who will listen?
21. What is his/her goals? Whom does s/he dream about, yearn for, hate?
Step 2- Once you have answered these questions, create a character sketch which incorporates answers to each of these questions. The answers need not appear in the order of the questions.
Step 3- Read your character sketch to someone. Have the person who is listening jot down unanswered questions and inconsistencies in the character as sketched.
Step 4- Use your character sketch to write a short scenario which focuses on one portion or segment of the character's life. The vignette must contain narration and dialogue. It must include showing details which bring to life the chosen scene. It must also convey a sense of the character by using a gesture or mannerism symbolizing one aspect of his/her personality.
Step 1- Create a fictional character and answer the following questions about him/her.
1. What is the character's name?
2. Where was s/he born and raised?
3. What is his/her religion and ethnicity?
4. Briefly (though don't get bogged down with cosmetics), what does s/he look like? Fat, thin, tall, short, muscular, flabby, gray, bald?
5. What does s/he believe in?
6. Where has s/he failed or triumphed?
7. Is s/he married, single, divorced?
8. What kind of work does s/he do? Is s/he happy or discontented with it?
9. What are his/her hobbies? Sports? TV?
10. Is s/he neat or is s/he a slob? In order to establish this on paper, you might wish to describe clothing, closet, a drawer of his/her desk, or the trunk of his/her car.
11. Can your mind picture your character making something? Can you see him/her using a simple tool, perhaps, to shape the hull of a mode clipper ship?
12. How do his/her hands behave? Relate them to the tangible things that surround him/her?
13. Is s/he musical? Is there one special instrument that s/he plays well or badly? Does s/he play it alone, for him/herself, or can s/he jam it up for an audience of friends or strangers?
14. What was his/her school and schooling like? Who was the teacher s/he respected and why?
15. What are the events, items, pets, pals that s/he remembers for years?
16. What are his/her idiosyncrasies? Odd habits? Quirks? Pet Peeves?
17. Other than memories, what are the tangible trinkets s/he saves and treasures from his/her past?
18. Is s/he witty? If so, you cannot tell your readers that s/he is instead, you must let the character show that s/he is witty.
19. How does s/he drive a car, tie a tie, gargle? Does s/he cough often, snore, hum, whistle?
20. Read the editorial page of your newspaper and choose which opinions s/he agrees with or disputes? Does s/he argue bitterly, silently, or to anyone who will listen?
21. What is his/her goals? Whom does s/he dream about, yearn for, hate?
Step 2- Once you have answered these questions, create a character sketch which incorporates answers to each of these questions. The answers need not appear in the order of the questions.
Step 3- Read your character sketch to someone. Have the person who is listening jot down unanswered questions and inconsistencies in the character as sketched.
Step 4- Use your character sketch to write a short scenario which focuses on one portion or segment of the character's life. The vignette must contain narration and dialogue. It must include showing details which bring to life the chosen scene. It must also convey a sense of the character by using a gesture or mannerism symbolizing one aspect of his/her personality.
Writing Binders
Some of the cute kids do not have their tabs filled out in their binders. Here are some ideas for you to write on their tabs.
Journal Writing
Mini-Lessons
Writing Propts
Pre-Writing
Drafting
Revising
Editing
Publishing
Working On
Done
(the last two tabs are best for young students)
It's important that the child personalizes his binder as well. For example, my cute son wanted to divide his writings up into categories. He has a tab for action, mystery, humor, etc. He is starting to see that some of his stories overlap both the categories, which is fine, but he eventually figures out where he wants it to go! :)
So have fun personalizing your binders and the tabs. The sky is the limit! :) If your child writes something different on his/her tab than what we have posted above, please share in the comments!
Journal Writing
Mini-Lessons
Writing Propts
Pre-Writing
Drafting
Revising
Editing
Publishing
Working On
Done
(the last two tabs are best for young students)
It's important that the child personalizes his binder as well. For example, my cute son wanted to divide his writings up into categories. He has a tab for action, mystery, humor, etc. He is starting to see that some of his stories overlap both the categories, which is fine, but he eventually figures out where he wants it to go! :)
So have fun personalizing your binders and the tabs. The sky is the limit! :) If your child writes something different on his/her tab than what we have posted above, please share in the comments!
PROVO GROUP - Oct. 6th
There will be NO mini-lesson on Oct. 6th. We are having a guest speaker..and she is AMAZING!!! :)
Make a Movie
There is a super creative boy in one of the groups that is doing the coolest project! He is writing his own movie for his family to act out and record! What a GREAT way to get a child excited about writing- and a SUPER FUN, MEMORY MAKING way to publish it! When I chatted with him this week he told me he is even working on his own commercial to advertise the movie! BRILLIANT!! I was SO EXCITED about his wonderful idea and I wanted to share!
In fact, while doing personal scripture study with one of my own children I realized that many of the stories and teachings were not sticking with him. I thought back to this wonderful idea and I asked my sweet child if he would like to do that with one of his stories-- and he jumped all over the idea and has already begun the project! I know he will learn the stories so much better using this idea!
In fact, while doing personal scripture study with one of my own children I realized that many of the stories and teachings were not sticking with him. I thought back to this wonderful idea and I asked my sweet child if he would like to do that with one of his stories-- and he jumped all over the idea and has already begun the project! I know he will learn the stories so much better using this idea!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Monster Cafe
Have you ever wondered what a monster would eat? What about Frankenstein or a witch? What would they LOVE to eat for dinner? Monster Cafe is a SUPER FUN activity for young kids or a reluctant writer, and with Halloween right around the corner it's the PERFECT time for this activity! Have your child(ren) design a menu for the Monster Cafe- or Frankenstein's Diner, etc. Have them design and write the menu which needs to include two appetizers, two main courses, two desserts, and two beverages. You can take it even one step further and decided what you would really serve for those dishes.. and then eat it on Halloween night!!! :D
Example:
Appetizers- Monster Toes (Cocktail Wieners w/ a Red Ketchup Finger Nail)
Beverages- Poison Ivy Sap (Apples Cider with Gummy Worms)
lol- ok, so my creative juices are not flowing right now!! But there is no doubt that a child could come up with some AMAZING ideas!!!
Have FUN creating your menu's! If you do this activity with your child(ren), PLEASE post your menus in the comments!! I'd love to see what you came up with!
Example:
Appetizers- Monster Toes (Cocktail Wieners w/ a Red Ketchup Finger Nail)
Beverages- Poison Ivy Sap (Apples Cider with Gummy Worms)
lol- ok, so my creative juices are not flowing right now!! But there is no doubt that a child could come up with some AMAZING ideas!!!
Have FUN creating your menu's! If you do this activity with your child(ren), PLEASE post your menus in the comments!! I'd love to see what you came up with!
Blog Posts
Parents,
I would LOVE to see you post your mini-lessons on here if possible. They can be mini-lessons from class or ones that you are using at home with your own kids. I would love to have lots of ideas put together for future writers workshops! :) THANKS for all your work and CREATIVE ideas!! We've already had many FANTASTIC mini-lessons already!
I would LOVE to see you post your mini-lessons on here if possible. They can be mini-lessons from class or ones that you are using at home with your own kids. I would love to have lots of ideas put together for future writers workshops! :) THANKS for all your work and CREATIVE ideas!! We've already had many FANTASTIC mini-lessons already!
End-of-Semester Workshop Book
I would like to put together a class book for the end of our semester. Please help your kids select ONE writing that they would like published for all to take home. I will need ALL writings submitted to me by the first week in November. THANKS for all your help with this!!! Your kids are FANTASTIC and I'm glad we can work together!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Word for Word Game
This game came from a woman named Peggy Kaye. I LOVE the games and ideas she has! We've had a lot of fun with them!
Word for Word Game
You first choose a title of a story for your game. It should describe a little about what the story will be about. An idea for a title would be, The Mad Scientist Strikes Again or Hunting for Dinosaurs.
Once you decide on your title you are ready to begin! Both you and your child will write this story together. So, how do you decide who will write what? DICE! lol! Mom, you roll the dice first. If you roll a four, that means you write the first for words of the story. Not three words or five words, FOUR! :) For example,
This morning I went
Now, hand the die to your child and let them roll. If they roll a one they are only allowed to write ONE word. For example,
This morning I went FOR
Then you roll again. Continue through the game to the end of the story. Make sure you put the focus on the writing and the fun of the game, NOT spelling, handwriting, etc. You don't want to kill the fun! :) (trust me, I made that mistake once. :S) Make sure you do not let you or your child write more than the number on the dice.... it can be tough when you have lots of ideas, but it adds to the fun and keeps everyone excited!!!
Have some writing fun!!! :)
Word for Word Game
You first choose a title of a story for your game. It should describe a little about what the story will be about. An idea for a title would be, The Mad Scientist Strikes Again or Hunting for Dinosaurs.
Once you decide on your title you are ready to begin! Both you and your child will write this story together. So, how do you decide who will write what? DICE! lol! Mom, you roll the dice first. If you roll a four, that means you write the first for words of the story. Not three words or five words, FOUR! :) For example,
This morning I went
Now, hand the die to your child and let them roll. If they roll a one they are only allowed to write ONE word. For example,
This morning I went FOR
Then you roll again. Continue through the game to the end of the story. Make sure you put the focus on the writing and the fun of the game, NOT spelling, handwriting, etc. You don't want to kill the fun! :) (trust me, I made that mistake once. :S) Make sure you do not let you or your child write more than the number on the dice.... it can be tough when you have lots of ideas, but it adds to the fun and keeps everyone excited!!!
Have some writing fun!!! :)
Great Website!
Writing Fix is one of my favorite websites for mini-lessons. I also love the Two Writing Teachers blog. They always inspire me! I have several other writing ideas that I would love to share with you-- but that will not happen until this weekend! :)
Schedule
This Fall we are discussing the writing process and then in Spring we will cover the six traits. Below you will find the Fall schedule and your mini-lesson topic
AF
9-7 Lori Willard
9-14 Christy- pre-writing
9-21 Haley Lewis- pre-writing
9-28 Karen Erickson- drafting
10-5 Michele Baird- drafting
10-12 Annette Keeler- revising
10-19 Kendra Hales-revising
10-26 Heleen Wittusen-editing
11-2 Penny Chinchay-editing
11-9 Cheri Schulzke- publishing- or your choice
11-16 Writing Games and Party- Pass out class books!
Provo
9-8 Lori Willard
9-15 Nickie Alan- pre-writing
9-22 Melanie Vaughn- pre-writing
9-29 Rebecca Davidson- drafting
10-6 Kelley Atwood- drafting
10-13 Dee Dee Forward- revising
10-20 Nickie Alan- revising
10-27 Melanie Vaughn- editing
11-3 Rebecca Davidson- editing
11-10 Kelley Atwood- publishing- or your choice
11-17 Writing Games and Party- Pass out class books!
9-7 Lori Willard
9-14 Christy- pre-writing
9-21 Haley Lewis- pre-writing
9-28 Karen Erickson- drafting
10-5 Michele Baird- drafting
10-12 Annette Keeler- revising
10-19 Kendra Hales-revising
10-26 Heleen Wittusen-editing
11-2 Penny Chinchay-editing
11-9 Cheri Schulzke- publishing- or your choice
11-16 Writing Games and Party- Pass out class books!
Provo
9-8 Lori Willard
9-15 Nickie Alan- pre-writing
9-22 Melanie Vaughn- pre-writing
9-29 Rebecca Davidson- drafting
10-6 Kelley Atwood- drafting
10-13 Dee Dee Forward- revising
10-20 Nickie Alan- revising
10-27 Melanie Vaughn- editing
11-3 Rebecca Davidson- editing
11-10 Kelley Atwood- publishing- or your choice
11-17 Writing Games and Party- Pass out class books!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
fun blank books
http://www.barebooks.com/
This site has really fun, blank books for kids to put their writing & stories in. Lined, & unlined pages, templates to add lines on just the pages you want, board books, tons of stuff. Very reasonably priced too!
This site has really fun, blank books for kids to put their writing & stories in. Lined, & unlined pages, templates to add lines on just the pages you want, board books, tons of stuff. Very reasonably priced too!
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