Inspiring Stamina During the Workshop

Last year, I felt like my job as a first grade teacher was to take kiddies who were needy kindergartners and turn them into independent students, ready to work hard in second grade.  The jump between the kindergarten and first grade standards alone...enough said.  And the curriculum is demanding:  I certainly don't remember writing a how-to book or an all about book on an "expert" topic for 20 to 30 minutes each day.  I remember practicing my spelling words on ice cream paper and the Superkids.

So how do we get these five, six, and seven year-olds to work so hard for an extended period of time?  I think that's a question that we will forever be answering, but I know my colleagues and I would try some nifty tricks to motivate students to remain focused for an extended period of time.

Courtesy of http://www.wpclipart.com

National Novel Writing Month

So thanks to A Purse Full of Cheerios, I found out that this is National Novel Writing Month.  I'm a little bit late to this party, but I figured I'd post about it anyway.  This wonderful site is a cool opportunity young writers to transform themselves into novelists!!

NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program via kwout

Writing Celebrations

How much do I love writing workshop?  The irony is that I really didn't like writing throughout my academic career.  In fact, writing cover letters, essays, blogs, etc. are still challenging for me.  However, this philosophy of allowing students to select their topics rather than assigning a topic is liberating.  The concept that everybody is an author is amazing.  The idea that they can emulate my their favorite authors (ie, Mo Willems) is incredible.  I really do love writers workshop...

Anyway, I was reflecting/reminiscing on past writing celebrations.  Last year, around this time, I had invited the kindergarten teachers to celebrate with us Writing for Readers.  We were showing off our legible writing, stretched out spelling, and neat work.  Each student left his/her writing piece on the desk while we walked around and read each other's pieces, like a gallery.  When the xylophone played a melody, we rotated tables.  Teachers were free to meander as they pleased.  In the end we reflected on what makes a writing piece readable.  So much fun!