SHELLEY CLIFFORD EMAIL :

SCLIFFORD@MOUNTVERNONSCHOOL.ORGTWITTER: CLIFFORDSHELLEY

Part I:Writer’s Block

Collaboration

Group upReadFlipFind

Professional Resources

Atwell, Nancie. 2002. Lessons That Change Writers. New Hampshire: Heinemann. PGS 50-51, 127-128, and 182-183.

Fletcher, Ralf. 1993. What a Writer Needs. New Hampshire: Heinemann. PGS 81-90.

Fletcher, Ralf and Joann Portalupi. 1998. Craft Lessons. Maine: Stenhouse Publishers PG 29.

Steel, Kimberly. http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com

www.readwritethink.org

Why do we write?To inform?

To persuade?

To entertain?

To explain?

To predict?

To summarize?

Tell your story in 5 minutes or less!Tell your story in 140 characters or less!

Donald Miller’s

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

How I learned to live a better story

Donald Miller

p. 244p.115Marketing 101

Refocus your Purpose

We write to Communicate Collaborate/Connect Create

Is anyone else studying the 5 C’s at their school?!

What is the best “Program” to use?

It’s not about the program, it is about the skills.

Clear Assessment.High Expectations.Extra time to Prewrite.Repeated Mini Lessons.Mentor Texts.Modeling.Practice.Praise.

What does your classroom say about writing?

What is your goal?Why do you teach writing?

A student who can “Rock” the SAT?A reflector?An author?

Start with the End in Mind

Score of 6An essay in this category demonstrates clear and

consistent mastery, although it may have a few minor errors. A typical essay: Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the

issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons and other evidence to support its position

Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas

Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate and apt vocabulary

Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure Is free of most errors in grammar, usage and mechanics

Start with the End in Mind

Start with the End in Mind

“Intricate, puzzle-like…startling and violent.”– The New York Times

“An Audacious and Powerful Work” -The Miami Herald“…that rare literary phenomenon, a Southern novel

with no mildew on its magnolia leaves. Funny, happy, and written with unspectacular precision…”

-VOGUE

The Kindergarten The Perfect Sentence

Begins with a capital letterContains a subject “who or what” and

predicate “what happens” to express a complete thought

Ends with proper punctuation

LiteracyAssessment

Capital Letter 1 2 3Complete Thought 1 2 3Punctuation 1 2 3

EVALUATE YOUR SENTENCE. REVISE IF NECESSARY.

HINT: REVISION IS ALWAYS NECESSARY IN WRITING!

21st Century Skills AssessmentWas your sentence…

obvious (1)………(2)…….(3)……beyond the given

•BEGINS WITH A CAPITAL LETTER•CONTAINS A SUBJECT “ WHO OR WHAT” AND PREDICATE “ WHAT HAPPENS” TO EXPRESS A COMPLETE THOUGHT•ENDS WITH PROPER PUNCTUATION•PRONOUNS, IF USED, HAVE AN ANTECEDENT•TELLS OR ASKS

A PDSThe First Grade Sentence

TELLING SENTENCECAPITAL LETTER 1 2 3COMPLETE THOUGHT 1 2 3PUNCTUATION 1 2 3PRONOUN N/A 2 3

ASKING SENTENCECAPITAL LETTER 1 2 3COMPLETE THOUGHT 1 2 3PUNCTUATION 1 2 3 PRONOUN N/A 2 3

Assessment

What do you…. See? Think? Wonder?

Write a sentence about the picture below.

Ways to Teach Proper Sentences Structure

See, Think, Wonder

How can you make your sentence stand out? Be original!

Remember the rules. Focus on the fun!

Enhance your sentencesMake a Claim…

Share your sentences

Was your sentence…

obvious (1)………(2)……….(3)………………beyond the given fuzzy (1)……………(2)………(3)………..……….clear & focusedsimple (1)…………(2)………(3)….…………….elaborate

Evaluate your sentence. Revise if necessary. Hint: Revision is always necessary in writing!

A Charleston Day Second Grade Sentence

Begins with a capital letterContains a subject “who or what” and

predicate “what happens” to express a complete thought

Ends with proper punctuationPronouns, if used, have an antecedentIncludes adjectivesTells, asks, excites, or commands

TELLING SENTENCECAPITAL LETTER 1 2 3COMPLETE THOUGHT 1 2 3PUNCTUATION 1 2 3PRONOUN N/A 2 3DESCRIBING WORDS 1 2 3

ASKING SENTENCECAPITAL LETTER 1 2 3COMPLETE THOUGHT 1 2 3PUNCTUATION 1 2 3 PRONOUN N/A 2 3DESCRIBING WORDS 1 2 3

Assessment

Assessment (continued)

Exciting Sentence Capital Letter 1 2 3 Complete Thought 1 2 3 Punctuation 1 2 3 Pronoun n/a 2 3 Describing words 1 2 3

Commanding Sentence Capital Letter 1 2 3 Complete Thought 1 2 3 Punctuation 1 2 3 Pronoun n/a 2 3 Describing Words 1 2 3

EVALUATE YOUR SENTENCE. REVISE IF NECESSARY. HINT: REVISION IS ALWAYS NECESSARY IN WRITING!

Was your sentence…

obvious (1)……(2)…….(3)……………beyond the given

fuzzy (1)…………(2)……(3)………..….clear & focused

Cover the floor in sentence strips.Pass out punctuation.

Then, they create their own sentences on strips.

Telling/Declarative

Command/Imperative

Question/Interrogative

Exclamation

Extensions

AdverbsAppeals to the SensesCompound subjects, predicates, or sentencesImagery Literary DevicesWord Choice Quotations Dependent ClausesFragments, Sentences, Run-ons

One might ask, “What do you do with one fabulous sentence?”

Tweet it, of courseTwittering about Leaning

(An) ImpressiveA Perfect Paragraph

IndentedTopic Sentence

Supporting DetailsSequential OrderVariety of VerbsVaried first wordConclusion Sentence

HookI

statementRestate

HookPorky PigRestate

LET’S LOOK AT YOUR RUBRICS AND MINE.IBOOK\FIFTH GRADE LA\WRITING\RUBRICS

IBOOK\SPEECH CONTEST\RUBRIC

IBOOK\FIFTH GRADE LA\TECHNOLOGY\GLOGRUBRIC.DOCX

Start with the End in Mind

Early

Authors

•Express Personal Experiences

•Journals for sentences and/or art

Developing

Authors

•Aware of the needs of an audience

•Explore the purposes of writing

Elite Authors

•Combine audience and purpose

•Produce varied forms of meaningful communication

EVERY WRITER, L IKE EVERY RUNNER, NEEDS A STRONG WARM UP. PROMPTS

THAT ENCOURAGE LISTING VARIED AND UNUSUAL IDEAS STRETCH THE BRAIN. STRETCH TO INCREASE FLUENCY; THEN

SHARE AND CELEBRATE ORIGINAL IDEAS. NEXT, TAKE THOSE IDEAS AND ALTER THEM FOR A SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT.

THIS CHALLENGES FLEXIBILITY IN THINKING. FINALLY, ELABORATE ON THE

BEST ANSWER. SUCH A WARM UP WILL PREPARE ANY WRITER FOR MARATHON.

Now that we know where we are going, how are we going to get

there?

Warm Ups

Word Puzzles… Head…Compound Word Sort

Number, Please!

Each word below contains the letters necessary to spell a number.

1. Snooze_______2. Favorite_______3. Twine_________4. Froze_______5. Wrote________6. Exercise_______7. Tightest_______8. Beginning_____

Objects with Body Parts

ClockNeedleShirtPinGloveBottlePotatoJarZipper

ShoeCarChairSocksDressBedCornstalkSawRiver

Loaf of breadSewing

machineStormRoad

Tell your reaction in one sentence

You are caught outside in a severe rain storm.A severe rainstorm catches you by surprise.You go on your first roller coaster ride.The car arrives for you to step into your first

roller coaster ride.Mom and dad let you play hooky from school.The old, deserted house is unlocked.The blazes from the forest fire near by catch

your attention.

Similes

Loud asRough asPretty asQuiet asRed asScary asSoft asShy asShiny as

Tiny as Smooth asStinky asSqueaky asWhite asTall asBig asSwift asCool as

Cold asHot as Dark asDry asRound as Ugly asStrong asStudents

create original beginnings

Expanding Sentences

We heard a lion roar.I saw a cat.Last night we went to a football game.My baby sister is sleeping in her room.My principal is a lady.Mitchell acted today.

Here is the Answer-What is the Question?

Let’s go investigate!Under the bedIn the morningHawaiiIn a lakeA barking dogFishMy husband

1001 Uses

A cup A light bulb A button A bird cage A piece of paper An old bathtub A broom A ladder A brick A candle A walnut A hat A broken clock

A tea kettle A bead A nail A wastebasket A parachute A tree branch A chair A block A tire An umbrella A sock A book A broken-down

school bus A trunk An old typewriter A textbook A barrel A plate A pillow A spoon A ring

What can we add to this list?

Spontaneous, Timed Thinking

Name as many things as you can that fly, or use the world fly in as many unusual ways as you can.

TimerEveryone stands – celebrate the number of

responses. Celebrate originality.

Spontaneous, Timed Thinking

Name things that are green or turn green.Name things that are slow.Name things that have a pleasant smell.Hunters seek game animals. What else seeks what?Name things that stick or anything that gets stuck.Name people or things that stop something and

what it is they stop.Name kinds of keys.Name kinds of traps.Give the titles of different designers and what it is

they design.

Use the word “under” or name things that are “under” something else.

UnderpaidUnderstaffedUnder-resourcedUnderappreciatedUnder her thumbMisunderstood

BrainstormingQuestions with Multiple Answers

“It’s important not to lose these.”“It seems like fall is here.”If your house were on fire, what would you grab?How would you know someone had had a fire in a

fireplace if you hadn’t been there at the time?What things are usually sorted by size and kept

together accordingly?How are a chicken and a cow alike? Different?What are some uses for keys?What do you learn by doing it yourself?

After the warm up, you must pace yourself!

Provide prompts: story starters, reflective questions, thought-provokers.

Provide an option to create your topic to write about.

Dig Deep!

Prompts

My friend want to play, but I…My folks aid not to have anyone over, but…To pay or not to pay?Eyewitness to a theft, but…Mr. (Headmaster’s name) is gone for the day,

so…My teacher allowed me to choose the next

book for our class to read…

More Prompts

Fortunately…Unfortunately…I should have…but I…Defend an appropriate bedtime.What does your name mean to you?Where would you go if you were invisible?What would you spend $100 on if you found it in

your jacket pocket?Describe the most special thing you own.What 5 questions would you ask in an interview to

an animal?Journal Prompts – printed on labels

Brainstorming

Brainstorming WordleMentor Texts – Expose students to engaging

leads. Pull leads off the classroom shelves, and explore the beginnings of published works – everything from picture books to Fahrenheit 451.

Prewriting

Create Lead Boards and Classify the Leads – Have student write their favorite leads on sentence strips, and dedicate a wall of the classroom to displaying leads.

Leads Dialogue Snapshot

Instant Observatio

n

Middle of the Story

Prewriting

Class Contest: Use a mentor text as inspiration. Have a lead-writing contest for a scary story. A Romantic Story. Sports Story.

Think, Talk Time: Allow students time to think, talk, and draw before any writing occurs.

Nonlinguistic Methods: Go beyond graphic organizers and encourage picture drawing, stick figures, and cartooning or story boarding as an organizational tool. Focus on body language and facial expressions.

Prewriting using non-linguistic methods

Summarize the story in 4-5 sentences.

Illustrate a sceneusing stick figures.

Most Embarrassing Moment

Brainstorm 5 Possible Leads for this story.

Hooks or Leads

Question-Riddle-ex. What textbook has no pages, is miles wide, and

smells like a creek? IT’s been around for millions of years. That’s right—the outdoor classroom.

Announcement-ex. The trait of voice is very important in writing. However, it is difficult to teach and even more difficult to learn. It is similar to athletic ability because it is more like a talent than a skill.

Bold and Challenging Statement – ex. Using horses and cattle in the sport of rodeo is animal abuse. What makes it more aggravating is that it is legal. According to the law, there is nothing wrong with chasing an animal down, tightening a rope around its neck, knocking it to the ground, and tying its legs together so it cannot move.

More Hooks/Leads

Opinion-ex. The driving age should be lowered to fourteen. Most teenagers are more responsible than adults give us credit for being. Just because we are teenagers does not mean we are irresponsible or dangerous.

Definition –ex. According to Webster’s Dictionary… Quotation of a well-known person-ex. President John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask

not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” I think today’s Americans have forgotten Kennedy’s message. Ex. When I was a child, I was given the “mother’s Curse” by my mom. Oh, it is not anything mean or evil. She just said, “When you have children, they will act just like you.” I laughed. Well, now that I have children of my own, I am not laughing anymore. The “mother’s curse” really works.

Personal experience-ex. Although I did later in my room, I never cried at the hospital when my mom had another girl. Was I really destined to have three sisters?

Figurative Language – ex. The pencil sharpener was always hungry. It ate my pencil every time I went to sharpen it. It never seemed to do this to anyone else’s pencil but mine.

Enumerated General Statement –ex. Many characteristics exist that a good teacher possesses. However, the three most important characteristics include being a good listener, being knowledgeable about the subject, and having a kind heart. All of the teachers who positively influenced me had those characteristics in common.

dialogueChildren’s Books with catchy Leads

Dialogue/Talking LeadsHurricane by David WiesnerEsperanza Rising by Pam Munoz RyanCharlotte’s Webb by E.B. WhiteRoll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred

TaylorSarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlanRamona the Pest by Beverly Cleary

•THE ART LESSON BY TOMIE DE PAOLA•WHEN I WAS YOUNG IN THE MOUNTAINS BY CYNTHIA RYLANT•CHRYSANTHEMUM BY KEVIN HENKES•ENCOUNTER BY JANE YOLEN•THE PUMPKIN BLANKET BY DEBORAH TURNEY ZAGWYN•THE KISSING HAND BY AUDREY PENN•SOME BIRTHDAY BY PATRICIA POLACCO•A PIG NAMED PERRIER BY ELIZABETH SPURR•MY GREAT-AUNT ARIZONA BY GLORIA HOUSTON•THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE BY AVI

catchyChildren’s Books with good Leads

•HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOOD NIGHT BY JANE YOLEN•USBORNE MYSTERIES AND MARVELS – PLANT LIFE BY BARBARA CORK•ALICE IN WONDERLAND AND ADVENTURES THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS BY LEWIS CARROLL

questionChildren’s Books with catchy Leads

snap shotChildren’s Books with catchy Leads

Host by Stephanie MeyersUsborne Mysteries and Marvels – Insect Life

by Dr. Jennifer OwenHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K.

RowlingFlush by Carl HiaasenSomething Beautiful by Sharon Dennis WyethHoles by Louis SacharThe Watsons Go to Birmingham by

Christopher Paul Curtis

Prewrite the Ending

“Don’t write endings, find them.” Thomas Williams

The Loop Ending – ends at the same place the story began. If you Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff.

The Surprise Ending – usually has a twist. Wizard of Oz

The Summary – repeats the main points and ties up loose ends

The Happy Ending –CinderellaThe Sad but True Ending – Charlotte’s Web

Draft

Free write about a time you were encouraged.

You must brainstorm at least 3 leads/hooks.

Blog, Glog, Wiki, or Tweet your favorite lead. Ask for feed back.

Brainstorming is not just needed for papers. This is also effective on essay

and short-answer tests as well as informal answers. Creative responses will arise from prewriting and make

grading papers much more entertaining!

Personal Narratives/Biographies

Should be taught along with the study of nouns

Bring a mirror to classHow about a baby book?

Teach your favorite lessons, just teach them in atypical ways…

taking the class outside of school to a public park to spy on someone inspires a great narrative.

Include adverbs. What are people doing and how (where, when, to what extent) are they doing it?

Teach your favorite lessons, just teach them in atypical ways…

Friendly Letter: design your personal stationary on which to write it

Business Letter: create a business card or letter head to spice it up

Story Summary: make it a 50 word mini-saga IBook\Fifth Grade LA\MiniSaga

Character Sketch: Facebook homepageLove craft project like the flipbook? Use

Readwritethink.org

•THE MORE TIME YOU SPEND ON PREWRITING, THE LESS TIME YOU SPEND HERE•DO NOT CORRECT/CHANGE – JUST PROMPT

•Could you use a better word?•Combine these two ideas using an appositive•Read this aloud. Does it make sense?

•NO TIME FOR ONE-ON-ONE CONFERENCES?

•Write a “prescription”

Editing and Revising

Teach your favorite lessons, just teach them in atypical ways…

Verbs lend themselves well to inclusion in sports and adventure stories.

Descriptive WritingTake your own Picture

Secret Pronoun Paper

write about a secretly assigned classmate while never using their names, only pronouns.

This is a great confidence builder for each audience member hearing a complimentary paragraph read about

stresses the importance of antecedents like no textbook can

Transfer to Short Answer

Each response to short answer questions will be evaluated using a 3 point scale.

1 – Obvious. Little thinking is required because student used poet’s ideas only

2 – Going beyond the Given. Student combines author’s ideas with their own

3- Generative. Student generates new ideas based on author’s work to capture the audience.

One Word Response

History Test QuestionsCharacter DescriptionsAuthor Analysis

Stand/Sit Test for originality

SHELLEY CLIFFORD EMAIL :

SCLIFFORD@MOUNTVERNONSCHOOL.ORGTWITTER: CLIFFORDSHELLEY

Part 2:Butterflies

Start with the End in Mind!

Humorous RubricIBook\Speech Contest\Rubric\speechrubric.odtPublic Speaking is the Number One Fear of

Adults

ToastMasters

Plan the Celebration

Start Simple. Start Broad.

One Minute Speech Dogs should be allowed in school. Dentists put braces on crooked teeth, so people with

crooked noses should wear braces. Schools should cancel on rainy days instead of snow

days. Girls (or boys) are smarter. The driving age should be 14. If I were invisible I would…

Debate

Cheating is a form of collaboration and should be allowed.

Issues found in novels – Stacy should be punished.

Current Events- Children should say the Pledge of Allegiance in school.

Historical Facts-Andrew Jackson was a noble leader.

Scientific Discoveries – Man has been on the moon.

Start the Research

Research FoldersParaphrasingNote Taking

Recite.Record.Reflect.Coach.Prescription Pad.

IBook\Speech Contest\revisions.docxRecite.Record.Reflect.Perform

Go Write Your Father’s Day Letter!

Thank YouHave a great rest of the

conference.

Bad Teacher