Writer's Journey Assemblage 2 by Hilary Grace https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2 Mapping Physical and Social Learning Spaces en-us 2016-10-12 23:50:57 UTC 2024-06-01 19:34:22 UTC hello@padlet.com Personal Writing Spaces hgrace23 https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130943876 Places and People]]> 2016-10-16 01:33:30 UTC https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130943876 Personal Writing Spaces hgrace23 https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130944088 There have been many people, places, practices, and accesses that have influenced me as a writer and reader.
People: sister, mom, teachers, college teachers, Susan, 4th grade writers, 2nd grade writers, nieces
Places: school, undergrad, grad school, work, 4th grade classroom, 2nd grade classroom
Practices: school curriculums, teacher in-services
Access: books, nooks, iPad, iPhone, social media

I have my favorite writing places at home and at school.
Home: living room, patio, in bed; early in the morning, late at night
School: my reading table, Alyssa's reading table, computer lab; before students get to school, during our special

I write for various purposes and audiences. 
Privately: on my iPhone, notes to myself, notes on my computer about my readings
Publically: text messages, social media, in front of my students, work with colleagues, grad school work
]]> 2016-10-16 01:39:42 UTC https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130944088 School Writing Spaces hgrace23 https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130944355 2016-10-16 01:49:56 UTC https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130944355 School Writing Spaces hgrace23 https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130974878 My classroom writing community. 
Students are: 
  • Writing alone
  • Writing together
  • Writing in writing center
  • Writing wherever they choose! 
  • Free writing
  • Reflectively writing (in response to previously taught math, reading, writing, or content lesson)
  • Writing to a prompt
  • Writing at their desks, in small groups, or while laying on the floor
  • Writing with pencils, colored pens, crayons, and markers
  • Writing at the tables around the room 
  • Drawing pictures (making cartoons/graphic novels, illustrating their writing, or drawing a picture for their squiggle story)
  • Gathered on the floor participating in teacher led modeled and guided writing
  • Typing letters, stories, and notes in the computer lab
  • Sharing their writing in small groups or with a buddy
  • Sharing their writing whole group, sitting in the writing chair
  • Conferencing with the teacher one on one or in small group
  • Conferencing with each other

Students' writing is influenced by many factors. 
The school district creates curriculum maps with writing standards and expected learning outcomes. The district also implemented an RRR initiative, which incorporates more writing through required reflective writings. These writing programs have pushed for more writing in the classroom. However, we were always doing these writings, now they just have a name and box we check to go along with it! Three times a year we must participate in a writing on demand, which is opinion writing, and looks for specific elements. Because of this we resort to a "hamburger" style of writing, only we call it "oreo" (opinion, reason, explain, oreo) and we prefer it to be a "mega stuffed oreo" with three reasons. 
Students in my school district have supportive parents who are mostly involved in their learning experiences. Students work on spelling activities throughout the week by completing a spelling tic-tac-toe menu. They choose 3 activities in a row. One activity always requires a little more writing than some of the others. I can tell which parents are actively involved in these activities. Sometimes students have elaborate sentences, stories, or letters, with everything neatly written and spelled correctly. Sometimes students try to skip these more involved activities, but eventually have to do them because they have to get 3 in a row! Families have conversations with their children, and participate in story telling, which helps students in their writing.
]]> 2016-10-16 15:21:01 UTC https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130974878 *Dream World* Writing Spaces hgrace23 https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130976660 Class readings and discussions have reinforced many areas of my current class writing practices.  
  • Students need to be writing for different audiences and know what these audiences are ahead of time.
  • Students MUST be writing in all subjects. Writing is not a separate block of the day that only takes place during that time. 
  • Students should have opportunities to participate in free writing. 
  • You cannot separate writing from reading! 
  • Using picture books as mentor texts to teach writing skills is a useful tool. 

Our class readings and discussions have also caused me to questions certain strategies and make changes! 
  • More narrative writing (even when writing “informational” writing) should be used. 
  • We should use less “hamburger” writing. 
  • It is important to revisit the same pieces of writing when working on different parts (leads, endings, conflict).
  • Students should be encouraged to choose products for different activities or projects (example: writing a biography but students can pick how they want to share their information learned).
  • Express to student that their writing is gold! Don’t focus on too many negatives at once, especially when conferencing with students. 
  • Don’t let handwriting be a huge negative, find ways around it. Do not let it become a barrier for students to write. 

What do I need for an ideal classroom?
  • Technology in the classroom for students to use.
  • More time in the day! 
  • More comfortable places to write (different chairs, pillows, rugs).
  • Flexible writing curriculum maps. 
]]> 2016-10-16 15:45:43 UTC https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130976660 *Dream World* Writing Spaces hgrace23 https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130976684 classroom seating]]> 2016-10-16 15:46:01 UTC https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130976684 *Dream World* Writing Spaces hgrace23 https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130979210 classroom technology]]> 2016-10-16 16:22:52 UTC https://padlet.com/hgrace23/wja2/wish/130979210