2011.12.17+Resources

Strategies & approaches for helping students become better writers - RESOURCES

 * 1) Links shared by #ElemChat organisers
 * 2) Links shared by #ElemChat participants
 * 3) Questions for directing discussion
 * 4) Other Links

Links shared by #ElemChat organisers

 * Students commenting on blogs, by @langwitches []
 * Students writing blogs, by @langwitches []
 * Quadblogging Video, via @kathleen_morris []
 * Make Writing Fun Early On, via @inspired_clsrm []
 * 100 Word Challenge,Julia Skinner, @TheHeadsOffice [][]
 * How to Encourage Kids to Write @BookChook []
 * How can we make writing more stimulating for our students? Summary of #ELTchat 19/10/2011 []
 * Children's Writing - The Power of Sticky Notes @BookChook []
 * 31 Online Resources for Better Writing, @qot []
 * Using Twitter in Grades 1&2 by Aviva Dunsiger, @Grade1 []
 * Collaborative Writing to Develop the 21st Century Learner @tracywatanabe []
 * Comments4kids - [] Follow Hashtag: #comments4kids
 * LOLcats []



Links shared by #ElemChat participants

 * @Cybraryman1's Writing Prompts []
 * Praising the Baby Steps []
 * Time Capsule on KidsJig blog []
 * Class Blog Activity 5 – Blogging with students, Teacher Challenge Blog []
 * Why Let Our Students Blog - YouTube video []
 * @Cybraryman1's Writing Resources []
 * Link to Kidblog []
 * Where have all the storytellers gone? by Russ Goerend []
 * How to compose a quality blog comment (video) []
 * Snorkling in Kahalu'u Bay - Miriam's Magical Moments []
 * @Cybraryman1's Authors and Making Books []
 * Letter to newspapers - Carrie Gelson's letter to her community [|http://www.theprovince.com/Full+text+Carrie+Gelson+letter+community/5464503/story.html#ixzz1gpzM9lon]
 * Writers Stylus - a writer's program []
 * Writing Power - []
 * Writing Fun - text organiser by Jenny Eather []
 * Mrs. Yollis' Classroom Blog - When I was young []
 * Larry Ferlazzo's best places where students can write online []
 * Sharing our Learning on KidsJig blog []
 * Letter Generator []
 * Pinterest - Writers' Workshop []
 * Newspaper Clipping Generator []
 * Magnetic Poetry []
 * Report Writing Made Easy - Grades 2-5 []
 * Can Educators Be Innovative When They Lack 21st Century Resources? []
 * 30 Ideas for Teaching Writing []



Questions for directing discussion
General
 * More than just paper, pencil, & words on a page... what constitutes "writing"?
 * What is the value of writing?
 * What evidence is there that writing needs improvement?
 * What strategies do you use to improve writing abilities?
 * Do teachers need to write themselves in order to teach writing?
 * What conditions are needed for writers to grow? (time, choice, writing must be personal, purpose, social component of writing...)
 * Is it possible to “teach” or foster a lifelong love of writing?

Conferring
 * How to structure the ideal conference in terms of time, roles (of writer, audience) etc...
 * How do you teach students to give each other constructive feedback for growth in writing? (How do you help students become good at conferring)

Approaches
 * How do we help students “dig up” the stories that live inside them? (Very similar to Q5)
 * What approaches are effective for teaching writing, at what levels? (Writer’s workshop, guided writing, etc.)
 * What are the essential components of a Writer’s Workshop?
 * Do you use Writer’s Notebook in your class? Please describe/explain
 * Is Writer’s Notebook appropriate for upper grades (where more structured writing is required)?
 * Is a formulaic approach to writing appropriate for certain types of learners? (eg. Step Up to Writing - Green-Yellow-Red)
 * What are effective strategies to teach the art of revision?
 * Do partner/group collaborations work?

Catering to diverse student needs
 * What tech tools are available to help students who struggle in various areas of writing? (content, organization, language & mechanics)
 * How do you motivate reluctant writers?

Writing for an audience
 * How do you ensure students have opportunities for purposeful writing for an authentic audience?
 * Should writing for a public audience (eg. blogging) be process- or product oriented? Ok to publish work that still needs revision?

Writing across the curriculum
 * How much “place” should writing take up in the content areas?
 * What are specific strategies to teach writing in the content areas?



Other Links

 * Scribblitt - New Writing Community for Kids @BookChook []
 * Harry Potter and the Fan Fiction Factory, Bill Boyd, Literacy Advisor []
 * The Daily 5 []