Kimberlee-- Could you take the status of 1/3 of the class each day? Then you get at least a weekly status report. How are they with transitioning from lesson to work time? Our periods are only 40 minutes, and since the kids generally get right to work, they have time to do some decent writing each day. Heather Gottlieb
--- kimberlee hannan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Lucenda, > I think it was Donald Graves who said something to > the effect, "If you can't > teach writing at least three days a week, then don't > bother." I actually > just saw that line again the other day, and smiled > because I truly believe > it. I have the kids write Mondays, Tuesdays, and > Wednesdays in Writer's > Workshop, and read on Thursdays and Fridays in > Reader's Workshop. And to > tell you the truth I HATE IT. > > I have a 49 period. I am pretty good at getting the > kids started, so I have > the entire 49 minutes to teach. I am required to do > 5 minutes every day of > Standards Plus. A test practice tool. I don't like > it much, but I have > seen worse. Then by the time I do a 10-15 mini > lesson, and take status of > the class, the kids have about 20 minutes > independent time, which is not > nearly enough time. I tried giving up the status > time and just roving to > collect pages and drafts. I couldn't get around to > everyone every day. > Besides, I like how they see what each other is > reading and writing. > > I am thinking about going to reading and writing > units maybe switched off > monthly or quarterly for next year, as long as the > lesson time, independent > time, and sharing or follow-up time is very > consistent and predictable. I > see the kids need more chunks of time. There is > never enough time to get > into anything; them, the work, or me, the > conferencing. I also like the > notebooks, because I hate loose papers. I tolerate > drafts in folders, > because I don't have any better answers, but I'd > rather have things taped > in. I have a teenage daughter and have seen the > abuse her papers go > through. I may have them leave their stuff in the > room next year, too. > > Since this is my first year in middle school, I have > more questions than > answers at times. But you folks are great at > offering good advice. > > Thanks, > Kim > > > > -- > Kimberlee Hannan > Department Chair > Sequoia Middle School > Fresno, CA > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ > http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go > to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the LIT archives at > http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
