A popular post in the past has been a sharing activity. Even if you
are an administrator you have had experience. Could you share a
favorite lesson or activity? Whether you work with Pre-Service
Teachers, Teachers or Middle schoolers you can contribute.
Our Essential Question: Who Exactly...Are you?
I love to create lessons that inspire my students. Often I do so with
the kids, but this time I wanted to surprise them with a lesson that I
hoped would help inspire ideas and motivate writers. As I told Ross,
I remembered seeing a post from someone about the song "Unwritten" by
Natasha Bedingfield as a good song to listen to with students. One of
my co-teachers also began talking about using the song. I listened to
the lyrics and realized how worthwhile they were. I created an Imovie
around the song, played it for my kids... made a think sheet, ( my
term for a good work sheet), a template for creating their own lyrics,
and two temamates created a questionnaire about writing.
You should have seen us, we had so much fun. First we pushed back all
the desks plunked ourselves down on the carpet.I played the song with
the class sitting in a circle. We sang together and soon the kids were
dancing. I played it again with the Imovie, ( I even included some
pictures of the kids). I gave them the think sheets and they stretched
out on the floor with clipboards to fill in their thoughts and
feelings. I had them share their thoughts with a neighbor and then we
all talked about the "message" and I filmed the kids remarks. It was
awesome and four other teachers did it with their students as well.
They added their own lyrics to Bedingfield's song and fadded many
ideas to their writing Territories ( A' la Atwell) The heading of the
Think Sheet which included the lyrics says this,
AND WHO, EXACTLY ARE YOU, AS A WRITER?
Something about this song stood out to me the first time I heard it. I
felt as if it were an anthem, (a special song or declaration). In
talking with others, (especially kids your age when this song first
hit the airwaves), we found out that while Natasha Bedingfield's spoke
to all writers, it seemed specifically important to the young writer.
Listen carefully while Bedingfield sings her powerful words....
Lyrics here...
Later on the page:
What does this song say to you? Look specifically at the words. What
do you think Bedingfield is telling the writer in you?
"I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned…"
How many times have you been given a writing assignment and your mind
shuts down?
And maybe someone
can show you a way,
give you an idea
and help you move down the path of a writer….
"Staring at the blank page before me
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find…"
Use the tools that make writing live and breathe
Metaphor, simile, analogy, personification…
And who, exactly are you…as a writer?
Next?
--
Tena
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