I stopped having my kids write letters. They thought that was the only way they could respond to a book. I have them record their thinking as they read in different ways. I might have them respond to a question here and there depending on what strategy we are working on. At the end of a book we respond in different ways....explain how the character changed over time......what was the message of this book & how do you know. I have even put kids from different guided reading groups together and asked them to figure out how their main characters share some trait or characteristic. They have to explain their story and have a conversation to determine it. Sue In a message dated 12/2/2008 5:19:58 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
How about a checklist or a tic-tac toe type list? Giving them a choice might help them to be more motivated. I talked with a former student of mine a while back and I asked him what he liked the most and least about my class. He gave me things he liked but one thing he hated. "I hated those stupid letters we always had to write." I have since then given them more choices and it seems to make it more interesting for them. -------------- Original message from "Yingling" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: -------------- > I am struggling to get my students to write quality letters within their > reader's notebooks. It's December and they are still simply giving me > summaries. I ask them questions and give comments in my letters back to > them yet most of my kids aren't responding to my questions/comments. I've > gone to giving the kids grades and their grades don't even seem to motivate > some of them to do better. We've written sample letters together, I've > shown them examples, I've written examples for them, I've given them letter > starters. What do I do next? The kids seem to just want me to give them > worksheets to complete - they don't want to think. > Help please, > Jenni > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. **************Life should be easier. So should your homepage. Try the NEW AOL.com. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000002) _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
