Evaluation and Revision April 23, 2008

I find it very difficult to evaluate and revise my own writing and it is especially difficult to revise others writing.  I know that it is extremely important in writing, and this is a definite weakness of mine. It is imperative to good writing and one must be able to do it themselves because it is not always practical or unethical to have someone proof read your papers.  I do not have the talent and, therefore, find it a difficult talent to teach.

I have never thought about revising being close to comprehension.  It is amazing how different aspects of learning are so closely linked.  It is easy to understand why and how they correlate with one anther once they have been pointed out.  Both areas have to do with making sense of what you read. 

I liked the different ideas this chapter gave for the writing plan.  I think it is good to see options because the same thing does not always work for all teacher or all classes.  I think that at some points and for some classes all the ideas sounded very useable and appropriate. 

I like all the integration of reading and writing.  I try to integrate as much as possible in my class.  It is very important for students to see how successful writers set up their stories, words they choose, and ideas they use.  Analyzing published writing and letting children use text to mentor their writing is a great way to get students excited about writing.  The mentor text gives them support and some ideas to build upon.  This may not seem as scary and intimidating as just making them write. 

I defiantly have some work to do in learning how to evaluate and revise but I do think that I am learning.  I started the graduate program with each paper looking like a page from Chainsaw Massacre after having someone proof papers, and now they are much less gory.  I feel that as I learn and become better at it, it will be easer to help my students.

Presentations April 17, 2008

I can not believe the impact all the projects had on me the rest of the week.  I am glad I had computer trouble the night of the presentation.  I have had time to reflect and really to use some of the information I learned from other people.  As I was moving some chairs in my sister-in-law’s garage, I noted that the chairs seem to be in the best position for lung function.  I would not have a clue without Kari’s presentation on the Cure Cottages in N.Y.  I told several people about Elvis being a twin and dying his hair and they were just as stunned as I was, thanks to Christy’s presentation.  I have listened to my Christian radio station and thought about Tony’s interpretative dance.  I think that took real courage and know that I do not possess the talent or the guts to do something that artistic in front of others. 

I thought it was great how they were all so very different.  The topics, presentations, and feel of the project really seemed to reflect the individual.  I really enjoyed the personal history of Mary and Kari.  They were really touching and made me think of my own history.  I really do know a great deal about my family history and have a quilt from my great-great grandmother. 

Holly peaked my interest in Lord Byron and now I want to learn more about him.  I loved that she just wanted to prove the stereotype of girls not being good in math are not true to her students. 

Amy did a great job of teaching me something about racing, but also “gearing” her project toward her classroom.  I loved the games she made for her students and also the books that they made and now get to look at in their reading station.  Nicole also wrote her Poe project so that her students could learn from it and increase their interest in the study.   I found him to be an interesting topic and wish I could have read her chapter book.

Sonia and I both chose our projects based on our curriculum so that we may use them in the classroom (Others may have too, but I do not know their curriculum).  I loved Sonia’s fluttering facts about butterflies and heard several that I did not know.  I think that children would love making the expandable caterpillar too. 

Heather’s huge leather back sea turtle really made a great first impression.  Her love for the turtles was very evident and a passion always makes the subject more personal and exciting. 

I learned a lot from my project but I took back some great ideas for my classroom and new general knowledge about other subjects I did not have before. 

Wordless picture books April 7, 2008

I have never used wordless picture books in my class because I did not understand them.  I had no idea the purpose or intent for classroom use.  Boy do I feel like an idiot.  This is why I love learning new things.  I would never have thought to give a wordless picture book to a struggling reader so they could feel success.  I think that success is something we all need and this can give hope to those students that do not feel success in school. 

I also think that it is great for those struggling in writing.  This way they do not have to start from scratch but build on something concrete.  I know that in second grade my students are very concrete learners and this would just really excite them.  I can’t wait to try a wordless picture book in my classroom to write a story with.  I think it would be great to have several groups writing about the same book and when published compare the books and see how they had different things to say about the same book.  My second graders would love the challenge I think.