On Monday, we started off talking about how writers choose a writing topic. We specifically talked about watermelon stories versus seed stories. There can be great watermelon stories, but many times they are too long, and it is too hard to really explain with clear details. Writers often get off topic and lose the reader with watermelon stories. Students looked at their heart maps to decide on one story they could tell and then narrow it down if necessary from a watermelon story to a seed story.
On Tuesday, after students chose their writing topic, (our focus was real narrative stories) we worked through using a 4-square organizer to organize and plan the story ideas. I chose my "Scraps" story.
The following day, we worked on using the 4-square organizer to write the story, adding more details to the story as needed. The students are learning that the organizer is like a road map and sign posts that guide the way. They should use words and phrases, not full sentences to plan. Wednesday and Thursday the students wrote their stories. Writing Buddies came to visit during this time. (ask your child about Writing Buddies!)
On Friday, we worked through our Rainbow Editing procedures. This time the used some of the Rainbow Editing steps to help edit the writing of their elbow partners. This is our reference chart in the classroom for Rainbow Editing:
It's a stretch sometimes for 3rd graders to look at their writing as find things that need to be fixed. "I have to fix this? I think it looks great!" So, we start this off as early as we can so that it becomes a more natural step as we go throughout the year. It also helps to have another set of eyes looking at our writing.
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