TCRWP Oct. 17, 2015 Saturday Reunion

TCRWP Oct. 17, 2015 Saturday Reunion - Another magical day of learning at Teachers College. So glad I went and that four colleagues tagged along on the early morning train ride up and back. Here are some of my highlights, seen through the lens of a 3rd grade teacher who wants to get better at teaching an information writing unit and get better at teaching reading workshop.

Mary's Keynote
She shared teaching points to read complex text:

Mary shared this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFbNq5br658

She stopped at the beginning to have us state what we think about the character. She reminded us of the teaching point "to delay judgement" as we continued to watch.

Can't wait to share this video with my students who already are trying to be brave. Already my students and I take dance breaks between Writing Workshop and Reading Workshop to rock to the song Be Brave by Sarah Bareilles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQsqBqxoR4

Lucy - Information Writing Tips     (Thank you, Lucy - just want I needed to hear!!)
* Pick a topic close to your heart, stuff you know. Start broad as it is easier.
* Brainstorm the table of contents and allow it to change
* Try 10 drafts of possible table of contents
* Think of the logical order of the chapters
* Do LOTS of oral rehearsal during the drafting of the table of contents and order of chapters
* Jot notes about what you can write and ask: Do you have info for ALL parts of the structure
* Info test relies on STRUCTURE and transition words hold it together
* Informational writing is a conglomeration of lots of different GENRES (How to, small moment, essay, facts)
* Also this about which structure the chapter is written as - compare/contrast, cause/effect...
* ONCE the table of content is set, draft chapter by chapter, the chapter you know the best FIRST.
* As he students draft, teach a revision mini-lesson each day. Remind them on day 2 of revision that they need to go back and revise the chapter from yesterday and today based on today's teaching point and continue this process during revision.
* To understand the variety of ways information writing is written, look at a mentor text. NOTICE all the different kinds (description, Q/A, images, examples, facts, definitions)
* Include domain specific vocabulary and decide HOW you want to teach the reader what these words mean (glossary, in context, etc.)
* Transition words glue it together from part to part.
*Use prompts to say more: The important thing about ___ is ___, People may wonder ___. This connects to ___. This makes me wonder ___.
*Then teach how to write an introduction (it should hint at the central idea) and an ending.
* Include text features that accentuate the main idea of your writing.

Shana - Bridging the Gap from I know a lot about... to Crafting Beautiful Texts that Teach
(Thank you, Shana - the perfect follow-up to Lucy's workshop!)

She started by reading-aloud a part from a few nonfiction texts and her enthusiasm for this genre came through. Honestly, nonfiction has NEVER been my favorite but Shana's passion came through and made me realize I need to do the same when I teach informational writing.

Then she shared Five Lens to Read Nonfiction Writing suggested by Ralph Fletcher

Amazingly, as my partner and I read and reread what, at first, seemed like a really boring scientific animal article, it suddenly was more interesting and we came to appreciate the beautifully crafted text. Studying the mentor text helped me to like this kind of writing more.

Shana shared 4 Troubles Students have Writing Informational Pieces
I. Topic Choice - they pick a topic they are interested in but not one they are an expert on
Ask:
* Do you care about the topic?
* Can you create a table of contents and fill it in?
* Do I have 1 or 2 resources to turn to to add to what I already know?
Purpose: remind the kids that this unit is to learn how to be a stronger information writer and NOT the time to be learning about a topic

II. Practice - "Practice makes permanent"  "lack of practice makes impermanent"
Suggestions for creating MORE talking/writing opportunities:
1. Science/SS/Math -Turn & tell or Stop and Jot a summary of today's topic
2. Information Tweets - add a picture and a big idea and tweet it out
3. Write Friday letters home sharing information from the week
4. Listen to the Morning Meeting and turn and tell your partner what you heard

III. Structure
Often the way kids jot facts down about a topic looks "like Jackson Pollock on the page"
Instead, help them to understand the idea of using CONTAINERS.
She showed us this anchor chart:

Then she said: Writers have containers, too. They call them STRUCTURES. The text structure holds the information. The text structure helps readers to hold onto the information s they read it.

Writers think of the best way to convey the information and then pick the best structure.

Then she showed how she wrote about READING ON THE SUBWAY as boxes and bullets, as compare/contracts and as problem/solution. She suggested we try to write about one topic using MANY structures and to give our students the same practice.

IV Development
She showed the Pathway Development Checklists for 3rd grade and then for 4th Informational Writing and 4th was SO much longer. It is a BIG JUMP. They really need LOTS of practice.
She also suggested keeping a chart up in the room ALL year long like this:

Development of ______ (list genre)
Part                             Expectation             Example
                 
By having the charts up all year, the kids will start to understand that the KIND of writing might change, but all writing has a STRUCTURE, gets DEVELOPED and follows WRITING CONVENTIONS.

Shana also gave a shout out to 3 fiction books she recommends:
1. The Thing About Jellyfish
2. The War that Saved My Life
3. Boys Don't Knit (in Public)

Kristine Smith  - 3rd Grade Reading Unit, Character Study
Kristine went through step-by-step how to use Book Two and the online resources. Now I am set to teach a very powerful reading unit to my students. I love the new Reading Units of Study!!

Ryan Scala - Being Powerful Writing Partners
It was such a pleasure to learn from Ryan. Years ago I met him when we were in the same advanced session during a Summer Institute. Now he is a staff developer!! I learned LOTS - thanks Ryan!

First, I love that he got me to WRITE. "We have to do the work we ask our students to do."
Using the generating strategy of turning points, he got me to write a story about the first time I read during a church service.

Then he got my partner and I to evenly take turns to help each other write better.
- gave us different responsibilities
- used a tally to balance times used

One tip - Compliment Conference
1. Name the thing you see in the writing - WOW! I like the part where you said ______
2. Point out what it did for you as you read it - As I read it, I ___________
3. Offer a suggestion - Maybe you could _____ in another place

As a place to get ideas for how to compliment a writer, he suggested delivering an inquiry lesson with students by reading the quotes on the back of a book - a book blurb. What do you notice other literary publishers so when they give a compliment? Try saying that about your partner's writing as a compliment!

And he inspired me with the quotes of those smart people he is standing on the shoulders of:

 "Learning floats on a sea of talk."  - James Britton

"Writers need to talk about their writing."  - Katie Wood Ray

Lucy - Closing Keynote

She reminded the standing room only Riverside church that OUR expectations are our kids' ceilings. She reminded me to teach with confidence and let the kids surprise me!
She suggested:
1. Study student work, decide and teach in the presence of the possible
2. Give ambitious feedback
3. Teach in a rich context using mentor text
And she reminded us that we feel bigger in the company of others who are trying to grow. She reminded us to BE STAR MAKERS!