This week I took an idea from page 45 and had my class write about the secret life of a 5th grader. I modeled the writing first in front of my students by writing about the secret life of a 5th grade teacher. I wrote about my addiction to Post It Notes. In my writer's journal, I reflected on my writing. I learned that I was rereading my work often as I was writing. Also having a stack of Post It Notes in front of me, as I worked on the story, helped me come up with details to add to my story. I did make a few notes to get myself started before writing in front of the students.
I really liked this writing prompt. Several of my students improved their voice with this piece. In addition, most of the student stories really gave me an insight to their lives. One little girl wrote about having to care for her brother and sister in the evening. Another wrote about disobeying mom's punishment of no T.V. for a week and how she and her sister kept it a secret. One boy wrote about breaking his mom's bedroom window with a BB gun. As you can imagine that didn't stay a secret for very long. Others wrote about their bad habits and addictions like I did.
Here is a great student example: My one requirement was that they had to use at least one simile in their story.
I have a secret a filthy little secret about myself but you mustn't tell a soul. I am addicted to Starbucks. It's a place where you can buy coffee and tea.
only there's one little problem. The coffee and tea is not very healthy. The coffee isn't very healthy because it has a lot of sugar in it. The tea is healthy, except I like mine sweetened. So there's sugar in that too.
I'm not worried that I will get as fat as a hippo because I'm a kid and kids shouldn't worry about their weight. They should just be a kid.
What I'm worried about is my health. I mean their is so much sugar and other bad things that aren't healthy in coffee and tea.
Whenever I go to Starbucks I can just hear that scrumptious coffee and tea calling my name so I get a coffee or a tea and slurp it down like a pig.
I just can't stay away from it! I guess I have a Starbucks problem. yes, it's true I am addicted to Starbucks. Are you?
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3 comments:
First, I have to say, "bless you if your students go to Starbucks BEFORE school!"I can't imagine a fifth grader hyped up on caffeine. (Actually I have seen it before and it wasn't pretty). Second, I can guarantee your kids were very entertained with your Post-It preference. Sounds like you have discovered the secret to sharing your writing.
Thank you for sharing one of your student's writing. The voice in it was wonderful and spoke to the reader. I, like you, are using the Post-It method of revising our writing. My students were so proud of their "sticky note" ideas to add to their stories after a conference with me. Keep me "posted" on how it is working with your class!
I am ready to share my addictions after seeing how successful you and your students were with this lesson.
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