Abstract Students enter Second Grade having spent two years writing about important moments from their lives. Now, it is time for them to revisit and re-energize these small moment stories. The overall goal of this unit is for these students to lift the level of their personal narratives to more fully engage and inform an audience. They’ll learn to incorporate a repertoire of strategies to write more focused and compelling pieces. These “seasoned” young writers will utilize a storyteller’s voice to show, not tell; to paint pictures in readers’ minds through the use of details. They’ll learn to bring the heart of a story alive! Special attention will be given to reviewing routines and rituals in order to develop a community of independent writers. Students will learn to build effective partnerships so they can support one another in cycling through the writing process at their own pace, developing increased independence and self-reliance. Lessons are designed to teach writers how to navigate through the process: generating story ideas, rehearsing for writing, drafting, rereading, revising and then starting on another piece. At the end of the unit, children will choose their best work and revise this more deeply and extensively to share with an audience. The unit culminates with a celebration of writing growth, recognizing students’ growing knowledge of good writing, their increasing repertoires of writing strategies and their success with cycling through the writing process. Resources and Materials Needed Mentor or Teaching Text Anchor Charts – See Immersion Information Collecting Story Ideas Writing Process Steps Ideas of Things to do During Writing Workshop “We Are Problem Solvers” Heart of Story/Message Leads “Working with Your Partner” “Things that Make Readers Stumble” Detail Hand Mentor Texts – See Resource Materials Packet. Please note: Any of the following text may be replaced by an available text that has similar qualities. Session 4: Looking Down by Steve Jenkins, Kitchen Dance by Maurie J. Manning (zoom in to a small moment) Session 12: The Best Story Ever by Eileen Spinelli (heart of the story) Session 13: Sample Leads The Haircut by Sophie (student authored work from )
Abstract Students enter Second Grade having spent two years writing about important moments from their lives. Now, it is time for them to revisit and re-energize these small moment stories. The overall goal of this unit is for these students to lift the level of their personal narratives to more fully engage and inform an audience. They’ll learn to incorporate a repertoire of strategies to write more focused and compelling pieces. These “seasoned” young writers will utilize a storyteller’s voice to show, not tell; to paint pictures in readers’ minds through the use of details. They’ll learn to bring the heart of a story alive! Special attention will be given to reviewing routines and rituals in order to develop a community of independent writers. Students will learn to build effective partnerships so they can support one another in cycling through the writing process at their own pace, developing increased independence and self-reliance. Lessons are designed to teach writers how to navigate through the process: generating story ideas, rehearsing for writing, drafting, rereading, revising and then starting on another piece. At the end of the unit, children will choose their best work and revise this more deeply and extensively to share with an audience. The unit culminates with a celebration of writing growth, recognizing students’ growing knowledge of good writing, their increasing repertoires of writing strategies and their success with cycling through the writing process. Resources and Materials Needed Mentor or Teaching Text Anchor Charts – See Immersion Information Collecting Story Ideas Writing Process Steps Ideas of Things to do During Writing Workshop “We Are Problem Solvers” Heart of Story/Message Leads “Working with Your Partner” “Things that Make Readers Stumble” Detail Hand Mentor Texts – See Resource Materials Packet. Please note: Any of the following text may be replaced by an available text that has similar qualities. Session 4: Looking Down by Steve Jenkins, Kitchen Dance by Maurie J. Manning (zoom in to a small moment) Session 12: The Best Story Ever by Eileen Spinelli (heart of the story) Session 13: Sample Leads The Haircut by Sophie (student authored work from )
2nd_Grade_-_Unit_1_Launching_with_Small_Moments_Lesson_Plans_8-11-13.docx