Writing

In evaluating the common core standards for writing, we can see that the expectations for students in creating arguments with supportive claims, establish formal writing style, composition, organization, and other conventions for writing progresses in each grade. In my sixth grade English class placement, students are learning about figurative language, plot, conflict, theme, and characters to get them ready to write their own narrative. It will be interesting to see if any grammar lessons will be incorporated within the lesson. In the NES book, it goes over the importance of having students understand capitalization, punctuation, and word usage. I know that a lot of schools do not teach grammar in isolation and can be easily incorporated as a mini lesson when it comes to proof reading essays. I believe incorporating mini lessons on conventions will be very important for all my students but especially for my first period. My first period has about ten students who are on IEPs or 504s, as well as ELLs who will highly benefit from these mini lessons. Plus, I want students to understand that writers go through proof reading and revising before their final product. I also want them to understand that good writers seek others to revise their work. I would have students proofread each other’s essay with minimal marking. In the NES and common core standards it elaborates on the main concept that students need to have a well-organized written essay that has clear ideas, transitions, development of body, and conclusion. I will want to incorporate free writes as entry tasks to get students motivated and engaged in writing. Maybe from the free writes, students will read back and find something they can elaborate and make into their narrative essay. When I think of having students complete any type of essay, I want to provide them with graphic organizers, list of various transitional phrases, and examples of written essays. I would express my writing anxieties with my students to convey that I struggle with the same writing anxieties they experience and that it takes time and effort to achieve these various types of writing skills.