Improving Writing With Technology

This is my teaching outline for my Improving Writing with Technology class. Feel free to use anything here. Please email me at divalatte@gmail.com if you’ve got something good to add to the list. If you use my outline, I’d appreciate a link back to divlatte.com! Thanks!

6 + 1 Traits

1. Ideas – A clear, focused content packed with details
   • Mind Mapping and Brainstorming (Thanks to Chris Sessums)
     • http://www.mindmeister.com/
     • http://www.mindomo.com/
     • Thinkature
     • Gliffy
     • Kayuda
     • Bubbl.us
     • Flowchart.com
     • Comapping
     • Mind42
     • Google Docs
     • http://www.mywebspiration.com
   • Gone in 30 seconds
     • image slideshow to inspire and encourage ideas
     • can be a daily activity or used at each stage of the writing process Available for K-5 and 6-12 (upon request)
       
   • Get Great Prompts
     • http://writingfix.com/ – an interactive plot creator
     • http://writingfix.com/Classroom_Tools/dailypromptgenerator.htm – prompt generator
     • http://writingfix.com/writingfix_for_kids.htm – interactive writing games
     • http://writingfix.com/right_brain.htm – Right Brain prompts
     • http://writingfix.com/left_brain.htm – Left brain prompts
     • http://www.creativity-portal.com/prompts/imagination.prompt.html
   • Create and record songs to help students remember their traits – http://writingfix.com/PDFs/6_Traits/Idea_song.pdf
   • Use websites that have everything you need in one place – http://writingfix.com/6_Traits/Idea_Development.htm
2. Voice – Writing that is active and engaging for the reader (a specific audience)
   • Using your voice to give your writing voice – use audacity to record your writing and help you hear the voice in a work
     • Play examples of speeches and audio books that demonstrate clear voice
     • Students write a piece and then record their own (or mix it up and record someone elses)
     • Students then review the works and critique with a rubric
   • Literary Theatre/Readers Theatre
     • Students create melodramas from literature read in class with a special focus on voice and characterization
     • Works with their own original scripts and poetry as well
     • http://bms.westport.k12.ct.us/mccormick/rt/RTHOME.htm – Reader’s Theatre Basics website
   • Using Movies to Teach Voice – play famous scenes from movies AUDIO ONLY and have the students listen for the voice in the script writing. (How was it achieved – word choice, tone, sentence fluency, etc.)
   • Create and record songs to help students remember their traits – http://writingfix.com/PDFs/6_Traits/organization_song.pdf
   • Use websites that have everything you need in one place – http://writingfix.com/6_Traits/Voice.htm
3. Word Choice – Choosing the right word or words to convey a message, idea, or feeling
   • Dead word funerals
     • photo story or video http://youtube.com/watch?v=kQODcdUtmH4
     • Students choose the words, write eulogies, put tombstones on the walls as reminders
   • Give the kids an interactive demonstration of the power of word choice. Have them try it online – then repeat the process with their own writing! (Highlight words that could be telescoped!) –

     Word Choice, details, voice – http://www.telescopictext.com/

   • Use websites that have everything you need in one place -http://writingfix.com/6_Traits/Word_Choice.htm
4. Sentence Fluency – Sentences are clear, concise, and various lengths
   • http://youtube.com/watch?v=Db-YgMac7Uo – student video on sentence fluency
   • Use websites that have everything you need in one place – http://writingfix.com/6_Traits/Sentence_Fluency.htm
5. Organization – The order makes sense, including strong transitions words and a clear beginning, middle, and ending
   • Use Web 2.0 Tools for organizing your work
     • Interactive Graphic Organizers
       • http://my.hrw.com/nsmedia/intgos/html/igo.htm
       • http://www.lexiconsys.com/graphic_organizer.html
       • http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/graphic_org/
   • Create and record songs to help students remember their traits – http://writingfix.com/PDFs/6_Traits/organization_song.pdf
   • Use websites that have everything you need in one place – http://writingfix.com/6_Traits/Organization.htm
6. Conventions – Proper usage of grammar, punctuation, and spelling
   • http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=e5b854ffad5f70a516c8
   • Create and record songs to help students remember their traits – http://writingfix.com/PDFs/6_Traits/conventions_song.pdf
   • Use websites that have everything you need in one place – http://writingfix.com/6_Traits/Conventions.htm

   • Grammar Blast (elementary) – http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/k_5/quizzes/

7. Presentation – Neatness, appealling to the reader’s eye
   • http://poster.4teachers.org/ – create writing posters
   • http://glogster.com/edu – create interactive posters
   • http://toondoo.com or http://comiqs.com/ - make comic books
     • Example of an Epic (Senior English after Beowulf) http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/resources/new/Misc/bestspoons.pdf
     • Teacher Rubric for Epic Comic – http://www.burlesonisd.net/it/resources/new/Misc/comicbookrubric.pdf
   • Create a publishing center in your classroom – Publishing Center in Your Room
     

All -

1. http://senior.billings.k12.mt.us/6traits/index.htm – interactive reading selections that students rate.
2. http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/writing/sixtrait/sixtrait/handbook.html – list and handouts for a student binder students can create their own to use all year
3. Introduce each concept with a short infomercial! http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=bbc0d17a4f8d4324cc8e
4. http://readwritethink.org/student_mat/index.asp – interactive flash based games and activities
5. http://writingfix.com/traits.htm#lessons – Free lessons on each aspect of the 6 traits
6. I-pod and lyric inspired lessons – http://writingfix.com/ipod_prompts.htm
7. Self-Assessment/Teacher Feedback Post-it notes – http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/post_its.htm

Types of Writing

1. Narrative
   • http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/marshs/movies/index.htm – March Movie Madness. 8th grade students write scripts that can be chosen to later be turned into short films. Students must base all short stories to demonstrate the plot diagram. (you could specify any content)
   • Radio Theatre
2. Persuasive
   • Political Speeches from candidate sites used to identify aspects of persuasive writing
   • Video and Audio commercials for a product or service that target a specific audience
   • http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=7f6788918f03c42b123c
   • Create videos or audio or photostories to teach the elements of this type of writing
     • http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=3f745343bab61a5f8aee&page=2&viewtype=&category=
3. Comparative
   • http://my.hrw.com/nsmedia/intgos/html/igo.htm – Interactive Online Graphic Organizers – Highlight, type, and print (or save and put on website)
4. How-To
   • Photostories and video on How-To subjects (written by one group – recorded by another)
5. Research
   • Netrekker
6. Poetry
   • Song Lyrics
     • Research them for figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification, allusions, poetic devices)
   • I Am Poetry
     • Iam poetry
   • Share your favorites
     • Encourage kids to read their favorites to the class
       • Record their readings
       • Turn it into a poetry SLAM, a beatnik coffee cafe
       • Have your students record other teachers and administrators sharing their favorite poems
       • http://www.favoritepoem.org/
   • Interactive SMART Lessons
     • Father’s Day Poems
     • Easter Poems

Editing

1. Google Docs
2. SMART tools
3. Gaggle.net

Feedback and Peer Review

1. Gaggle.net
2. blogging – example - http://blogs.burlesonisd.net/julievu/

Learning is Fun

1. http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/word_game_for_writers.htm

Professional Development & Teacher Tools

1. http://readwritethink.org/lessons/index.asp?grade=0&strand=0&engagement=0&display.x=40&display.y=13 – Lesson Plans
2. Writing across the curriculum…a grassroots movement…. http://writingfix.com/WAC.htm
3. Involving parents in writing – http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/family_write.htm
4. Mini-lesson of the month – http://www.unr.edu/educ/nnwp/Mini_Lesson_of_the_Month_Club.html
5. Art and Writing – http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/art_and_writing.htm
6. Help with the writing process for teachers – http://www.mwp.hawaii.edu/resources.htm
7. Elementary Integration Ideas – http://www.cyberbee.com/intclass.html#LanguageArts
8. Refresh your memory with a free online course on Improving YOUR Writing - http://www.coping.org/write/compos/content.htm

More

1. SMART Lessons on Writing – Smart Lessons
   
2. Great site by a real teacher – http://corbettharrison.com/index.html
3. Dena Harrison’s site is a great resource – http://denaharrison.com/
4. United Streaming – One Place -
   • http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/tools/writingPrompt/index.cfm? – writing prompt builder home page
   • Assignment builder
   • Quiz builder
5. http://www.dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/School_Time/English/ – Helpful site for interactive resources
6. A FANTASTIC list of Web 2.0 Tools for students (and teachers!) to help get you started! You MUST check this out! – http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/web_20_backpack_web_apps_for_students.php
7. TERRIFIC TEACHER SITE! – http://daily-english-activities.blogspot.com
8. A great site for making vocabulary fun (synonyms, word choice, etc.) – http://wordle.com
9. AN AMAZING STORY SITE – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO CREATE YOUR STORY ONLINE! GO GO GO! http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/StoryTools

And don’t forget – Free Rice!