Writers+notebook

Stephanie Kempke


 * //Strategy Name://** Writers Notebook

//**Student appropriate grade levels:**// 6, 7, 8


 * //Tags://** writer, workshop, brainstorming, drawings, pictures, sketches, webs, maps, individual, thinking, developing, free-writing, express, conference

//**Content areas:**// language arts, social studies, science, reading

//**Type of Strategy:**// writing

//**Types of Students:**// general, ESL, high achievers, low achievers, LD, BD

//**Strategy Description:**// This strategy is used in the pre-writing (brainstorming) process of the writing process. Students are encouraged to free write, sketch, map, list, anything that they want to write about. Anything that pops into their head can go into the notebook, as long as it follows the topic that they want to write on. The writers notebook helps the students loosen up a bit before going onto the formal writing of their piece. It helps the students focus their ideas by coming up with different things that they can write about. Once they find the piece that clicks the most with them, they can move onto the formal writing process.

The writers notebook can be something personal or it can be used to assess the students to make sure that they are keeping on track. The teacher can tell the student to flag the pages that they do not want them to read and then they will be assessed on the other pages. If the teacher does not want the students to physically hand in their notebooks they can conference with their students to see how their work is coming along. This gives the students some privacy with their work if they do not wish to share it with other people. However this can posess a problem when it comes to appropriate material. However, teacher should address this situation with students and express the expectations of the students before the process begins.

//**Strategy implementation example:**// I want my students to write about something that impacted them so far in life. I will give the students about a half an hour to just write out their thoughts and feelings about the topic and then have them start using the notebook. I will let the students know that they can brainstorm ideas using word maps, story webs, drawings, sketches, lists, anything that will help them focus their ideas and help develop a topic for writing. If students feel comfortable enough, at the end of the hour they can share their topic chosen in a small group conference or in a one-on-one conference with me.