What a cool day we had today with the visit from a guest speaker who is a teacher and writer. Ms. KDB talked with my kids about audience awareness and the importance of writing to be heard. We began the class with discussion about instant messaging and all its "code words." In an editing exercise, students translated a sample email message from a teacher to his/her principal that included way too many slang IM codes like SFSG (so far so good) and BTW (by the way). They practiced writing letters in this code and tried translating each other's cryptic messages. We went on to begin an Alphabiography project which will be due on October 4. This assignment asks students to choose a minimum of ten letters of the alphabet. For each letter, they list a word (N=niece), and tell a story about this word that ends with a lesson. Because I feel that I cannot ask my students to write without also making an attempt myself, I started my own Alphabiography. One thing I discovered was that as I began jotting down notes for the letters I chose, other letters came to me at a rapid pace. It seems as though life is full of lessons once we start thinking!
I have been enjoying this year so much-- with even more attention dedicated to writing. It has been really neat to have discussions with my students about such a variety of topics-- the new schedule (96 minute blocks!) affords us time to really talk as a method of prewriting. I love the looks on their faces when I say, "We're going to write, put your pencils down."
Ms. KDB will be in class with us two more times this year and I am really looking forward to those days. She is a dynamic, interesting person! Thanks, K!
