#6thchat Archive
#6thchat is used to chat, collaborate, and grow with other sixth grade educators from around the globe. Each session we discuss a topic voted on by #6thchat participants. It's a great way to help grow your PLN and share ideas with others.
Tuesday February 2, 2016
Welcome to tonight's ! Our topic is about supporting writing across all subject areas.
I'm Angela Rutschke from Caroline, Alberta. I teach the 4 core subjects, leadership & as well.
We will be using the Q1, A1 format and our discussion will be archived after the chat.
Please share who you are, where you're from & what you teach.
Question 1 is on its way in one minute!!!
My name is Ethan Cummings, I'm from Marion, IA, and I am a pre-service teacher. I look forward to teaching 6th grade soon.
Q1: What writing skills do you think are essential for students to master?
Hi Ethan, it is great to have you along tonight! 6th grade is a pretty wonderful place to teach!
Hey friends, Michelle, principal and grade 6 ELA teacher from Saskatchewan, Canada joining in.
Hi Michelle! It's great to see you! I hope you have had a good week so far.
A1: From my experience grammar is essential to master because this is an area I have struggled with. It sets a good foundation.
Been pretty good so far. Yours?
A1: I believe organized writing that can support a topic well is essential. It is needed in every subject area!
A1 Right now I might be happy for using capitals and some punctuation. Ha, ha.
I've been earning my money this week :P. Challenging week so far, but always good!
Organizing is really important and it can be a real struggle for lots of them.
Question 2 is up in 60 seconds.
Oh no, you too? Some of my kiddos can't seem to remember to capitalize "I". They're too important for "i"!
Q2: What strategies do you use currently use to develop writing skills in your class?
I am finding this to be a big problem in ALL subject areas!
A2 I am really trying hard to do Daily 5 this year, but we call it Daily 3.
A2: I am JUST beginning to have Ss reflect in WRITING in math. This is highlighting their understanding in new ways
A2: I don't yet have a classroom, but I can imagine including writing in all subjects would develop these skills
A2b: In LA, we are focusing on the 6 traits, & I'm trying to model & share the pen more often. We use Ss work to make lesson stick!
I really like the Daily 5 philosophy. Which 3 are you focusing on?
It REALLY does, but is often forgotten to be modelled or specifically taught in other subject areas.
We do Read to Self, Work on Writing and Word Work.
Question 3 is up in just one minute!
The more they write the better they get.
Yes! I feel like writing was forgotten in my education growing up
How long are your classes each day?
Q3: What makes writing unique in your subject area?
Three times a week I have them from 12:55 to 2:10. We do Daily 3 on those days.
It often formally taught in English/language classes wtih the hope the skills transfer to other subject areas.
Brett from Oskaloosa, IA checking in late. 6th Math and Science
A3 I teach them ELA so we are working on all forms of writing.
Welcome Brett! You're awesome addition to the discussion, esp. from a math/sci perspective!
A3 We use writing in the form of math journals to describe concepts.
I have 50 minutes every day, and another 50 minutes 2x/week and it STILL feels too short :)
Yes agreed! Never seems like enough time.
A3: Writing in sci/math/social takes on a different function than LA. The purpose of the writing often changes.
Our Lit blocks and math blocks are 90 min. Sic and SS are 60 min every other day.
90 minutes of math every day or every 2nd day?
A2: I'm interested Social Studies and I imagine students writing about interesting events or do a current events report
Everyday for math and lit.
We're already half way! Question 4 in just 60 seconds!
Q4: Why is writing important in your content area?
I love teaching social studies. So many directions to go.
SS and Sci is authentic writing with descriptions, find S like to write for a reason and not just practice.
I could DEFINITELY add more writing with a 90 min of math! Great schedule IMO, what do you think of it?
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
I absolutely agree! I think in these subject areas relevance is sometimes easier than in LA.
Writing is an important part of the human experience and that is what SS is all about!
LOVE IT! Math is self paced and crazy fast. S's high engaged. Hardest Teach ever but most reward.
Do you flip your math class?
teach that docs are living, can always improve. Don't think of rough draft but 1st try. Feedback via google class makes it work
You have definitely got the right idea :) It's also great to have Ss write from historic/different perspectives.
Are you ready? Question 5 is all about sharing strategies & it's coming up in the next minute!
No, vids are watched in class. Makes follow up easier. All vids are in 3 to 5 min.
I LOVE that philosophy as well! Revision should be a huge part of the writing process in all areas IMO.
Q5: What are some creative or new ways that writing could be used in your subject area?
Timely feedback is crucial
I thought there must be vids involved, as it was self-paced :) I would LOVE to do this, but it feels overwhelming!
A5 Really want to do math blogging.
A5: I really like your idea of writing from historic/different views. Diversity!
A4: Writing is a way to communicate, reflect & practice important skills of inquiry, persuasion & reporting.
A5 Try to introduce different tools to keep them engaged and interested.
Me too! I have dabbled, but I want it to become more reflective, perhaps in combo with vids/diagrams/images
Do you have any specific tools you want to try?
Really like the RAFT concept to give S choice. More choice S have the higher the engagement
Question 6 in 60 seconds!
Not right now, but try to throw out a new one for them to consider using that will lead them to some different forms.
Q6: What are the greatest challenges you face in having students write in your subject area?
A5: My big hope is to increase reflective writing in math.
How about using poetry in math? Team up with Lit?
A6: From experience, I think S let the basics of writing slide when it is not a writing class
A6: The biggest challenge I have found is that Ss seem to view writing as a LA activity & shy away form using it in other areas.
A6 Moving them to have the inner desire to improve. Truly revise and improve.
True! So do T's! https://t.co/oVl9sj2t2s
A6: From experience, I think S let the basics of writing slide when it is not a writing class
LOVE this idea! I'm going to use it! We also had Ss write letters to humans from a tree's perspective in Sci!
starts in 1 hr 15 minutes! Join us to talk about Differentiated Instruction
Very true! They often balk at having to use proper writing skills in other subjects. It helps that I teach it all!
That is so true. Reading and writing in all subject areas so important.
A1: teaching kids vocabulary and language chunks. ELs need that support the most.
VERY difficult! I wonder if the more relevant they view their writing, the more this improves?
Q7: How might you overcome writing obstacles in your subject area, for yourself and for your students?
Question 7 is right on deck, I'm excited to hear your thoughts!
Teaching all subjects would help develop writing across subject lines
Hi Brian! Great to have you join us! I think vocabulary is an under-addressed skill!
Create a school wide environment that focuses on writing and helps students love it
Vocab in SS and sic provides HUGE increases in background.
The more they see a purpose, the more they will work at it.
It makes it much easier to inforce those skills. "I know your English teacher wouldn't approve" :)
So much new vocabulary coming at them. It needs to be a team effort.
That is a great idea, do you have some ideas of how to promote this? I teach in a K-12 school.
Team efforts always go SO much more smoothly!
Honestly no ideas at the moment, but this is something I want to look into as I am also interested in admin.
Final question coming up already!
I found a National Writing Project based on writing across the curriculum...very interesting! https://t.co/2OIW3FTsmc
Q8: What advice or questions do you have about improving writing with your students in all subject areas?
A8 Authenticity and relevance HAS to be a part of S write. Increase engagement and process.
A8: My take-away is that it's ALL of our jobs to help Ss become strong writers(& readers & in math). We need to support each other!
Yes! Don't make writing only a language arts teacher problem
This is so important! We MUST make writing relevant in ALL subject areas!
