#CFISDchat is a weekly chat run by Cypress-Fairbanks ISD educators and guest moderators. Join us for discussion on various education topics and grow your #PLN!
Hey there #CFISDchat friends! Meredith Akers, Principal @rennellredhawks and writer of blog posts. I love to use these paper mates Paper Mate 1862168 Mates 1.3mm Mechanical Pencils, Assorted Colored Barrels, 8-Count https://t.co/lIS1gM7mmo
A1 Students are able to take time and reflect on their learning through writing. I find that if I get students to talk first and then write they feel more confident #CFISDchat
A1: Writing is a huge processing tool that helps Ss further reinforce their learning by adding a kinesthetic component! #lovemesomekinestheticlearning#cfisdchat
A1: Writing is great for retention purposes, but it also allows students to express their creativity and opinions. This is especially true when they can connect it to their personal lives. I love when my students share out their creative writing! #CFISDchat
A1: Someone told me that reading and writing are like breathing. One goes in and one goes out. I like what @erinhilbig1 said about it being the ultimate processor! #CFISDchat
A1: #CFISDchat Writing helps them process & organize their thoughts. It’s hard for them to articulate thoughts verbally, so they can write out what they want to say.
A1: Writing is a great tool for students to output their thinking. This year I’m focusing on Ss thinking deeply about their writing through more brainstorming and verbalizing their ideas on tools like @Flipgrid and partner talking. #CFISDchat
A1: writing helps transfer the thoughts in their brains into working action. It's one thing to be able to teach something verbally, but I believe it shows more mastery when they can also write out their explanation and thinking processes! #CFISDchat
A!: writing helps students process their thinking. It allows and encourages students to think critically and deepen their thinking by integrating prior knowledge with new concepts. #cfisdchat
A1 Writing is boundless. It crosses Academic subjects and allows for social/emotional processing. The best part about writing for students is that they can see their thoughts, reflect on them, and stand firm or even revise them. #CFISDchat
A1: A1: Writing helps them process & connect w/ the content. Helps them show their creativity. And if they aren't all that creative to begin with, it helps them learn how to express themselves. #CFISDchat
A1: expression, processing, building skills for articulation of ideas, retention, catharsis, therapeutic, it may be the only voice some students have #CFISDchat
A1: writing helps build those pathways in the brain for easier retention and retrieval. It also allows expression and the communication of learning and ideas #CFISDchat
A1: Writing helps students retain and process information and well as express it in their own words. This is so important for my ELL learners because it’s sometimes easier for them to express it written then verbally. #CFISDChat
A1: Writing allows us to see our thinking, spend time with our thinking, reflect on our thoughts and revise our thinking. It allows for a low risk outward expression of our inner selves. #CFISDchat
A2: This is something that I definitely needed to do better in my class. Wells Elem is doing amazing things with writing. I got to go write with my sweet girl during the day to celebrate her writing gains. #CFISDchat
A1: student conferences that begin with a positive student compliment, shows students you see their efforts and acknowledge their efforts towards growth! #CFISDchat
A2: I’d like to start featuring writing on a weekly social media celebration and send home stickers that say “Writer of the Week” or something at a school level, still developing something like this... any other school level ideas? #CFISDchat
A2: If I was still in the classroom, I would put Ss writing online so others could see and collaborate with them. There is nothing like someone "outside the classroom" commenting and giving feedback to excite Ss.
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A2: Well I can't say that I've celebrated it that much! I have shown off papers to admin or other teachers when they visit and I've posted them on the walls in my room...but I guess I need to step it up! #LetMeBeginStealingIdeasNow#CFISDchat
A2: I try to ensure that my students feel that their writing is authentic and purposeful by sharing their work with their peers. When my students peer edit, I encourage them to praise each other's writing because it should always be celebrated :) #CFISDchat
A2: by encouraging them to think outside the box! You could have the next best selling author in your class and not know it. But it's what you do in these crucial times that make the difference. Always challenge Ss to do more! #CFISDchat
A2: #CFISDChat@slmoss00 has an awesome way to celebrate. Students sat around a campfire (digital & safe 😉) with S’mores & read their writings aloud. Share their writings with parents, teachers & their peers. Show you value their effort.
A2: we have #WowWritingWednesday weekly The admin celebrates a few Ss from each class. We read their stories, write a note, celebrate & hang writing throughout the school. Ss receive a golden pencil, a golden seal of excellence along w/ handwriting awards. #CFISDchat
A2 We also had a parent showcase event called Writing Across Wells. Parents came in and Ss showcased their writing from their 'golden writing folder.' Parents also completed a quick write with their parents while they were there! #CFISDchat
A1: writing helps students restate in their own words what they have learned or are learning. It gives them power of their learning as well as a way to share with others all of the amazing thoughts they have I. Their minds! #CFISDchat
A1 It helps them process! I have kids do timed writing in a "Silent Debate"-- they respond in under two minutes. It helps them get used to thinking fast-- It also helps them get used to not waiting until everything is perfect before they put words down! #cfisdchat
A2: I loved our letter writing unit where we introduced the unit by having their parents write a letter to the student. They were beyond excited! We do daily quick writes and I have a few who love to share. We ALWAY confer & discuss the positive of their writing first #CFISDchat
A2 I don't do it enough but I celebrate their work by hanging it around the room sometimes? I try to make it something fun that my kids enjoy #cfisdchat
A3: writing is cross curricular. On our campus, I've seen teachers have students write down their thoughts to problems, explain their thinking and write quick writes iduring math/sci. #cfisdchat
A1: I've always felt that writing aides retention. Plus you can pair writing exercises with the Ss teaching or providing instruction. Being able to describe it really demonstrates a grasp of the material.
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Our SS teachers use writing as assessment to see if students understand perspective by writing a letter from the perspective of ___, They also have students write an alternate outcome, "How would things be different if the south had won?" #CFISDchat
A3 I post google questions and have students respond to each other (like a discussion board in the google classroom). It gets them thinking actively. I teach them specific skills on how to synthesize and take notes on readings they have. #cfisdchat
A3: I love the use of journals- my Ss can use however many pages to explain their math, to share their thoughts on a science topic, & to use additional self-expression in their free write/draw journal. It also gives them a platform to see their own growth over the year #cfisdchat
A3 as a Science T, I am trying to have them write at least once a week. We did a “Halloween” landform quick write. Trying to bring some creativity to Sci. Ss don't think other subjects connect to Sci. Trying to kick that mindset. #CFISDchat
A3: I just wrote a post about this! You can use this template to have students process and reflect on any topic through writing! https://t.co/QXQCrXW4oZ#CFISDchat
A3. I teach keyboarding, so our writing component is a daily journal covering anything from previously learned material, current events, goal reflections or vocabulary. I also encourage the Ss to include visuals with their responses #CFISDchat
A3: writing is going to happen no matter what subject it is.. you need to communicate how to solve math problems or to label the water cycle. There are many ways you use writing in order to show what you know ! #CFISDchat
A3: I am ELAR, but our manor has cross curricular warmups for our classes. On Monday we write about a famous book quote. Tackle it Tuesday is writing about math. World Culture Wed...you know! Think Thru Thursday is Science. And on Fri we write a letter about our week. #CFISDchat
A3: #CFISDChat With different types of text structures, there are many opportunities to incorporate writing in any content. Cause/ Effect in Science. Descriptive or Chronological in SS. In Math Ss can explain their answers. So many opportunities to write! ✏️
Ss had to describe the landforms around them and how they formed. This helped the person they called locate them so they could save their sister lol #CFISDchat
A3: Tie in real world applications for the skill of writing. Effective communication is a skill in high demand and provides value to so many career paths. Show Ss the Why.
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Anyone have best practices for moderating those group discussions (particularly for middle school)? I've had to use the Mute button more than once. #CFISDchat
A4: One thing I like to do is give them a word bank (adjectives & adverbs) and a few vocab words for academic language. This gives them something to refer to because they aren't used to formal writing. #CFISDChat
A4 I’ve used more sentence stems and thoughtful questioning this year than ever before. Giving my students, especially reluctant and/or striving students, a place to start often gives them the little push they need to get grooving on their writing. #cfisdchat
A4:#CFISDChat This is where writing conferences are so important. It gives the teacher a chance to assess each piece of writing & offer one on one feedback to students. Personalizing feedback helps the reluctant & struggling writers.
A4 Continued...I also have more students afraid to make mistakes which is hindering their risk taking. I have found encouraging words helps them through the struggle to get started and put their thoughts on the paper. #cfisdchat
A4: We’ve started doing small group joint writing for reluctant writers. Ss who aren’t yet ready to write work with the group and T to create a piece together. Super confidence booster! #CFISDchat
A4: build a relationship, create a safe environment and celebrate every small moment. Let them write about relevant topics to them. Help them turn their interests into a fabulous story. Smelly markers and fun pens help too. #CFISDchat
A4: 1/2 think of it like an oreo! The top (beggining) is the attention getter... it's what you see first visually. Then comes the good stuff.. the middle! This has all the details that you know everyone needs in an oreo. Dont skip out either because they will know. #CFISDchat
A3: I teach writing, but I do love incorporatingwriting into my fam time! I write notes to my girls. This keeps our communication open even if we are busy. I look forward to reading or looking at the pictures (my kinder) I encourage my ss parents to begin a journal #CFISDchat
A4: Conferring with the students about their reservations to write can help them open up. Also we have to make it fun! Let them see you do it. Let them see you mess up and start over. #CFISDchat
A4 2/2 then comes the end, you wrap it all up by restating the beginning and adding your finishing touches. Then you have a delicious "oreo" story! 😋 #CFISDchat
A4: Sometimes students don't want to write as often as we would like and that's okay. They have different interests that we have to honor. However, if the assignment requires writing, I try to choose topics that are relatable to them and praise them for their effort. #CFISDchat
A4 I give them formulas and make it into a game or a low stakes activity. The more fun I can make it the less they think about it and it has less time to stress them out #cfisdchat
A4 It’s important to build that enviornment where students feel safe to write. Give them time to talk, listen to their peers, & see examples so they feel confident doing it themselves #CFISDchat
A4: voice and PRAISE! Most of the time they don’t like to write because they don’t think they are good at it. Remind them that they are awesome, and everyone can improve #CFISDchat
A5: journaling is an easy one, but I also find that students can take a minute or two to reflect on what they have just learned - where will this knowledge lead them? #CFISDchat
A5: you have to be deligent, consistent and purposeful when implementing writing daily. I’ve seen amazing things when Ss find a passion for something that’s meaningful & relevant to them. they will share everything they know about that passion through writing. #CFISDchat
A5 I’ve made it one of my rotations. Whether we’re working on a piece, gathering ideas, adding to a quick write, we can always be writing. Helping Ss build the habit makes it less of a chore and more a part of our classroom culture. #CFISDchat
A5: It could be something as simple as an exit ticket or a journal entry, I have to make it so it doesn't seem like an assignment they grudgingly have to carry out each day. #CFISDChat
A5: #CFISDChat There are always opportunities to write in the classroom. Short answer responses to texts, short journal prompts, low pressure writing, exit tickets & even sentence enhancements. The best strategy is just to write something. 🤷♀️✏️
A5: Let. Them. Share! They love to share their writing with others...especially the teacher! In our classroom, we storytell then write, then read and storytell again. It is amazing how much more they can write if they talk about it first! #CFISDchat
A5 Oh! Also, tell them it has the potential to become a classroom podcast, and they’ll find all kinds of things to write about! (Podcast production to come, but we are excited about the process we’ve started. ) #CFISDchat
A5: Exit tickets that require a quick 3-5 sentence response to the lesson are a great way to incorporate writing and informal assessments. We must appreciate the positive! Our students are trying to grow, and growth is truly the most important aspect we can hope for. #CFISDchat
