I'm thinking about using writing partners are my focus for group work. I wanted to do something bigger, like book groups, where there's more like 3 or 4 people in a group, but I'm wondering if this would be a good place to start. The concept of having to really work with each other and really help them out is something that writing partners would lend itself to.
Today we worked on revising our work and I did a whole lesson on the difference between a story and a journal entry. Then students seemed to mostly get it, so I sent them back to work on their writing. We wrote for about 20 minutes, and then when it was time to stop, they didn't want to. I actually had the luxury of using my next block, so I decided to give more time. But then I realized, why not have them talk to writing partners first and then go back. So as soon as I said that, they jumped up to go share their ideas. And the room seemed to really be buzzing with kids actually talking about their stories. I think the next step would be to focus the conversations so that they can push the writing. But I think the first step is sharing the writing with each other. I sort of like how it has a organic, free nature to it and it's not so guided at the moment. But I'm sure I'll need to reign it in more.
I'd have to find a way to regularly collect data on writing partners. Maybe students should report what their partner told them to do as an exit ticket?
Today we worked on revising our work and I did a whole lesson on the difference between a story and a journal entry. Then students seemed to mostly get it, so I sent them back to work on their writing. We wrote for about 20 minutes, and then when it was time to stop, they didn't want to. I actually had the luxury of using my next block, so I decided to give more time. But then I realized, why not have them talk to writing partners first and then go back. So as soon as I said that, they jumped up to go share their ideas. And the room seemed to really be buzzing with kids actually talking about their stories. I think the next step would be to focus the conversations so that they can push the writing. But I think the first step is sharing the writing with each other. I sort of like how it has a organic, free nature to it and it's not so guided at the moment. But I'm sure I'll need to reign it in more.
I'd have to find a way to regularly collect data on writing partners. Maybe students should report what their partner told them to do as an exit ticket?
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