Best-of-Smekens Writing Conference:
Writing Remix 2019
SECRET SITE
SESSION 1
Teach Grammar Skills One Mini-Lesson at a Time
Define conventions as tools and rules for writing
Introduce Calvin Conventions.
Introduce each convention skill explicitly (Day 1)
4-step mini-lesson plan
Lesson resource Smartboard | PDF
Connect a convention’s purpose to a visual trigger
Each of these lessons suggests a common toy as a corresponding visual trigger.
SESSION 2
Align Conventions within Writing Units
Define the purpose of every grammar skill
Recognize the essential skills per mode
SESSION 3
Teach the Same Grammar Skill Across Multiple Days
Display the importance of accurate conventions
Notice & Name it. Try it. Apply it.
Prepare mentor text examples for conventions lessons.
Punctuating Dialogue ML SERIES
Remind students that the purpose of all conventions, including punctuation marks, is to aid the reader in understanding the writer’s message.
3-Day Series: Punctuating Dialogue
Early dialogue is put into speech bubbles as seen in Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.
Encourage students to weave dialogue into pictorial writing using the Speech Bubbles Template.
Students can develop a multi-scene story with character dialogue.
Prepositional Phrases ML SERIES
3-Day Series:
Prepositional Phrases
Day 1: Emily Dunbar’s “Preposition Song” Opening lyrics
Day 2, Spider-Leg strategy
Similar to Giant Magic Straw
Another Try-It writing task could include “Prepositional Phrase Scavenger Hunt.”
Use a busy scene like these images from archived Highlights magazines.
(Download as an 11×17 PDF or click each JPEG image.)
SESSION 4
Move Toward Mastery of Convention Skills
Try the skill as a writer
SESSION 5
Improve Basic Sentence Conventions
Readers Need Spaces
All Pages | Smartboard | PPT | Example | Template
Stretch fragments into sentences
Purchase CDB by William Steig.
Push for first-draft end marks
Reread to hear punctuation.
Reinforce sentences have 2 parts
Execute a self-edit
30+ Convention Activities & Lesson Resources
PREPS, CONJUNCTIONS, & APPOSITIVES
Read Idea #10 for 10 reasons to collect photographs.
INTER-SENTENCE PUNCTUATION
Demonstrate the power of punctuation.
Practice speaking punctuation.
Use magnetic punctuation for hands-on practice.
Consider whether to quote or paraphrase.
Punctuate dialogue with comic strips & candy hearts.
Learn 20 applications for the comma.