Best-of-Smekens Writing Conference:
Writing Remix 2018
SECRET SITE
SESSION 1
Teach Developmentally-Appropriate Writing in Grades K-2
Draw accurate shape details
Before students can draw shapes independently, they will need extra support that tracing allows. Art for Kids is a YouTube channel where a dad draws side-by-side with one of his children, showing how to draw simple (sometimes seasonal) objects line by line.
Access templates: Single-frame | 4-box frame
Transition to list writing
Target list-making as a writing genre
SESSION 2
Teach Writing Skills – Not Traits
Recognize the traits in all writing resources
Target a specific skill within a single trait in each mini-lesson
Access hundreds of mini-lesson ideas for teaching a variety of writing skills – all organized by the 6 Traits.
Launching the Writer’s Workshop: Grades K-2 | Grades 3-12
SESSION 3
Emphasize the “Trophy” Trait of Ideas
Narrative Writing
Start with the middle – the problem
Stretch the middle
Informative Writing
List important points
Add specifics to support each main idea
Color helps students if they are developing or listing ideas.
Add sentences to undeveloped ideas using sticky dots | “Spring” Examples.
Persuasive/Argumentative Writing
Choose a position in 4 steps
Teach students to first chart the perspectives before choosing a position.
Review this video clip explaining the four steps to align with the strongest position, not personal opinion.
Concord South Elementary kindergartners execute the four steps before deciding if the character is a duck or rabbit.
Anchor Chart | Choose a position in 4 Steps
Anchor Chart | T-Chart of details
List many good reasons
The Big Book of Details
Launching the Writer’s Workshop: K-2 version | 3-12 version
SESSION 4
Organize Ideas Before Drafting
Follow a scaffold of instruction
Don’t leave organization to the revision step
Define what organization means.
Choose well-known topics and write everything down
Poster | PDF | Word | Smartboard
Additional Listing Lessons: K-2 version | 3-12 version
Organize related details into a “container”
Kindergartners learn three ways to organize information.
Smartboard | PDF
Eighth graders sort the pros/cons of genetic engineering.
Anchor Chart | List of Research | Sort Activity
1. Identify a well-known topic.
2. List many details.
3. Group similar details.
The reason the details go together IS the label
Introduce flexible and universal graphic organizers
Introduce each organization type with a series of 3 mini-posters.
Utilize the Organize It Table Tent to select the appropriate order of information. Simple assembly.
Organize information based on task & purpose
Choose the appropriate organizer
STEP 6: Organize throughout the writing process
Wean students off provided graphic organizers
SESSION 5
Plan the Year of Writing Units
See the big picture
Note the differences between the three modes of writing: K-5 version | 6-12 version
Recognize the essential skills per mode
