It’s been a great couple of weeks getting to know my new classroom community. I have a small class this year, only fifteen 3rd graders who range in age from 7-8 years old. They have a wide variety of strengths and weaknesses, and I can already envision the growth that many of them will make, specifically in the area of literacy development.
I’ve made initial assessments, and have discovered that I have a number of reluctant writers, mostly boys. Our district is in its second year of implementing the Lucy Calkins Units of Study, which focuses on 90 minutes of targeted instruction and independent practice through the Writing Workshop five days a week. That’s a lot of writing for this age, which had led me to my inquiry question.
Here is my question:
How will incorporating a variety of digital media opportunities enhance a “canned curriculum” for 3rd grade writers?
Plan of Action/Execution:
I plan to begin by gathering data on my 3rd grade writers including the amount of time they are able to sustain their own writing, (right now it’s about 4 minutes) collect mentor text in order for them to immerse themselves in quality writing, identify topics/genres that my 3rd graders are interested in writing about, explore what types of digital media programs we can use with ease, with a focus on peer to peer learning, and development of digital skills. I would then share samples of programs with the students, allowing them to select the digital media that interests them. I envision students working collaboratively in a variety of programs, sharing with each other the possibilities for social destinations for their writing, as well as creating a kind of mentorship community as they share technical skills with each other.
My goal is to improve the core competencies of reading and writing through a supportive digital community in the classroom. I hope that with improved stamina for writing, these young author’s will be engaged and self motivated to improve their writer’s craft.
Here is what I need for help at our next meeting:
1. Suggestions/feedback maybe to help narrow my inquiry/action research.
2. What programs would we use in 3rd grade( 7 and 8 year olds) to offer students the opportunity to become independent as they create a digital library of their writing to include movies, digital storytelling, picture collage, keynote/power point, with a focus on quality social destinations?
3. What is the best way to receive and share feedback in order to cultivate full participation and a community of writers?
I just posted a long comment, and it didn't post. I'll see if I can remember what I wrote! Your question sounds great and it'll be interesting to see what you find out. I have used Calkin's Units, but we are not tied to them, so we can use them as a resource. I wondered if you will be teaching all the technology or do you have help? If I were doing it alone, I might focus on 3 or 4 tops as it might get overwhelming. I like your idea about having kids mentor each other with the media. Your 3rd ?? about feedback-what if you collaborate with a local college and have the education students do some feedback for your students. That would be quit powerful for them, I'd think. They could do it all via some sort of media-moodle, googledocs-I don't know for sure-just a thought. Maybe at the end, they could all meet to share their final project.
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