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Lesson 3-1
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Lesson part A: Writers stretch out small moments in time
==> Listen as I read this piece: I got up. I ate breakfast. I waited for the bus. I went to school. I learned
about math and reading. I went on the bus to go home. I played outside. I ate dinner. I read some stories. I went to
bed.
==> What do you notice about that piece?
==> It's just a list of many things. It doesn't really paint much of a picture in my head. A writer's job is to paint
a picture for the reader.
==> Instead of writing about a lot of things a writer can slow down and stretch out a tiny moment in time.
==> Let's pick this tiny moment, I waited for the bus. Watch how I can stretch out this moment to paint a picture
in your head. The door slammed behind me as I raced to the bus stop. It had been raining all morning and there were big puddles
on the sidewalk. They seemed to be calling my name. My eyes looked back to see if anyone was watching. With a giant bound
I leaped into one of the puddles. The water splashed so high that the muddy water splashed my new clean shirt. Oh would
mom be upset when she found out.
==> Let's talk about the difference between the two pieces of writing.
==> In the first one I just told about lots of things, but didn't give you any details. In the second one I only told
you about a small moment of my day and I stretched it out so that you could enjoy it as much as I did.
==> Great writers stretch out small moments in time to paint pictures in the reader's mind.
==> Think of a small moment, just one little thing that's happened to you. Turn to your talking partner and tell them
about that one tiny moment.
==> Today when you write I want you to try stretching out a tiny moment in time.
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Lesson 3-2
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Lesson: Small moments can stretch across many pages.
==> I want to show you how writer's stretch their stories across many pages with their words and their illustrations.
==> Let's look at several books and see how these authors stretched their small moment across the pages.
==> Today when you write I want you to try to stretch your small moment across several pages just like in these books.
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Lesson 3-3
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Lesson: Writers savor the moment
==> When I was a little girl we had tomato soup for dinner one night. I don't like tomato soup at all. Just the smell
of it makes me feel sick. But the rule was you had to eat it. I picked up my bowl and gulped it down as fast as I could
and then took a big drink. I didn't want that taste to last very long.
==> When I have home baked chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven I like to savor the moment. I take time to
smell the tantalizing taste. When I bite into a warm, oozy chocolate chip I enjoy every moment of the bite. I want the taste
and enjoyment to last as long as possible. That's called savoring the moment. It's like making it last a long time so that
you can enjoy it longer.
==> Writers savor a moment when they write. They slow down and use their words to make that tiny moment last in the
reader's mind.
==> (Write a piece to demonstrate) I could just write I gave the dog a bath. However that doesn't savor the moment.
Instead I could write I tried to coax Buddy into the bathtub, but he didn't want to go. I grabbed him around the middle and
heaved and pushed to get him in the tub. He squirmed and fought to get away from me. With one final push I shoved him into
the tub and began to hose him down.
==> Do you see how I savored the moment. I relived every little detail so the reader could enjoy it as much as I did.
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Lesson 3-4
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Lesson: Writers give details when they stretch their writing
==> Tell the kids that you have a dog. Ask them if they can draw a picture of your dog. Why not? Ah...
I haven't told you what my dog looks like.
==> Writers can add details to make their
writing more interesting.
==> Color and size words can help create a better picture in the reader's mind.
==> When you write today, you might want to try to add a color or size word to your writing.
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Lesson 3-5
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Lesson: Writers share feelings when they write
- Bring out a puppet who is crying. Have the puppet share his feelings with the class. As
he interacts with you his feelings can change and he can become happy.
- Writers share their feelings when
they stretch their writing.
- Telling about how the characters feel helps the reader connect with the
story.
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Lesson 3-6
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Lesson: Moving beyond I like stories
==> Do you have likeitis? It's a terrible disease that affects some writers. Describe likeitis... like takes over
and wants to start every sentence... I like, I like, I like
==> Let's look at how some other authors use words (instead of like).
==> Say goodbye to like!
==> Let's brainstorm a list of words that we could use instead of like.
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Lesson 3-7
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Lesson: Writers use 5 fingers to tell their stories
- Our 5 fingers remind us of 5 very important things that writers need to include in their stories:
who, what, when, where, why
- When we leave these out the story can become confusing. Let me show you...
- Model
a story that omits some of the w's and discuss it with the class.
- Create a finger puppet glove with the 5 W's written
on the fingers. You can use cheap gloves from the dollar store and create a collection of them for kids to use to remind
them of the 5 W's.
- Remember to think about the 5 W's when you write today
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Lesson 3-8
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Lesson: Writers can zoom in on a moment
==> How many of you have ever used a video camera of a camera?
==>
A video camera can zoom in... up close. It can take in the big picture or it can zoom in on one thing. Let me show you. (Connect
a video camera to a display unit and demonstrate how you can take footage of the entire class or you can zoom in on one person.)
==>
Writers can do the same thing. They can zoom in on a small moment in time so that the reader can really see a vivid picture
in their mind.
==> (Demonstrate zooming in on a small moment on the chart paper)
==> Today,
see if you can be like a video camera and zoom in on a small moment.
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Lesson 3-9
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Lesson 3-10
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Lesson: Writers take the reader on an adventure
- Bring out a puppet who is very excited.
He has just returned from a wonderful adventure. He tells you that he wrote all about his adventure and wants
to know if he can read his piece tot he class.
- After he shares comment on what a wonderful job he did of taking us
along on his adventure. He seems shocked and says, "but you didn't come along"
- Explain that a great writer takes
the reader along on the adventure by pulling the reader into the story with juicy and powerful words.
- Read Mr, Katapa's
Adventures and marvel at all the adventures he takes.
- Encourage the kids to take their reader on an adventure today
in their writing.
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Lesson 3-11
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Lesson: Writers stir the hearts of their readers - I was reading a book last night and before I knew
it I had tears running down my cheeks. The words of the book stirred my heart.
- Sometimes books make us cry,
sometimes laugh, sometimes they even make us angry.
- Books can be very powerful. An author uses their pen to
stir our hearts.
- When we write about something that is close to our heart we use words in a way to share our message
with our reader so that we can stir their heart.
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Lesson 3-12
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Back to Writing Workshop mini lessons
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