Fictional Narrative Writing - Do Over!

Our district has common assessments that our students take approximately every 6 weeks.  Normally they take them during computers, but because last week Monday was a holiday (our usual computer day) we had to take them the old fashioned pencil and paper way.  I figured it would be an easy thing to plug into my sub plans while I took the GRE.  Tests are often my go to for sub days - keeps the kiddos somewhat quiet for the sub.

Anyway, when I got back the next day, along with a 2 page note from the sub (they had a rough day, I'm not going to lie), was a stack of assessments with written responses that looked like this:

and this:

So, I had two choices, 

1.  I could cry about the sub note

2. I could re-teach them how to write a fictional narrative

I chose the second option.  Because this was completely impromptu and unplanned ignore my messy rushed handwriting!

We talked about the steps for writing when answering a written response.  

1. Read the prompt - What is it asking you?  (The prompt was - "Describe the day you woke up as a fish.") So, we decided this was asking us to write a fictional narrative.  

2. Brainstorm and organize your thoughts.

I asked the students, what do fictional stories have? Story elements!  We created quick graphic organizers listing the text elements: characters, setting, problem, solution, beginning, middle, end, feelings, action, dialogue.  We brainstormed what could go under each.  I sent the students back to work on their own brainstorm.

3. Write.  Once everyone was close to being finished with their brainstorming, I showed them how I might begin my own story.

They went back to work, and here are some of their revisions with some before and after as well.  I was so proud I *ALMOST* forgot about the sub note!

Before

After page 1

                                            After page 2 WoW!

I also have a student who needs a bit more support and normally doesn't take the tests with the class, but I had her draw a picture to help her brainstorm.  Here is her writing sample:

Have you ever done a do-over?  

Assess Deeper With Multiple Choice Questions

 I recently got a new professional book that I am totally obsessed with!

The book, Beyond the Bubble, is about using multiple-choice tests to improve math instruction, but I have been taking it so much further, and I am glad that I have been.

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love. 

  Recently I had my students read a passage about the Pony Express from Edhelper.  Then they answered multiple choice questions.  I sat down with each one and asked them to explain WHY they chose their answers.  The book focuses on the why of their answers.  I am so glad that I started doing this because of one particular student's work so far.  Normally, if a student answers questions correctly, I tend to move on thinking that the student "gets it".  But in the case with this student it couldn't have been farther from the truth.

I'm not sure if you can see the text clearly in the picture, if you can't click on it and it should make it bigger.  Anyway, the question she answered correctly was "How many years did the Pony Express run?"  Her answer was C. 18 months. The place in the passage that answers the question is circled in red and states that the Pony Express ran for a year and a half.  When I asked the student where she found the answer she pointed to the two years that were listed (circled in blue), 1840's and 1860.  She said because there were 18s in the years, she thought that meant 18 months.  She lucked into the correct answer without any understanding of what the question really was asking, or how to find it.  If I hadn't asked her directly, I never would have known.

How many times have you used formative assessment in your class only to find that the students who "got it" bomb the state tests?  I know for me it has happened way more often than I would like.  I feel like going deeper into the multiple choice is a great way to really see what they are thinking.  I have also started to give less questions, but asked them to explain in writing why they made their choice.  It has really helped me tease out their misconceptions.

Have you ever asked your students to explain their thinking when taking a multiple choice quiz?

Origami - Learning So Much More Than Paper Folding

Have you ever used origami in your classroom?  I have been amazed at the lessons my students have learned!  So much more than just paper folding!

This year, we have been blessed to have a mom of one of my students come in to teach origami.  If it were not for her, my class would not be learning origami because I am definitely not blessed with the talent of being able to intricately fold paper.

She and I have both joked about how we could "justify" the origami lessons - the students are learning about symmetry, angles, following directions, etc.  But, truthfully, the students and I have learned some important life lessons.

I have always been blessed to be "book smart".  School was easy to me and I have easily scored in the top 10% of just about every standardized test I have ever taken.  However, back in high school when I took the ASVAB, I scored at least two standard deviations below the lowest possible score on the spatial reasoning section ( well, not seriously, but I was definitely in the bottom ten percent).  Origami lessons are the time when I REALLY identify with my struggling learners! I have to have the directions repeated OVER and OVER again.  Often another student has to take my project to re-do the errant folds I have made.  They love being able to teach the teacher.

But, I am not the only one with this experience.  Most of my higher students have learned that they also struggle.  But... just like me they persevere!  They try it again and again until they get it.

My struggling learners have also learned what it feels like to be GOOD at something!  Many of these students are naturals at hands on learning.  Some of them don't even need to hear the directions, they just know how to do it!

The origami lessons have even inspired my students to become teachers!  A few of my boys have been reading the Origami Yoda series and taught us all how to make Origami Yodas!

And... even though I struggled and needed after school tutoring - I FINALLY made my own spinners!

 Updated: Since this post was originally written a few years ago, I obviously no longer have this parent coming into my classroom.  Luckily for me, and for you, I just found these amazing videos that teach kids how to make origami animals. You can find them at Art for Kids Hub. They also have lots of other great art projects as well! I can't wait to try them with my students this year!

A Peek at My Week-November 10, 2013

I am linking up with Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for A Peek at My Week.
 
Because of Veterans Day, this next week will be short of course, but it will be even shorter for me since I am taking the GRE on Wednesday! And although I should be working on sub plans as we speak, I am blogging instead! LOL!

 Daily 5 (Reading and Writing Mini-Lessons)

 We are finishing up our poetry unit and will continue to work on reading Love that Dog and using mentor texts to write our own poems.  I will be posting more about this later on this week and next week, but I am loving how their work is turning out!  My reluctant writers are turning into poets!  

 Math 

 This week begins our division unit.  Most of my kiddos are still struggling with the concept of division and their basic division facts, so this week will be an extensive review before we dive into the processes of long division.   I just started small math group instruction two weeks ago and I am LOVING it.  I really loved when one of my struggling kiddos said, "The best part of math rotations is working with the teacher!" (My other rotations are seat work and games). I feel like I can really give each student what they need and ALL of my students are making progress instead of just a few.  

 One of the games I will be adding to the rotations this week is this division bump freebie game from Games 4 Learning. 

Social Studies

We will continue learning about the Pony Express.  We had a re-enactment done a few weeks ago sharing letters from our school to another local elementary school which the kids loved!  We have been reading a few pages of this book everyday.

We will then start learning about Native Americans in our state.

Science

This week starts our unit on systems of the human body.  

Seems like an awful lot to cover in a short week, but somehow we will make it all work!

November Currently and $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway!

Oh my!  I am super late for the party, but I couldn't miss Currently!  So late or not, here it is :D

I am finally starting to feel better after an almost 2 month bout of being sick with bronchitis!  No fun!  And my classroom is showing the wear - I have had no extra energy, so I have just been kind of shoving things into cupboards and drawers (please tell me I am not the only one who does this!).  Anyway, I am looking forward to an extra weekend day to get in there and get things back into shape so I can find things again!

Next week is also my GRE test!  I am super nervous about it!  I am applying for a PhD program so I have to take it.  I didn't need it for my Master's but I need it now. I have been frantically studying during downtimes and even my students have offered to help me!  Love them!

For my yummy pin I am sharing what has quickly become one of our family's new favorites.  With a lot of kiddos it is happy to please everyone, but this one really does, and it is super easy for busy school days.

It is originally pinned from no.2 pencil (I'm a teacher of course, I have to love a website called that right?)

Besides teaching things, I think I pin more recipes than anything else!

And last but not least - time for my monthly Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway! Just my little special thank you to all of my followers! I am so thankful for all of you! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Trick or Treat? A Treat I Think!

The principal and vice principal at our neighboring school (we are K-4 and they are 5-6 right next door) came over today bearing treats - coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.  They said we deserved it since we would be dealing with sugar crazed kiddos the next two days.

I thought I would share a treat with you since you also will be dealing with the sugar crazies!
My whole Teachers Pay Teachers store is on sale at 20% off as a special treat for all you do!  And while you are there, make sure to follow to be eligible for the $25 TpT gift certificate I give away each month!

Also, a special thank you to Krista Wallden for the adorable sale button!  If you love clip art, be sure to check her store out too!

What Are We Learning About? The Pony Express!

We live in Nevada and Nevada Day is on Halloween!  We now get the day off the Friday before, but we are still going to celebrate at school by having a Pony Express between our elementary school and another elementary school in town.  The students at each school are writing each other friendly letters which will be delivered via "Pony Express".  To get the students ready, I decided to have us learn a little bit more about the Pony Express.

To get the kiddos excited, and engaged we did a pre-activity where I had pictures in various spots around the room.  The students wrote down what they noticed and what they wondered about each picture.

 

Then we came back together to talk about what was written about each picture.

 

 

On one of the pictures someone had written, I wonder if there will be a fire.  That confused me a little, so he came up and showed me that there was a fire extinguisher in the picture.

See it?

It always amazes me the things they notice!

Then we wrote predictions about what we thought we were going to be learning about.

Some great guesses, and one of them hit the nail on the head.

 

 

Do you ever have your students guess your teaching topic ahead of time to build anticipation?  What other anticipation activities do you use?