Writing Lists

In my room, I teach reading using the Daily 5 framework for small group instruction and independent work.  I also teach a separate Writer's Workshop, so I was having trouble deciding what to have students do for Work on Writing.  I ended up giving them a couple different options, just like I do for Word Work and for Listening to Reading.

In Word Work, they use their weekly spelling list and can:

• write words on white boards
• make words with wiki stix
• make words with magnetic letters
• write words in silly ways, like rainbow words, squiggly words, and bubble letter words 

For Listening to Reading I have various technology that they can use:

• 4 computers with Study Island test prep games
• 2 iPod Touches with reading game apps
• 1 iPod Nano with our anhology stories loaded to it
• personal walkmans and discmans with books on tape and CD

So, with all this structured choice, I slowly worked in writing choice.  Now when they pick Work on Writing, they can choose to:

• work on what they wrote during Writer's Workshop
• write a new story or essay
• write a letter to a friend
• write a list.  

When they write lists, they write everything from their favorite books to vacations they want to go on.  My students like writing lists about everything and anything!  I show them how I write lists of things I need to do, things I need to buy, and things I need to remember.  List writing is very authentic writing, and it can turn into ideas to write about during Writer's Workshop.

Here are a couple girls in my class writing lists on mini clipboards from Target:

Here is the freebie of two different lists.  I hope your students enjoy list writing as much as mine do!

 

Please visit my blog Teaching With Style to get more freebies, lessons, tips, and ideas!