Wild About Writing

System 44 Module 2

System 44 Workshop 2
READ 180 and System 44 are comprehensive programs that provide students with individualized and rigorous reading instruction. Both incorporate whole group instruction, independent reading, small group learning, and student application with the Instructional Software.
This week the System 44 groups started Module 2- Sports Showdown. Check out what we will be learning!

Due West Writing Fair

Attention all Due West Writers! It is now time for the Due West Writing Fair! Everybody get your best writing together and turn it in to your teacher! She will select one piece per class to be your classroom winner! The classroom winners will then compete for a grade level winner that will go on to represent Due West in the Cobb County Writing Fair! The due date for teachers to submit the winner to me is February 8th. Get your writing turned in before then! Come see me if you have any questions! I can't wait to read all the winning entries! 

Happy Writing! 

Narrative Writing Unit

Students have been working on a Narrative Writing Unit in the Writing Lab. The focus of the unit was to make your story and characters come alive with dialogue and “show not tell” strategies. Students learned new and different ways to begin the story with great leads. We also added action, feelings and what the character was thinking. Including new and improved transition words was also important to move the story along. Finally, the students learned to have an ending to give the story closure. Each piece was scored with a writing rubric. Please look for these to come home and check out these great narratives from your Due West Pioneer!

 

System 44 Summaries

Our students in System 44 just completed their first workshop!  We ended the unit with a writing project. These are hung up at school outside the Writing Lab. We typed them and learned how to insert a picture as well! 

Our System 44 Mummy Pumpkin

Currently, we are having a pumpkin decorating contest at school. Since the System 44 students are currently working on Workshop 5 "The Secrets of the Mummy's Tomb", my submission was a Mummy Pumpkin! Voting will happen next week! The pumpkins are being displayed in the Learning Commons.

Due West and The Big Thank You

Due West Students and Staff sent an amazing amount of letters to soldiers deployed overseas. The total amount was 524 letters! The students really loved this project! We truly hope it helps the soldiers know how grateful we are for their service to our country and we all wish them a Happy Thanksgiving! 

The Big Thank You!

This week in the Writing Lab, the students will be participating in The Big Thank You!  The students will write a thank you letter to our troops that will be delivered by the Bert Show on Thanksgiving. The school that writes the most letters will receive a $1,000.00 reward! If any parents, family members or friends would like to participate, please send them to the Writing Lab by Friday, October 19th! More information is listed below or visit http://thebertshow.com/articles/bigthankyou/

 Here is a copy of the letter template the students are using in case you want to print one out to use as well!  Download Letter

Bold Beginngs

We have started our narrative stories! A good hook sentence, or a BOLD BEGINNING, is key to nearly every essay we write. It can make or break your story and will be the sentence that has your reader decide if they want to read on. We have been learning some ways to keep your audiences attention and pull them into the narrative. Here are a few wee have practiced. Try some with a story at home!

Show Not Tell

Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth grade students have been learning to use the “Show Not Tell” strategy when writing narrative stories. To create an interesting story, the writer needs to show, not tell, the reader about people, places, and things they are writing about. Showing creates mental pictures in the reader’s mind. When readers get a clear picture, they are more engaged in the writer’s story. Students practiced by taking a boring, telling sentence and changing it to a showing one. They also will learn to use this strategy in their own narrative stories.

System 44 Workshop 5

READ 180 and System 44 are comprehensive programs that provide students with individualized and rigorous reading instruction. Both incorporate whole group instruction, independent reading, small group learning, and student application with the Instructional Software.

This week the System 44 groups started Workshop 5- Secrets of the Mummy's Tomb. Check out what we will be learning!