A few years ago, when I was student teaching, the classroom had an opportunity to work with a local photo studio and take pictures using a digital camera. The kids participated by taking turns using the camera to capture life through their eyes. They selected their best photos, wrote about them, and show cased their work at the studio for a fundraiser. This project has been on my mind ever since...
This summer I gave each student the opportunity to take pictures on a daily sensory walk, we printed the pictures and used them to write. The students LOVED seeing their work and had so much to say.
This is something I'm definitely going to continue throughout the year. I saw them produce more writing, but more importantly I saw their excitement for writing blossom more than ever before.
Give the camera to the students, let them take what's important to them. Watch how they shine.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Summer Mini-Group Lessons
Each day at Summer School I've been able to do mini-group lessons. During the school year I typically have students write independently, with a 1:1 partner and their personalized accessible writing tools. Working in a group, and getting peer interaction seems to have sparked new ideas and understanding in print concepts for several of the students.
As a group we select a picture we want to write about, brainstorm ideas about what we can and want to say, and then use our alphabets and writing tools to create words and phrases together. This activity takes about 15 minutes, we put our finished work on the "Writing Wall" so everyone can see what we've been up to!
As a group we select a picture we want to write about, brainstorm ideas about what we can and want to say, and then use our alphabets and writing tools to create words and phrases together. This activity takes about 15 minutes, we put our finished work on the "Writing Wall" so everyone can see what we've been up to!
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