hello:)i have to give my class a writng exercise which has to involve all children.they all have to work on writing out one and the same text?any ideas?
I'm not sure I understand your question, but I'd photocopy the pages from the text so that each child has his/her own copy.
i have to devise a writing exercise which has to involve all children working on writing one text.so i need some ideas
I have an idea you can use or adapt. Hold on while I find it and get it posted.
From a Jane Schaffer unit:
"Of all the skills students must learn in writing, commentary is the most difficult. Writing commentary means giving your opinion and interpretation about something, and many students do not have much experience doing this. We believe in requiring commentary, though, because it is the higher level of thinking that goes into any essay and makes it interesting to read ...
[The words "you" and "your" in the following = the student.]
"Commentary means your personal opinion, response, reaction, or reflection about a specific detail you are making in an essay. When you write commentary, you are 'commenting on' a point you have made. Synonyms for commentary include 'analysis,' 'interpretation,' 'insight,' 'evaluation,' 'explication,' and 'discussion.' Commentary echoes the focus in your thesis and topic sentences in your essay.
"Commentary is a difficult skill to master because all the opinions and interpretations must come from you. Your techer will not supply the information you will need to write commentary. It is up to you to think of some original, individual statemsnts to make about your details and examples.
"To show you what commentary sounds like, read the following paragraph that describes an experience. It does not have commentary in it.
"Driving in the fog to Sacramento was a frightening experience. No signs were visible from the freeway, so I couldn't see if there were any gas stations nearby to fill my near-empty tank. In addition, it was 12:00 noon, and the fog was so thick that I couldn't read the exit signs until I started passing them. To make matters worse, a police car suddenly appeared ahead and drove at forty miles per hour for the next thirty minutes, and none of us were allowed to pass him. When I finally reached Sacramento that day, a great sense of relief permeated my body and mind.
"This paragraph has a thesis, three sentences of specific detail, and a concluding sentence. It does not have any commentary in the middle."
One exercise my students had fun with was group skits. After we had read one of Shakespeares plays and studied the play form, I divided the class into five groups. We talked as a class about the basic play plot and decided on a basic group of characters. Then each group took one of the Acts and wrote a script for that act. It was written in modern language NOT Shakespearean and the characters were relevant to teens. The class would decide whether the focus was drama or comedy. But the result was always funny.
If you want to order your own copy of any of her units, go here:
http://www.janeschaffer.com/
Jane Schaffer and her colleagues at one of the large high schools in San Diego have been very successful in training students, starting in grade 9, to do very, very well on AP exams.
The Commentary Packet is included in the Teaching the Multiparagraph Essay unit, and her units are terrific to use with high school freshmen, especially those who eventually plan to take AP classes in any subject.
You can either arrange for an inservice or you can order her curriculum guides (top left of the website).
My experience was this: I used this with both inexperienced writers and students who had not been well taught before they got to me. The commentary packet in the multiparagraph unit is the best part of it all. Kids resist it because they don't like "formula writing," but when they have few to no writing skills at all, this is an excellent place to start. Then once they have these concepts under control and can write paragraphs like these almost without thought, the teacher can start to teach variation and personal voice. But without the basic skills, there is very little chance for students to succeed in writing true essays.
Hello! It sounds like you're looking for a collaborative writing exercise that involves all the children in your class. One idea is to have them work on writing a story together. Here's how you can go about it:
1. Choose a Theme: Start by selecting a theme for the story. It could be something broad like "adventure" or more specific like "a trip to the moon."
2. Brainstorm: Conduct a group brainstorming session where each child shares ideas related to the chosen theme. Encourage their creativity and let them come up with different characters, settings, and plot points that can be included in the story.
3. Story Outline: Once you have a variety of ideas, work with the class to create a basic story outline. Decide on the beginning, middle, and end of the story, including the major events that will take place.
4. Divide the Story: Divide the story into smaller sections or chapters. Assign each section to a group or pair of children. Make sure each section is of equal length or difficulty level so that all children can participate.
5. Writing and Editing: Give each group or pair some dedicated time to work on their assigned section. Encourage them to write creatively and bring the story alive. After they finish writing, ask them to proofread and edit their section for clarity and grammar.
6. Putting it all Together: Once all groups or pairs have completed their sections, gather the class together to share and combine their writing. Read each section out loud in the order of the story to create a cohesive whole.
7. Final Touches: As a class, review the story, make any necessary edits, and choose a suitable title. The children can also illustrate the story or create a cover design for it.
8. Celebrate and Share: Once the story is complete, hold a class reading session where each child gets a chance to read a part they wrote. You can also consider sharing the story with other classes, parents, or even publishing it in a school newsletter or website.
Remember to provide guidance, encouragement, and support to the children throughout the process to ensure an engaging and inclusive experience. I hope this helps and that your class enjoys this collaborative writing exercise!