What's in this Writing Points ezine issue
Having students memorize lists of vocabulary words and their definitions
is standard procedure in many English classes as students approach
high stakes tests. The process is not particularly helpful, and
it certainly isn't interesting.
Guess
the Google is a way of getting students thinking about
words and meanings. Players look at images and must quickly figure
out what search term they have in common. It is harder than it
sounds.
I doubt that the game is any more effective at developing vocabulary
than memorizing lists of words, but it does make clear the long
term utility of precise vocabulary. And being able to spot the common
thread in seemingly different situations is a valuable skill as
well.
I'll tell you about another resource for developing vocabulary
in the next issue of Writing Points.
In 2009 I will be offering a variety of real-time courses for teachers
and students. The list of planned courses is listed on the new events
and classes thread.
All will be offered online at WizIQ.com. You will need Internet
access, speakers, a microphone. You don't have to download any software,
but you must register with WizIQ (it's free) in order to participate.
Participating in written group discussion is becoming an
essential 21st century skill. Our students have to learn to "converse"
in forums, newsgroups, and blog threads, as well as learning to
answer short-answer and essay questions.
People must be able to summarize well in order to participate in
written discussion. Quoting takes more space and can lead to plagiarism
and copyright violations.
Your students may not understand the concept of summarizing, but
they probably understand how to "tweet" on Twitter.com.
Instead of asking students to summarize a something they are reading
(paragraph, chapter, article, etc.) have them write Twitter posts.
Twitter accounts can be restricted to viewing by only a select
group. That lets you use Twitter summaries for class activities,
homeschool cooperatives, afterschool programs, book discussions,
etc.
Teacher resources
I've begun a new thread of resources
for teaching persuasive-pattern expository writing. I
will point you to materials you can get cheap and others that are
valuable enough or durable enough to warrant paying full price.
Pages on the teaching resources thread are:
Outlines & plans
Two new pages about planning writing are live on the website.
One explains my trademarked writing
skeleton™ system for making a sentence outline from a
working thesis statement. My students tell me the writing skeleton™
is single most useful thing they learned in my classes.
A second newly posted page on the outlines and plans thread shows
you how to tweak
the writing skeleton™ if it gives the wrong impression.
Writing Points presents a note
from Linda:
New ezine format to debut in February
Beginning with the February issue, Writing Points
will have a new format that will give you access to resources for
teaching writing that non-subscribers can't get. It should also
put an end to long URLs that break up in our inboxes.
That issue should be released Feb. 15, no providence preventing.
Until then, keep your pencil sharp.
Linda
