Week 14 - Assignment #1

From watching the video, I learned in the how kids are being taught how to become good writers in the classroom. During its run, the few observations I noticed regarding the way students are being taught to write involved a teaching approach called "text-type". This is considered a clever way to look at the range of writing from informal to formal (as the video mentioned) sort of like a guide or an interactive journal approach to writing. I also noticed, the way the instructor encouraged her students to bring in their own favorite material regarding anything they themselves may like at the moment and write about it as a way to bring out their creative in an arguably sure-fire way they would enjoy. Seeing how the teacher in the classroom made it a point to have her students exercise writing conventions while helping them perfect their craft simultaneously provided another way for the teacher to help improve a child's writing ability. During the course of the video, the teacher stressed the importance of writing conventions which are info that students also need to know in order to improve their writing skills . I even realized how the little things a teacher can do such as writing things on the blackboard can also play a positive role in helping her students become better writers, especially when knowing how observant and inquisitive they can be when it comes to learning.

                                           Week 14 - Assignment #2

1) How much time will you schedule for student writing? 20-30 minutes.

2) How do you structure this time to support and advance student writing? By having them practice writing word exercises, while holding a q&a session at the same time. Then afterwards I'd have them take out their journals and write down what they just learned.

3) How do you increase opportunities for students to improve their writing? Give them enough room to make mistakes.

4) How do you balance student choice with teacher choice of writing topics? Somehow make it into a competition of who has the better writing topic with no real winner (unbeknownst to them of course,lol).

5) What challenges/questions do you have in scheduling adequate time for writing?  Not having enough time to fully cover the writing session due to other agendas that have to be covered during class; making sure every students gets it without feeling lost.