Yes, having students read what they have written to each other is valuable. Reading what they have written can help them to overcome a barrier of reading because they wrote it and often know what they read.
Also, thinking about daily writing--daily writing can be useful, but you want it to be engaging. You want them writing for real reasons and for real purposes. You want them writing stuff that's interesting to them. If it is, then they are going to want to go back and fix the spelling. Sometimes daily writing can be boring and repetitive for students--this isn't necessarily helpful.
Hi Beth, Hearing examples of other students also helps me figure out ways to better help my students! It is interesting to hear the different ways that aids work with children. The kindergarten teachers I work with also give varying degrees of help to their students. Some spell words, others make the sounds to encourage students to sound it out, others just say "you sound it out." All of them tell students to do their best and not to worry about spelling things wrong, so at least they agree on the value/harmlessness of invented spelling!
I liked the idea of peer conferences, too. Sharing with others can help students' reading abilities and also build confidence in themselves and their writing. Having peers look at or listen to their work gives what they write more validity and importance; it is not just something that they scribble down so that you see them moving their pencil.
Peer confrences help me tremendously. Oftentimes, a fellow student will pick up on something I missed or see an angle I had overlooked. Plus I think reading their peer's writings helps them to see that they aren't they only ones with such-&-such problems. Everyone is working to overcome their obstacles and learn side by side.
Yes, having students read what they have written to each other is valuable. Reading what they have written can help them to overcome a barrier of reading because they wrote it and often know what they read.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thinking about daily writing--daily writing can be useful, but you want it to be engaging. You want them writing for real reasons and for real purposes. You want them writing stuff that's interesting to them. If it is, then they are going to want to go back and fix the spelling. Sometimes daily writing can be boring and repetitive for students--this isn't necessarily helpful.
Hi Beth,
ReplyDeleteHearing examples of other students also helps me figure out ways to better help my students! It is interesting to hear the different ways that aids work with children. The kindergarten teachers I work with also give varying degrees of help to their students. Some spell words, others make the sounds to encourage students to sound it out, others just say "you sound it out." All of them tell students to do their best and not to worry about spelling things wrong, so at least they agree on the value/harmlessness of invented spelling!
I liked the idea of peer conferences, too. Sharing with others can help students' reading abilities and also build confidence in themselves and their writing. Having peers look at or listen to their work gives what they write more validity and importance; it is not just something that they scribble down so that you see them moving their pencil.
Peer confrences help me tremendously. Oftentimes, a fellow student will pick up on something I missed or see an angle I had overlooked. Plus I think reading their peer's writings helps them to see that they aren't they only ones with such-&-such problems. Everyone is working to overcome their obstacles and learn side by side.
ReplyDelete