Middle School ELA/Reading

Voices from the Classroom: Authentic Writing Experiences in the Urban Classroom

Get your phone ready!!!

What constitutes effective literacy instruction in the urban classroom?

How do we increase writing opportunities in the classroom?

What are some authentic writing opportunities to integrate into the urban classroom?

Today’s Guiding Questions

What are the most striking unmet needs of urban learners?

What principles do you find most useful to guide your literacy practices in urban schools, and what theoretical framework underlies them?

What do your principles look like when translated into literacy teaching practices in the urban classroom?

What types of student responses signal that an instructional practice is working well for students?

Quickwrites and Foldables!

Voices from the Classroom: Effective Literacy Practices

Six-Word MemoirsThe stories of our lives…

Etymology of Memoir 1560s, from Anglo-Fr. memorie "note,

memorandum, something written to be kept in mind" (early 15c.)

From L. memoria (see memory). Meaning "person's written account of his life" is from 1670s.

Why Six Words?Legend has it that American author, Ernest Hemingway was once asked to write a story using as few words as possible.

The result was a single, six-word sentence that he later called his best work.

Remember Ernest? Famous author of

works such as: The Sun Also Rises For Whom The Bell

Tolls The Old Man and the

Sea A Farewell to Arms

His six words???“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Everybody Writes!!What happened? Why are the shoes for sale?

Take a few moments and write a synopsis of Hemingway’s “story.”

Smith MagazineIn homage to Hemingway, Smith Magazine asked readers to sum up their lives in six words.

Mini-Silent Carousel You will write in response to the word or

phrase on the posters. Use strong adjectives to describe or replace

the word with a stronger noun. You must move silently!!!

Challenge!

Let’s watch a few examples. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejndNExs

o9M&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQT6PfISRoM&feature=related

Examples… “Cursed with cancer, blessed with friends.”

"Fourteen years old, story still untold."

Points to remember… Follow the steps of Writer’s Workshop;

Put the six best words in the best order;

After you have completed your memoir, locate an image you feel best supports your message;

Create a PowerPoint slide; Save your slide to the share2drive in the Six Words folder.

Final Step Go to http://www.smithteens.com/ and

publish your memoir!!!

Reminiscing won’t encourage a finished script. – Aasia H.

I Am Better Than You Think

-Dylan W.

Imagine in fantasy,Live in reality.

- Rachel Lara

Never forget who your friends are.

Please take a 5 minute break. When you return, the room will be

transformed!

Break!

Number off 1-4 Grab a writing utensil and your MLA

strategy folder We will move every 14 minutes

Learning Stations

Closing