Readings for Week 12

This week's readings were all about writing. The Peanut Butter Book covered many things that I found to be new and useful information. First of all, I appreciated how the book explained the concept of process writing. It seems that process writing has not always been the way in which teachers taught writing. According to the H.D.B. book, teachers put an emphasis on the final product rather than the writing process.

Process writing presented an activity that I think can be used with all grades and ages. The "I remember" activity seems like a great writing activity and it activates background knowledge, to boot!

There were so many activity ideas that the Peanut Butter Book presented, especially under the beginner writing section that I want to keep this book for future reference. I like the idea of creating stories with pictures or using wordless books. I have a funny anecdote about my first encounter with wordless books. Last week at my teacher observation I was looking through my teacher's books and I came across a book titled, "Anno's Journey". That book was filled with beautiful pictures and I must say that I took longer "reading" that book than many of the other books on the shelf. I was completely engrossed and enthralled with what the main character must be doing. Finally, I concluded that he was travelling through time and I came up with an idea for a lesson that students could write their own stories based on the pictures.

I did have one question about concept books that were presented on page 228. The book stated that a teacher could have concept books for the students to look at and use as a basis for constructing their own. The book said that concepts such as big and little could be presented to help enrich the writing and vocabulary of the students. I learned in the past that presenting vocabulary opposites in English was a pedagogical faux pas.

I love the idea of any of the 3 types of journal ideas that were presented and I remember as a 1st and 2ND grader enjoying the writings I created in my journal.

To be honest, before I read these readings for the week I was somewhat leery of teaching writing because it is something I do not enjoy. After gaining all the new information I gleaned from the textbooks I realize teaching reading can be not only student centered but fun!