In this ongoing class, "Young Writers Find Stories in Their Every Day Lives", we will be learning to write a story using pictures. Using a modified writing workshop format we will use pictures to "write" stories, remembering drawing is writing at this age. Students will be encouraged to write true stories from their experiences where they are the main character. The teacher will model for the students how to write their stories.

So often young children have a hard time expressing themselves. They don't have all the language YET to express themselves in a way that allows us to truly understand how they are feeling about certain circumstances or experiences. In this class we will use writing with pictures and a lot of talk to help draw out some of that language, enabling the students to share their experiences with their teacher and peers through oral and written language. 

The class will begin with talk and share time. This will help the students get to know each other better, see that others have stories to share in their lives just as they do, and serve as a springboard for brainstorming story topics. The students will then observe the teacher as she models good writing. After the teacher has modeled writing a story she will select one element to focus on in a short mini lesson. The students will then be invited to write and encouraged to practice something that they saw the teacher do. It is up to the student what they want to try in their story each week. Before class ends each student will be encouraged to share their story with the rest of the class. 

Format of Each Class:
5-7 min.    Talk and Share Time- Time to warm up our thoughts and ideas. 
4-6 min.      Modeled Writing- Students will watch as teacher writes her story.
2-3 min.      Mini Lesson- Teacher will highlight one teaching point that students can consider in their writing.
15-20 min.  Student Writing Time- Beginning with thinking time, students will have time to write their stories.
5-7 min.    Share Time- Each student will have the opportunity to share their story from writing time.

If you choose to join my ongoing class  "Young Writers Find Stories in Their Every Day Lives" we will search for stories using the themes below. NOTE: Teacher will evaluate student writing through observations. Over time some topics may repeat with different themes in order to revisit certain elements of writing and encourage the students to try them in their writing.

Sessions Themes:
⇢Week of August 14, 2022: Summer Fun/Types of Writing
⇢Week of August 24, 2022: What a Splash/Main Character: Me in the Story
⇢Week of August 31, 2022: Lazy Days/Showing How I Feel in My Illustrations
⇢ Week of September 7, 2022: Fun with Family/Showing What I Did (Verbs)
⇢Week of September 14, 2022: My Parent is Fun/Story Element Chart
⇢ Week of September 21, 2022: Grandparents/Adding Details to my Setting
⇢ Week of September 28, 2022: Life with Mom/Expanding My Writing
⇢Week of October 5, 2022: Fall Walk/Beginning, Middle and End
⇢Week of October 12, 2022: Changing Leaves/Adding Details
⇢Week of October 19, 2022: Cooler Weather/Picture Book Examples
⇢Week of October 26, 2022: Fall Celebration/More Picture Book Examples
⇢Week of November 2, 2022: I am Thankful/Some Details Repeat Over Pages
⇢Week of November 9, 2022: Family Traditions/Putting Words on the Page
⇢Week of November 16, 2022: I Remember/Author Celebration