In teaching writing to students, whether it is poetry or stories or journal entries, I love using a strategy found in Georgia Heard's book Awakening the Heart.In her book (fabulous if you want to focus on teaching poetry) she has a section on heart mapping. This is a powerful tool that allows children to think about the "interior" of their hearts. I have the students draw a heart on paper, and then map their hearts. I use questions to help guide the students. I begin by asking them "What has stayed in your heart?" (Georgia Heard, page 110, Awakening the Heart)Then I begin and map my heart as an example. I write or draw things that are important to me, colours I like, memories that stick with me, and my favourite things. I also fill in sad memories. I fill in my heart as much as I can.
Then I direct students to do the same. I post guiding questions and have them think about:What has really affected your heart?What people have been important to you?What happy or sad memories do you have?What are some experiences or central events that you will never forget?What small things or objects are important to you? (pg. 110)What makes you laugh?What inspires you or transforms you? I leave it open to drawing or writing or using coloured markers to fill in their hearts. For the group I just worked with on narrative writing, I wanted them to create heart maps to help foster ideas for their writing. I expressed that this was a private activity and that we weren't sharing our maps. I envisioned heart maps to use for inspiration for stories and to help the students go inward in order to write with passion and use their own meaningful ideas. How deep and meaningful these students were able to go was up to them. I gave them the freedom to generate ideas about themselves to use for inspiration.I encourage teachers to create heart maps with their students as a way to get at their ideas and their passions. It is a great tool to use for any type of writing where we want to reveal what is in our hearts! PS: Georgia Heard is publishing a new book on heart maps as it has been so motivating for students, teachers, and parents alike! Visit her web site to find out more.
In teaching writing to students, whether it is poetry or stories or journal entries, I love using a strategy found in Georgia Heard's book Awakening the Heart.
In her book (fabulous if you want to focus on teaching poetry) she has a section on heart mapping. This is a powerful tool that allows children to think about the "interior" of their hearts. I have the students draw a heart on paper, and then map their hearts. I use questions to help guide the students.
I begin by asking them "What has stayed in your heart?" (Georgia Heard, page 110, Awakening the Heart)
Then I begin and map my heart as an example. I write or draw things that are important to me, colours I like, memories that stick with me, and my favourite things. I also fill in sad memories. I fill in my heart as much as I can.
Then I direct students to do the same. I post guiding questions and have them think about:
What has really affected your heart?
What people have been important to you?
What happy or sad memories do you have?
What are some experiences or central events that you will never forget?
What small things or objects are important to you?
(pg. 110)
What makes you laugh?
What inspires you or transforms you?
I leave it open to drawing or writing or using coloured markers to fill in their hearts.
For the group I just worked with on narrative writing, I wanted them to create heart maps to help foster ideas for their writing. I expressed that this was a private activity and that we weren't sharing our maps. I envisioned heart maps to use for inspiration for stories and to help the students go inward in order to write with passion and use their own meaningful ideas.
How deep and meaningful these students were able to go was up to them. I gave them the freedom to generate ideas about themselves to use for inspiration.
I encourage teachers to create heart maps with their students as a way to get at their ideas and their passions. It is a great tool to use for any type of writing where we want to reveal what is in our hearts!
PS: Georgia Heard is publishing a new book on heart maps as it has been so motivating for students, teachers, and parents alike! Visit her web site to find out more.
The year is well underway and I am excited by all that is happening in gifted education. I just finished a great workshop and met inspiring teachers who wanted information on our programs....and I realized that the challenge centre is a small part of our excellent program offerings in Vancouver. So, over the next few weeks, I will be filling in the gaps and providing information about our district offerings in gifted education.I am working with a great group of students (grades 3/4) in a program called "The Write Stuff" and we are looking at narrative writing, and how to be a writer. I have pitched the curriculum to them at an abstract level, and it is challenging. One of my students is a voracious reader, and wants to write like the authors she reads. Teaching writing is challenging because it is a process that requires time, lots of time, and lots of thinking, and lots of reflection, and maturity, and it can be very frustrating for these young authors.
So, to build a framework, I used the book The Plot Chickens as an introduction. What is wonderful about this resource is that it breaks down the narrative form into 8 rules, and it is told in a very student friendly format. A few of the rules are: develop a main character, have suspense, the character must solve his/her problem, and there must be a setting. I will report back with some student sample of writing, and the 8 rules of the book next week. Happy writing, and welcome to my favourite season of all: autumn!
The year is well underway and I am excited by all that is happening in gifted education. I just finished a great workshop and met inspiring teachers who wanted information on our programs....and I realized that the challenge centre is a small part of our excellent program offerings in Vancouver. So, over the next few weeks, I will be filling in the gaps and providing information about our district offerings in gifted education.
I am working with a great group of students (grades 3/4) in a program called "The Write Stuff" and we are looking at narrative writing, and how to be a writer. I have pitched the curriculum to them at an abstract level, and it is challenging. One of my students is a voracious reader, and wants to write like the authors she reads.
Teaching writing is challenging because it is a process that requires time, lots of time, and lots of thinking, and lots of reflection, and maturity, and it can be very frustrating for these young authors.
So, to build a framework, I used the book The Plot Chickens
as an introduction. What is wonderful about this resource is that it breaks down the narrative form into 8 rules, and it is told in a very student friendly format. A few of the rules are: develop a main character, have suspense, the character must solve his/her problem, and there must be a setting.
I will report back with some student sample of writing, and the 8 rules of the book next week. Happy writing, and welcome to my favourite season of all: autumn!
Welcome to Poetry Adventures Grade Two's. You are a great group of students who are keen to learn, write, and challenge yourselves. We are having fun learning about different types of poetry and writing poems, and creating art. Awesome work, everyone!It amazes me how students come to the Challenge Centre and are so nervous, and after one morning, they are talking and having fun, sharing ideas, and really doing fantastic work! It is so nice to see... and lovely to meet such interesting students. I am always fascinated by the stories and adventures students share with me; so lovely to witness great ideas and great minds at work!
Welcome to Poetry Adventures Grade Two's. You are a great group of students who are keen to learn, write, and challenge yourselves. We are having fun learning about different types of poetry and writing poems, and creating art. Awesome work, everyone!
It amazes me how students come to the Challenge Centre and are so nervous, and after one morning, they are talking and having fun, sharing ideas, and really doing fantastic work! It is so nice to see... and lovely to meet such interesting students. I am always fascinated by the stories and adventures students share with me; so lovely to witness great ideas and great minds at work!
