What a Writer Needs

[Kelly Hiatt]

My free book choice was what a writer needs by Ralph Fletcher.  I chose this book because a colleague of mine was required to read this book during the year she took the summer invitational.  I figure if it was chosen for her to read during the class, then it must have a wealth of knowledge for writers.  The book it self is set up very nicely.  It has very specific chapters, which allow readers to pick and choose chapters if they are struggling in an area of writing and are looking for some specific help.  For example, creating a character, beginnings and endings.  Fletcher addresses his readers as writers.  The information given in this book is not just for teachers to learn more about how to teach writing but more about what writers are like and their needs to become a better writer.  In fact this book helped me to understand myself more as a writer and things I could do myself to become a more productive writer. 

The chapter that was the most interesting to me was A Love of Words.  I found myself taking my time reading this chapter in detail and making an abundance of notes.  I became so fond of this chapter because it made me realize something that I struggle with as a writer and it clicked that I am sure that most of my students struggle with as well.  While I write, I find myself using the same words over and over again.  I then start to question myself as a writer.  This really damages my self confidence.  This chapter in Fletcher’s book helps one understand how important it is to love words.  He suggests that everyone search for words in everything they do and keep track of them in a book.  He states that he finds words he likes all of the time and then he uses them randomly in his writing.  He also points out that some words he could have for years before he actually uses them.  I think that this lends to the concept that we became aware of during class, that writing is about the process.  It is important that we make words part of that process.  My goal this year is to get my kids to love words.  I want them to surround my classroom.  I am hoping that if I can get my students intrinsically motivated about words, then it will pour over into their writing. 

With that said, Do you think that words are a powerful way to help students become motivated in writing?  Do you also think that it will help students writing in other traits if they are using a variety of words in their pieces of writing?  What kinds of activities do you currently use, or do you think will help students love words?

 

[Karen Pedersen]

Hello Kelly:

I totally agree with the author and your thinking. Words, to me, are the foundation of literacy. I usually use the analogy of the following: The cell is the smallest unit of measurement for living things, the atom is the smallest unit of measurement for non-living things, and the word is the smallest unit of literacy. From the word, all else is built. Each year, my students create their own "word collection" or personal dictionary. They add interesting and fun words that they discover through reading all types of text, and we add our key terms, vocabulary, word roots, and affixes to special sections of the book for reference and word building. I also have a section for synoyms, antonyms, homophones, and homographs. Throughout the year, the students do activities using words from their collection to find or match synonyms etc. I have had several of my past student come back to tell me they still use their personal dictionary. "The Boy Who Loved Words" is a great children's story that I have started to read to students at the beginning of the year. I found it at Barnes and Noble three years ago, and have used it in many model lessons. This year, I am starting the year off with it on Tuesday, the day my 5th graders decorate and set up their "word collector" or personal dictionary book.

As for your discussion prompt: Word knowledge truly does build students' reading and writing skills by increasing their understanding of the language and ability to manipulate words to get their message across in an engaging and interesting manner.

I would also recommend really focusing on content standard 1.0: Students know and use word analysis skills to determine the meaning of unknown words in text. When instruction focuses on words, students can analyze text with greater success and understanding.

I also teach word roots. By the end of the year, my 5th graders will know 85 Latin and Greek word roots. They will be able to define, illustrate, and create a list of words containing the word roots, as well as determine the meaning of words based on the words root. This is something I have been instructing in my literacy classess for years.
In teaching one word root, the student can build their word bank knowledge by hundreds of words, so it is a quick way to really build word knowledge.
Best of luck on your focus with words this year. I think you are going to have fun!

[Christy]

Hello Kelly,
I too chose a book by Fletcher. He puts things so well and really gives you deeper insight to great techniques to use in the classroom. I am very interested in reading this book. I do a bit of word work and we call them WOW Words. I have the students to a reader writer notebook in our class and one of their jobs is to find WOW words. I like the word WOW because they are simply words that inspire them, words they may like to use, or words they may just need to find the meaning for. What I find is that students look for them more often I think becasues of the catchy phrase WOW Word. I think that giving students a variety of vocabulary is so fun and important ot inspire writing. Student's enjoy using new words and saying them aloud.
Great book and I look forward to reading it.
Christy