Writing Across the Curriculum

[Patty Foncault]

I am in my 13th year of teaching. My current teaching assignment is at Silver Lake in fifth grade. I have taught third grade and second grade, as well. My favorite is definitely fifth. I love the age group and the ability they are developing to be able to conceptualize and carry on abstract conversations. In addition, I love the curriculum, particularly American history, which I find far too little time to spend on. My passion as a teacher of writing is to find as many authentic ways as possible to weave writing into every content area. In my 90 minute presentation I have shown ways to use cinquain and haiku poetry. I believe these are viable forms of writing that give students the opportunity to not only show what they know and understand, but to also give them an opportunity to be creative and to incorporate some artwork as well.

Using poetry is just one of my favorite ways to incorporate writing. I especially like an assignment I give at the end of our study of the Revolutionary War. For a summative assessment, I ask my students to write a letter from a Patriot point of view, as well as a Loyalist point of view. Their job is to convince me that their way of thought is the correct one. In so doing, they are to state information that they have learned in the course of study. If you're interested in other ways I use writing in the classroom, I invite you to check out my page on writingfix.com.

[Catherine Guild]

Hi Patty,

One of our fifth grade teachers did a great activity using the format from the "I am from ..." poem. She had each of her students study a figure from the Revolutionary War and then write an "I am from ..." for their character. The student had to really think about their character and why they were important in history to compose their poems and demonstrate a deep understanding of that historical person. They shared their poems at our school talent show - it was wonderful!

[Stacey Saulsgiver]

Wow I am impressed that the fifth graders are able to take on those two perspectives. What a great assessment!! That is much better than circle the correct answer to many questions. If I had that type of teacher for history, I might not have so many negative feeling about my inadequacies of history. I'm sure you are familiar with the book My Brother Sam is Dead. That would be perfect for your unit since it is a town divided between the two positions.