I have been observing the students in Ms. K's fourth grade class. I am curious how the students feel about themselves as writers and what they think of writing in general. This is my interview of a fourth grade Caucasian female student from Ms. K's class on Thursday, November 1st.
When you have the option to write about anything you want, how do you choose a topic?
Mostly, I just write about something that happened over the weekend or at soccer. Like if I went to a party or had a game or something. Sometimes I write about something that my friends and I did if we had a sleepover or something.
Do you like to write?
I'm not really good at writing. I don't like to write about things that aren't true. I forget if that is fiction or non-fiction. It’s easier to write about things that are true because I was there or I can look things up on the internet.
Do you like to write poetry?
I like poetry, but I like the poems with the rules mostly. Like the ones that have the letters down the side and I fill in the words. At Valentine’s Day we have to write a poem for every student in the class. It is really tiring because there are so many kids. We have to give these to each other for Valentine’s Day instead of the ones you can buy at the store. Except you can still buy the ones at the store and give those to kids too.
Have you ever published a book with your class?
Maybe in Kindergarten. We did this book with pictures and we called it The Big Book. Then all the kids got to take it home for a while and bring it back. It was pretty cool.
What do you enjoy reading about?
I mostly read mysteries. If I’m close to the end I don’t like to put it down. But I don’t like to start new books. I am reading Nancy Drew books right now. I like them.
Have you ever tried to write a mystery?
No, I think it would be hard though. I don’t know if I could do it.
Reflection
I was a little surprised that more books weren’t being published in this school. The way that this school is focused on the student would easily encourage publishing books. The books could be shared in classrooms, grades, and the whole school. I think that publishing a book is very important for students to see themselves as writers and it builds their self-esteem. I really want to incorporate publishing in my classroom. Initially, I found it interesting that this student prefers to write non-fiction, but after thinking about it for a while, I can see how it could be easier to use facts and events to write rather than to think out the events, conflict, resolution and characters to create fiction writing. I will need to keep this in mind when I am teaching writing. It seems like something that would come rather naturally, but some students may really struggle with getting these ideas down in writing.
I am thankful for this experience and will take away a better understanding of how students see writing and themselves as writers.
Image: http://karmajello.com/mind-spirit/quotes/best-quotes-from-dr-seuss.html
When you have the option to write about anything you want, how do you choose a topic?
Mostly, I just write about something that happened over the weekend or at soccer. Like if I went to a party or had a game or something. Sometimes I write about something that my friends and I did if we had a sleepover or something.
Do you like to write?
I'm not really good at writing. I don't like to write about things that aren't true. I forget if that is fiction or non-fiction. It’s easier to write about things that are true because I was there or I can look things up on the internet.
Do you like to write poetry?
I like poetry, but I like the poems with the rules mostly. Like the ones that have the letters down the side and I fill in the words. At Valentine’s Day we have to write a poem for every student in the class. It is really tiring because there are so many kids. We have to give these to each other for Valentine’s Day instead of the ones you can buy at the store. Except you can still buy the ones at the store and give those to kids too.
Have you ever published a book with your class?
Maybe in Kindergarten. We did this book with pictures and we called it The Big Book. Then all the kids got to take it home for a while and bring it back. It was pretty cool.
What do you enjoy reading about?
I mostly read mysteries. If I’m close to the end I don’t like to put it down. But I don’t like to start new books. I am reading Nancy Drew books right now. I like them.
Have you ever tried to write a mystery?
No, I think it would be hard though. I don’t know if I could do it.
Reflection
I was a little surprised that more books weren’t being published in this school. The way that this school is focused on the student would easily encourage publishing books. The books could be shared in classrooms, grades, and the whole school. I think that publishing a book is very important for students to see themselves as writers and it builds their self-esteem. I really want to incorporate publishing in my classroom. Initially, I found it interesting that this student prefers to write non-fiction, but after thinking about it for a while, I can see how it could be easier to use facts and events to write rather than to think out the events, conflict, resolution and characters to create fiction writing. I will need to keep this in mind when I am teaching writing. It seems like something that would come rather naturally, but some students may really struggle with getting these ideas down in writing.
I am thankful for this experience and will take away a better understanding of how students see writing and themselves as writers.
Image: http://karmajello.com/mind-spirit/quotes/best-quotes-from-dr-seuss.html