Join us for conversations that inspire, recognize, and encourage innovation and best practices in the education profession.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.
Teaching Reading: K-2 Workshop
Watch the Video | Teaching Writing as a Process
Lecture
In this section, you will watch Dr. Paratore’s lecture on teaching writing as a process.
Print Dr. Paratore’s Writing Process Lecture Posters (PDF). Use the posters to take notes on the lecture.
In this video segment, Dr. Paratore reviews the principles of effective writing instruction. The lecture focuses on writing as a process and Writing Workshop practices that support the process.
An accompanying lecture transcript (PDF) is also available.
Video Segment – Dr. Paratore’s Lecture
Find this segment approximately 2 minutes and 55 seconds after the begining of the video. Watch for about 8 1/2 minutes.
At the end of the lecture, review your notes and consider these questions:
- When do students write without using the full writing process?
- What stages of the writing process do your students find most difficult: planning, drafting, revising, or editing?
- When do you assign topics for students to write about? When do you have students choose their topics?
- How do you support your students as they move through the writing process?
Following the lecture, the workshop participants discuss their questions and concerns about teaching writing. Use the video image below to locate where to begin viewing.
Video Segment – Questions and Concerns
Find this segment approximately 11 minutes and 15 seconds after the beginning of the video. Watch for about 2 1/2 minutes.
Now return to your Writing Instruction Chart. Add any new questions or challenges that have come from watching the video segment.
Classroom Excerpts
In this section, you will relate Dr. Paratore’s lecture and your readings to teaching practices in classroom excerpts.
Now you will observe two kindergarten classes during writing time. As you watch, pay close attention to how the teachers prepare students to write and support them as they draft and revise text.
Video Segment – Classroom Excerpts
Find this segment approximately 13 minutes and 55 seconds after the beginning of the video. Watch for about 11 1/2 minutes.
After watching the classroom excerpts, consider these questions:
- How was the writing instruction of both teachers similar? How was it different?
- What was the purpose of asking children to label their pictures before writing?
- How did John Sinnett address individual needs within his whole-class setting?
- How did Cindy Wilson enable students in the class to support each other in their writing?
Discussion
In this section, you will watch the workshop participants discuss the classroom excerpts.
Following the kindergarten classroom excerpts, the workshop participants discuss the lessons. Compare your ideas with theirs.
Video Segment – Discussion
Find this segment approximately 25 minutes and 15 seconds after the beginning of the video. Watch for about 10 1/2 minutes.
After watching the workshop participants’ discussion, consider these questions:
- Several workshop participants commented on John Sinnett’s modeling of the writing process. Some believed he could have made his writing more visible to the students, while others believed he was modeling the process, not the product. What do you think? How did you perceive his purpose for this lesson?
- Participants discussed the various teaching strategies demonstrated for supporting students in their planning. What ways have you assisted children as they prepare to write? How do you decide how much support children will need?
- What might you do differently after watching these classroom excerpts?
More Classroom Excerpts
In this section, you will relate Dr. Paratore’s lecture and your readings to teaching practices in classroom excerpts.
Now you will observe a first-grade and a second-grade classroom during writing time. Each teacher focuses on the steps in the writing process, but uses different methods to teach and support their children.
Video Segment – Grades 1 & 2 Classroom Excerpts
Find this segment approximately 35 minutes and 40 seconds after the beginning of the video. Watch for about 9 minutes.
After watching the classroom excerpts, consider these questions:
- How did each teacher address individual needs of students during writing instruction?
- How did the students in these classrooms support each other in their writing?
- What was accomplished in Becky Pursley’s editing group?
- What was accomplished in Martha Duran-Contreras’s teacher-student conference?
- How will you apply what you viewed in your own teaching?
Optional Viewing
You may want to watch the workshop participants’ discussion. Find this segment approximately 44 minutes and 50 seconds after the beginning of the video. Watch for about 5 minutes.
