Korean Job Discussion Forums

[amberflannery]

i'm teaching a writing class and am going to run out of book stuff before the said time... anyone got any easy writing projects? their english is ok- not perfect- but i think this is their 3rd or 4th year at our school and they're 7 and 8.

any help would be appreciated

[Rapacious Mr. Batstove]

A) Make a list of nouns, verbs and adjectives. Cut up the lists and put them into three separate pots at the front of the classroom.
The students have three minutes to grab one of each and make a full and interesting sentence. Wash, rinse repeat. Students can then check each other work.

B) Make a list of wacky items, eg, a dead cat, a machine gun, used chewing gum. Give the students one item each, give them three minutes to write anything that comes to mind about that item. Pass item left, repeat. After x amount of times, students can check each others work.

I have found in my writing classes that if yod don't put time limits on things the students fluff around thinking too much and playing with dictionaries. I run my writing classes like speaking classes i.e fluency over accuracy. I want them to write LOTS and worry about mistakes AFTER the task is complete.

C) Smells like, tastes like, feels like, looks like, sounds like. Using the five senses, give the students an item/object/picture/emotion and ask them to describe it in detail. This is great for improving descriptive writing.
Limit time of course.

Good luck

[ddeubel]

making mini books and sharing them is great. Also comics in this vein. I have a whole slew of pics , action photos in my comics part of my teaching folder.

Also many prompts, ideas, ppts in the writing folder. click that button on my site.

So much I could say here but best that you just browse around what I have and see what would work for your own students. I also like doing word/sentence poems. Get the students responding with the first words they think. Then distribute slips of paper. Students write their response this time. Collect and read as an imagist poem. Paper clip and give to one student to write onto poster board and make a class poem. do enough for each one , for each student if possible. You can do the same thing with sentences. It might end up looking like this one from my students.

Teacher

He doesn't like us late.
I think he is kind.
Don't don't don't do it.
Where is your pencil?
A person who teaches stuff.
What I want to do.
An old person.

Teacher

DD

[VirginIslander]

At that age and level, you must provide a good structure and an example of what you expect in the end. I usually provide an example(s) first, we read it together and then we ask questions about it.

Then, I have them brainstorm their ideas. Then, they write a rough draft, which I correct in class and then they write a final draft. Having them write multiple drafts makes them more confident in their writing because they dont see as many corrections on the final product

Also, seven and eight is very young. You should research what their counterparts are doing in English speaking countries to see what they are capable of writing.

I teach older elementary students but you can use this old paper which my kids loved. Papers that my students really like usually incorporates a drawing:

1. TWO ANIMALS IN ONE.

Have them draw a pictures of combination of any two animals

(they'll need a vocabulary of animals characteristics--wings, teeth, claws, fins, scales, tounge, etc...)

Brainstorm paper. (You provide an example with a picture on this first paper)

Name. Lion-eagle First paragraph
Age.
Birthday.
Appearance.


Country. Second paragraph
Language.
Family.
Friends.


What does it eat? Third Paragraph
What doesn't it eat?
What can it do?
What can't it do.


(Now, ask questions: what is his name, where is he from, what can he do, what cant he do?

First Draft You provide an example in paragraph from.


His name is Lioneagle. He is 23 years old and his birthday is January 15th. He has brown fur and big, sharp teeth. Also, he has big wings and claws. He is strong and handsome.

He is from Canada so he speaks English. He has seven people in his family. Also, he has many friends. His best friend is Dog-Fish.

Lionfish likes to eat bugs and vegetables. He doesn't like to eat fast food. He can fly very high in the sky and he can run very fast. He can't swim or climb trees.

Afterwards, you correct their paper and then they write their final draft.

Lastly, you can have them write 5 questions about their paper and then they give it to a classmate who has to answer those questions.

Cheers.