One of the first things I am going to do next year is set expectations. Looking back on last year, I would tell students what they needed to do for each day and give them directions. I would tell students when it should be independent working time, or when they should have conversations about writing with their partner. But, I did not have set expectations for writing time hung in the classroom.
With having set expectations, it will be easy for me and my students to know what I expect during the writing time. I can easily refer to these expectations and, if taught explicitly, students will know what they should be doing during this time. Because my students had me last year, we can come up with the expectations together. This could be a great way to help push the students into more complex writing as they would now have set, written rules in the classroom for writing time. Students will also know that they cannot spend the time at writing without doing their very best. On a lighter note, I would not accept Calvin's behavior below.
http://sirmartin.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/grade-expectations-some-words-of-wisdom-from-calvin-and-buddha/
It will also be good to have more anchor charts in my classroom this year. After reading in the book about the importance of Word Walls and anchor charts, I know I need to do a better job of getting reference materials up in my classroom. I did notice students referring the posters that I had up in the room last year, so this expectations anchor chart will probably be good for the classroom as well.
I thought of the same thing. We teach procedures and set expectations for many things in the classroom but writing and other activities in the classroom get over looked. I reflected on my classroom writing and determined that writing expectations would improve our writing experiences in the classroom and hopefully result in improved writing quality.
ReplyDeleteSetting expectations is so important during writing. I was made aware of this by my students. I will do a better job of this next year (if I get to teach any writing, switching to be an intervention teacher). I use anchor charts to set my expectations at the beginning of the year and will continue that over to writing.
ReplyDeleteI think setting expectations for writing is a great idea. I try to do this in some of my college classes. I have created Dr. Dobler's Style Guide, which lists the writing grammar pet peeves I have and how to avoid these. I share this with students, especially my undergraduate students early on in the class. So expectations are good for all ages.
ReplyDelete