"When you are teaching kids to write, you're teaching them to think. Writing is the window through which all thinking starts." -Sheryl Block

Hello Readers!

This week I want to talk about creative writing and the publishing of student work. In fifth grade, we do a lot of writing! From narrative pieces to expository pieces, my students are constantly working on a writing assignment. It is wonderful to have the 1:1 technology in my classroom, so each student can type their final piece on Microsoft Word and ‘publish’ their work. However, this trimester I wanted the kids to feel like true published authors.

My students have recently completed writing their expository pieces about the adaptations of a self-selected animal. With non-fiction text, there are many distinctive text features that I wanted my students to explore. Using the electronic platform, Story Jumper, each of my students created an e-book complete with photographs, captions, a table of contents, a glossary, an index, headings, charts, diagrams, bolded vocabulary terms, etcetera. The site is very interactive and user friendly. Each student had their own username and password, so their book was protected from unwanted editors. The coolest part is the realistic display. The e-book has pages that actually flip and you can hear the sound as each page is turned. The one negative of using this site is the company charges you to print your book. It costs around three dollars just to print it from the website to your personal printer. On the positive, there is an option to order paperback or hardcover versions of your book from the company. Several of my students and their families purchased their written creations and the books are beautiful keepsakes.

Another writing piece my students have been working on is writing text to go along with wordless picture books. My school is using a program called Write Brain Books to encourage the students to write creatively using the age old adage “a picture is worth a thousand words.” In my class, the students are paired and are collaboratively writing the book. We have worked on character development, story mapping, and descriptive word choice as the partners draft their stories. Once the students finish drafting and editing, they will type their book online and we will send away for a published version. Every class in school is working on this project, so in June we can have a school wide author’s celebration!

            The writing block has become one of the favorite parts of the day for my students. They are actually asking for more time to work on their Write Brain Books! I love the students’ excitement and enthusiasm from writing for an authentic purpose and task! I cannot wait to see the finished products!

Above: One of my student's published, hardcover non-fiction books on toucans created on Story Jumper.

Below: Table of Contents from one of my student's non-fiction texts.

Above: Drafts of Write Brain Books.

https://writebrainbooks.com/

Until Next Time,

~A