Schoolwide
K-5 Bulletin Board
K-5 Bulletin Board

One of the great features of a Touchstone Text study is that students study texts really closely and think about what makes the writing work. Create a bulletin board that captures all the important features students are noticing about their mentor texts. Look at this chart that anchored a bulletin board in a 2–3 class engaged in a Touchstone Text study.

 Issue Number 9
February 2010
 
Writing Workshop:
 Touchstone Texts

As writing teachers, many of us have a short list of advice that we dole out to our students again and again about ways they can improve the quality of their writing. How many conferences have you had this week about adding details or descriptions? If you are like most teachers the answer is "a lot."

It makes sense, because there are probably few pieces of students' writing that couldn't be improved with the addition of some good details. However, if we really want to help our students be better writers we need to help them answer for themselves the question, "What is good writing?" We need to think of ways to help them internalize their own high standards for writing.

Touchstone Text studies get students engaged in the process of discovering what makes a piece of great writing work.

Check out these overviews of Schoolwide's Writing Fundamentals Touchstone Text Units of Study for grades K–1, 2–3, and 4–5. >>

Check Out this Great Teacher Video On Author/Illustrator Patricia Polacco >>.
 Administrator Zone

Teachers often struggle with figuring out what to teach their student writers. One way to help them build their expertise and confidence as writing teachers is to dedicate some time to looking closely at texts and answering the question, "What is good writing?"

Click the images below to watch video clips of literacy consultants engaging in the process of studying texts.

     

Visit SchoolwideNetwork.com to watch additional videos about Touchstone Texts, and others that address topics to help enhance your Writing and Reading Workshops. >>
 Fundamentals Connection

Having students reflect on their learning is part of helping them internalize their own high standards for writing.

Check out these self-reflection assessments from Schoolwide's Writing Fundamentals Touchstone Texts Units of Study.

FREE Sample Lessons
Click here to view sample lessons.

Purchase Fundamentals
Click here to purchase Writing & Testing
Fundamentals Units of Study.