Comments on: At What Level Should Grade 3 Students Be in Their Writing?

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:49:35 +0000

I think it’s great that you provided actual student samples of their essays!! What a great way to showcase your lesson and it’s expectations!

Mark

By: elementaryteacher

elementaryteacher — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:17:28 +0000

Wow, thank you!

Don’t forget we’re in an American school where mostly Middle Eastern students study in English as we would in America.

Eileen

By: 100swallows

100swallows — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:25:19 +0000

You must be an excellent teacher and have exceptional students too because no Spanish third-grader could write English even half as well as your worst.

By: elementaryteacher

elementaryteacher — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:58:46 +0000

Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed seeing what the students are writing about!

Do check out my post of January 3, where “If I Had a Majic Wand” is the students’ writing topic.

Best regards,
Eileen

By: mseveline

mseveline — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:10:39 +0000

I always enjoy to read the students writing. I can see the pure and the honest thought. I choose the topic from what they see in the movie or from the story I read for them. Great job!

By: Iranian Ajax

Iranian Ajax — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 02:52:14 +0000

Kids say the coolest things. They have such a pure view of the world. Maybe we are looking at the world in a topsy-turvey way. Maybe they are the ones who can teach us and we – the adults – should shut up.

By: elementaryteacher

elementaryteacher — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:31:00 +0000

Actually, we have done a student story, but it’s been four years since that time. Thanks for reminding me of this great technique! And this year’s class would be a great class to try it with.

By: Bruce Stewart

Bruce Stewart — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:13:10 +0000

Intriguing reading, those 3rd grade essays!

Are you planning to do any story-telling? At any grade level, “my family” or “my holiday” tend to be weaker than the telling of a story. One exercise I’ve always wanted to try out would be to start off a story – perhaps “washing up on an island in a shipwreck” – where the first three lines are given out. Student #1 writes the next 3 sentences. Student #2 carries on … until everyone has added onto the tale. An on-going class project (lots of opportunity to draw/paint scenes, too! – maybe even some acting) that lets students learn from each other.