Fitting Being a Writer™ into an Existing Literacy Block: Melissa Broiles, Fourth Grade, Late Fall 2011

My class is thoroughly enjoying the Being a Writer™ writing program. We are currently working on the Personal Narrative unit. The children are very motivated to write, and some of them are even taking it upon themselves to write at home, even though I haven't asked them to do so. They come to school and are very excited to share their work with me. I see impressive changes in my students' writing! The children enjoy hearing the read-alouds from the program, and are able to use those models in their own pieces. I like to tell my students that when they write, the reader should be able to see a "movie in their mind."

I think this program has also impacted how I teach reading. I find myself constantly pointing out the authors' craft of using sensory details, figurative language, patterns, and alliterations. There is so much from the Being a Writer™ program that can be tied into our literacy block. It is easy and natural to connect the reading and writing programs together.

Here is a personal narrative quick-write sample from my student, Angelina:

Breakfast
One morning, my dad said he was cooking a special breakfast. He made the things I enjoy. I could smell the juicy bacon and buttery biscuits through the vents in my house. I could just taste the crispy bacon in my mouth. My mouth started to water. Yum! What a smell! My dad called me to the table, and I ran downstairs to eat. It was just as I imagined. The bacon was crunchy and the biscuits were unbelievable. The butter was so sweet and rich that I gobbled it down like a pig. That was a very special meal.