Third Grade Writer's Workshop

Third graders have been very busy during Writer's Workshop the past month!   One of the secrets of writing we have been discussing is that writers write about things that they are passionate about.  As a class, we brainstormed ideas and shared about things that we love: dogs, bacon, furry things, soccer, cooking, kittens, fried chicken, talking, reading, and more!   In circle, students brainstormed writing strategies to show how much they loved the topic that they chose.  Some students came up with lists to show all the reasons for what they love.  Others thought of a specific memory or story that told about the first time they were able to enjoy an experience.   We also talked about showing and proving all the ways you can be passionate about something.   Expressing interest and excitement is a skill that third graders work hard to develop over the course of the year. 

We’ve also been working on a fun, new writing project this year that Shana created.  In the spirit of Shel Silverstein,  students have been writing poetry about fictional characters with an obsession for pizza, Legos, beds, flying, coconuts, hamsters, coffee, yoga – you name it!  Together we read some of Silversteins’ famous poems about General Spaghetti, the king who loved peanut butter, as well as Shana’s story about her ice cream fantasies.  We’ve been practicing our spelling and looking at word patterns as we think of creative ways to rhyme and also tell our story.  We’re excited to publish our stories in a few weeks!