2nd Grade Writing Unit 01 Launching with Nonfiction - The Reading ...

Writing Curricular Calendar, Second Grade, 2011-2012 14partner.Have your kids turn and talk. Listen for all the things that they remembered from first gradeabout workshop and writing. Let them talk for a minute or so and bring them back to the wholegroup.Second Grade writers, I listened to you talk and share with your writing friends about what youlearned last year in first grade. Wow! I heard you say lots of things! You must have really beenpaying attention because I was amazed at all you have learned. I could go on and on and onabout it. One important thing I heard was that you learned how to pick what to write about. Iheard you say you learned that you can write about things from your own life, your ownexperiences. Turn right now to a writing friend and talk about some of the things in your own lifeyou could write about.Have your kids turn and talk once more briefly. This will help them generate ideas and get astrong start when they go back their writing spots. Listen for a few examples that you couldshare with the rest of the class.LinkWriters, let me stop you. I heard some of you say that today you want to write about the specialpeople in your lives, like your family and friends. Some of you are going to write about yourpets, a play date, and swimming at the pool. I even heard someone say, ‘I’m going to write allabout my karate class!’ Yikes! you all have a lot of books to write.You have years of experiences swirling around in your 7 and 8 year old minds just waiting to bewritten about. I know that you don't need anyone to tell you what to write about. I know youwon't need to ask anyone what to write about because each of you is the one who knows thesethings. You were there. You are the one who saw stuff happen. You are the one who felt thefeelings when those things were happening. You may have heard sounds and you may have evensmelled smells—you are the one who was there. Even if someone in this room was also there,you had your own experience!So guess what writers?! You are the boss of your own writing! Today is the first day ofworkshop and you have lots of ideas of books that you want to write. You learned so much lastyear that you are now experienced writers who know what you can write about. Don’t forgetthose things! Use all that you know to help you as a writer. You have the ability to replay whathappened like a movie in your mind. So writers, get going!Sample Minilesson BBy Carol Cook, Erin Heimane, Cathy Davidson, & Chris ZarkwoskyConnectionWriters, yesterday, you blew me away with all that you remembered about what writers do! Istood back and said to myself, “Wow, look at the way they are getting started without me tellingthem what to write!” I just said, “Go to it!” And then all of you did just that. Impressive. OurUnit One – Launching with NonfictionReading and Writing Project, 2011 ©DRAFT