WOW Notes to WOW Writing

enhancing and enriching students' curiosity ~ Writers' Workshop Conversations

Having recently completed a four-day residency with upper level elementary students, my coaching conversations are fresh in my mind. I thought I’d share some moments with you. I’d love to hear thoughts.

Joyce P. Uglow is a picture book poet obsessed with unearthing wondrous

Jackie Bladow, upper elementary Montessori ELA teacher, and I planned my four-day visit to coordinate with ongoing curriculum connections. Included in the students’ work plans was to task of digging into a topic they hadn’t previously researched. The 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students began their deep dive into their own curiosity questions, which in turn prompted more inquiry wonderings along the way. I came into the residency knowing that the students’ research projects were well underway.

I arrived on the scene and shared bits of research for my picture book projects with the overarching goal to spark new ways for the kids to deliver what I call W.O.W. Writing. Our time together ended before their projects came to fruition, but they were on their way to showcase their creative written works.

In the weeks before I arrived, the students recorded bullet point notes for each of their questions. In my work with the kids, I named these “W.O.W. Notes”.

As a longtime educator, I realize learning is enhanced and driven by interest. I also know that when given ample opportunities, writing becomes a venue for thinking about their world. As an educator and writing coach in conversations with writers, I recognize that I must tread lightly on writing projects, so as to not squash the writer’s spirit, creativity, and ultimately, their intrinsic motivation.

There is no “THAT’S EASY”  button when it comes to writing. Curiosity is essential. 

There’s also no one-size-fits-all-way to offer guidance in writing conferences with student writers. I whole-heartedly believe in the Montessori way where instructional efficacy relies on the power of teaching to the child in front of us. Learning is enriched through modeling, conversations, questioning, trying it out, as well as giving and receiving feedback. Students make their learning visible in their writing projects as they ink their thinking.

Truth be told… promoting a mindset of always learning, constantly rethinking, and being willing to take a detour---and go at the writing in a unique way---is effective in the long run. 

Just as there is no one way to celebrate World Day for Glaciers (March 21), World Water Day (March 22), Earth Day (April 22), or Poetry Month (Find out more about the STUCK BUMBLEBEE POETRY CHALLENGE on April 13) there is no one way to encourage learners to use writing as a way to figure something out.

Here are some of my reflections, thoughts, and takeaways from our WOW Notes to WOW Writing conversations:

WOW Relationships

I believe in the notion that one of the people in a writing peer-to-peer writing conference can be the teacher. Additionally, every member—no matter their age—-of the conference empowers each other by listening. The writer speaks first, then group members listen, ask questions, and comment. I resist the desire to fix the student’s piece. My approach is to use stories, memorable names for strategies, and questions to turn techniques and suggestions into possibilities for the writer. This approach helps the writer find a new idea for a strong first line, a new subtopic, rethink focus, amp up voice, spice up word choices, vary sentence lengths, and/or “explode the moment”. I suggest we

• show interest in what is not on the paper

• ask questions that inspire revision

• fit strategies to the writer in front of us.

• Use memorable terminology to label writing technique and strategies. “Explode the Moment” is a technique where the writer revises a piece by adding exciting details. This enables the writer to make a moment come alive in lieu of simply mentioning or listing events.

Memorable Techniques Used During Our WOW Notes to WOW Writing Conferences

From Barry Lan’s After the End: Teaching and Learning Creative Revision):

• Then and Then Pox: Everything is included, a laundry list of events ~ Show the joy of leaving info out.

• Dialogue-arhea: Excess back-and-forth dialogue that does not move the story forward ~ Replace dialogue with a line of exposition to lay the groundwork for mini scenes

• Vanished Voice: Missing details and/or mechanical voice ~ Lead the writer to use their unique voice to showcase their curiosity.

Wonderfuzz and Thimblethoughts

I love using components of the poetry anthology, Clara’s Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz, published by Pomelo Books when I teach students to use their researched verified facts to create interesting writing. In these days of misinformation, disinformation, stripped websites, etc. it is best that kids know to think through the info and read closely.

• W What do you wonder about? (curiosity questions)

• O Outstanding Thimblethoughts! (intriguing and surprising found facts)

• W Wonderfuzz! Fact check! (double- and triple-check information and sources)

Mentor text flap copy to WOW writing ~ poetry

During this residency, I shared four picture books, their flap copy text, and a cinquain poem that I wrote about the mentor texts. The students reread their WOW notes and composed a cinquain of their own. Here is sweet poem a student wrote about me. :)

Joyce U
writer pretty
teaches how to write things
happy encouraging smart girl
the Best

Would you like to book a school visit and/or participate on uGROnews in an interview with me about a book you have releasing?

Message me!

#researching #writing #reading I’m into Earth’s natural wonders. What are you reading, writing, … finding? I welcome your thoughts, so please leave a comment and/or click the heart.