Title: Learning Perspectives for Special Students
1Learning Perspectives for Special Students
- Gail Sims SmithEdison Regional Gifted
Center,Chicago, IL - Susie Werner, Special Needs Specialist
- Unity Jr. High School
- Cicero, IL
2Creative WritingGail Sims SmithEdison Regional
Gifted Center,Chicago, IL
- Writing prompts for 7th Grade Writing class
- Students will use words to express exact shades
of meaning, and enhance their ability to
communicate - Students practice writing for a wide variety of
purposes and audiences and enjoy playing with
words
3Reasons for this project
- Learn how to build a Collaboratory Project
4Reasons for this project
- Learn how to build a Collaboratory Project
- Students become familiar with Collaboratory
5Reasons for this project
- Learn how to build a Collaboratory Project
- Students become familiar with Collaboratory
- Explore advantages of technological integration
6Reasons for this project
- Learn how to build a Collaboratory Project
- Students become familiar with Collaboratory
- Explore advantages of technological integration
- Keep ideas from successful prompts and organize
new ideas to try
7Project Description
- Students will have one 40 minute period each
week during which they will participate in a
variety of writing activities. The activities are
intended to give students wide ranging
experiences in writing, while showing that
writing can be thought provoking as well as
enjoyable. The students will be encouraged to use
words in such a way that they will be able to
convey exact meaning to the reader and to expand
the vocabulary of words they use comfortably in
their writing.
8Writing Prompts
- Paragraph without repetition
- Pleasantville
- Please excuse...
- Alphabetical Sentences
- Defending a position
- Unrelated Sentences
- Which would you win?
- You're the teacher
Odd paragraph Describe a Shell
Punctuation Letter to Politician
The Green Book Classic Novels
Velveteen Rabbit Rip Van Winkle
Stairway
9Paragraph without Repetitionby Austin
- For this prompt, the students wrote a paragraph
without repeating any words longer than 2
letters, except the or and. - This student chose to write about The
Collaboratory.
10Please Excuse
- You forgot your homework!! Now you have to
think of the reason that it is not here. Will
Mrs. Smith believe that, "The dog ate it?" or
maybe that,"My little sister tore it up?" Of
course not. In the spirit of Dr. Seuss' book To
Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street you are to
make up the most extravagant tall tale you can
invent to explain why you do not have your
homework, and what you might have to do to get it
back. Since we are Seuss-ing here, you can
include imaginary situations that could not be
possible or outlandish events that led to your
being without the assigned work. Be creative and
have fun with this.
11A Plaguing Tale Honghe L.
12Contd
13(No Transcript)
14Reflections
- Prompts can be written and saved when I have the
idea
15Reflections
- Prompts can be written and saved when I have the
idea - Students exhibit increased focus when writing on
computers
16Reflections
- Prompts can be written and saved when I have the
idea - Students exhibit increased focus when writing on
computers - Students enjoy writing and editing
17Reflections
- Prompts can be written and saved when I have the
idea - Students exhibit increased focus when writing on
computers - Students enjoy writing and editing
- I can easily make suggestions for improvement and
students write encouragement to each other
18Thank you!
19Using ePortfolios to Improve Writing with LD
Students
- Susie Werner
- Unity Jr. High School
203 Types of Essays -- 3 Portfolios
- Narrative Essays
- Expository Essays
- Persuasive Essays
21Some Advantages of Using ePortfolios
- Offers different topics -- student choices
- Provides opportunities for easy revision
- ISAT preparation
- Allows input of art, graphics, and photos
- Possibility of printing a perfect copy to display
on the bulletin board - Ability to share with friends and family
22Narrative Topics
- Â Cool Places
- Â Holiday TraditionsÂ
- Â Introducing ClassmatesÂ
- Â My Favorite ThingsÂ
- Â PetsÂ
- Â Seasonal ActivitiesÂ
- Â Shopping SpreeÂ
-  Trips and Special Events Â
23Narrative Outline
- Why did this happen?
- Why was it important to you?
- How did you feel about it?
- When did this happen?
- Where did it happen?Who was there?
- What happened?
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
24Sample Narrative Essay
25Expository Topics
- Each of these topics is a project
- Early 20th Century PresidentsÂ
- Food How-To EssaysÂ
- Getting to Know the ExplorersÂ
- Hobbies and GamesÂ
- Holidays Around the WorldÂ
- Investigating BiomesÂ
- Science EssaysÂ
- Social Studies Essays
26Collaboratory Resources
- These Topic Projects involve research so we use
the Cybraries which provide links to web sites
the students can read which answer the questions
on their study guides. Many of these are
interdisciplinary projects.
27Holidays Around the World Project Study Guide
- Countrys Name
- Location
- Major Celebrations
- What they do
- What they eat
- How they decorate
- What special things do they make?
- What do they do on Christmas Eve?
- What do they do on Christmas Day?
- What do they do on January 6?
28Sample Christmas Essay
29President Project Study Guide
- Presidents name Years lived
- Where did he grow up? Where did he go to
school? - Family?
- What jobs did he hold before becoming president?
- What years was he president?
- What was his political party?
- What were his goals and/or projects? (What did
he want to do as president? - What were the major events of his presidency?
(Amendments passed? War? Economic changes?) - Why did he leave the presidency?
- Who became the next president?
- What did he do after he left the presidency
- How and when did he die?
- For what is this president best known?
30President Project Outline
- Paragraph 1 Where born and grew up
- Education
- Paragraph 2 Family Wife, Children
- Paragraph 3 Jobs before he became President
- Paragraph 4 Presidency -- Years in office
- Political Party
- Major events during that time Wars, Amendments,
New states, Peace Treaties, etc. - Paragraph 5 After the Presidency why did he
leave? - Who was the next President?
- What did he do after he was President?
- Death When and how? What is he known for?
31Sample President Essay
Text goes here
32Persuasive Essay Topics
- Acquit or Convict
- Environmental IssuesÂ
- Heroes and Heroines
- Letters to the PresidentÂ
- My Favorite BookÂ
- My Favorite MovieÂ
- My Favorite SportÂ
- My Favorite TV ShowÂ
- School RulesÂ
- TripsÂ
33Persuasive Essay Outline
- Paragraph 1 State your argument.
- List three reasons for this.
- Paragraph 2 Discuss Reason 1
- List 3 things that back this up.
- Paragraph 3 Discuss Reason 2
- List 3 things that back this up.
- Paragraph 4 Discuss Reason 3
- List 3 things that back this up.
- Paragraph 5
- Repeat your argument and say why this is
important.
34Sample Persuasive Essay
Text goes here         Â
35Conclusion
- Using the ePortfolios helps students write
longer, better essays. - Using the ePortfolios encourages students to
revise their work. - Using the ePortfolios makes writing more fun
because students can share their work and show
off perfect final drafts.
36- Questions and comments
- Please join us for a
- Lunch Table Talk
37Thank you!