Melissa Barbee

September
1. Describe your approach to composition.  I use the four square writing method. In the past, I used the overhead to model writing instruction. However, I attended a writing workshop at the technology center this past summer. I received a Write-On CD at this workshop, so I now use the computer when I do writing demonstrations.

2. How often do your students attempt to write each week?  My students write daily. It generally takes 2 to 2 ½ weeks to complete a composition.

3. How have you integrated technology into instruction in the past?  I use technology quite often in my instruction. In the past, I have done some Internet projects with my students. My students have also used the computer for research and writing, and they practice skills using Orchard. I use the Write-On CD to teach writing, and I also use it to teach grammar when appropriate. I also have a CD (PowerPack) which I use to create PowerPoint games to review concepts we have studied. My students love this! At my school, the 3rd grade teachers also use PowerPoint to create Guess the Covered Word activities for Guided Reading.

4. What do you hope to gain from participation in this project?  I hope to learn how to improve my method of writing instruction. I also hope to create lessons I can use in my classroom.

October

1.    Describe your class’ positive experience(s) with Four Square writing this past month.

My students’ writing skills are developing.  This month, we focused on “stretching” out sentences and using better word choices in their written works.  We used some of the Sentence Stretcher activities from the Write-On CD.  They have learned to sequence events appropriately and stay on topic.  They are becoming better at developing good topic sentences and using supporting details.  I found the evaluation rubric from the CD to be very helpful in grading their compositions.  I used to try to mark every little mistake, but now I take a more holistic approach to grading the final composition. 

2.    How far did your students get with the Four Square method? (4 Square, 4 Square to paper, 4+1, 4+3)  Why?

We did 4 Square to paper.  I did not go farther this month because my focus was on getting better sentences.  My students needed to learn how to write good single sentences before moving on to plug in more details.  Some students were ready for 4 Square + 1.  Those who were ready did move on. 

3.    Have you experienced any problems through your participation in this project this past month?  Describe.

I have not experienced any problems.  The project has been very helpful to both me and my students.  It has helped me to back up and take things one step at a time.  The PowerPoint writing presentations from the CD are great! 

4.    What suggestions would you have for making this project more beneficial to you and your students?

I really do not have any suggestions for improvement.  It will take time to get my students to the point I want them, but we are working on it.

November

1. Describe positive experience(s) with Four Square writing this past month.

My students are becoming better writers. They are beginning to learn to edit their own writing. I liked the idea of writing a number at the top of the page to let them know the number of mistakes in their rough drafts. They then go back and, hopefully, find their own mistakes.

2. How far did your students get with the Four Square method? (4 Square, 4 Square to paper, 4+1, 4+3) Why?

We began doing 4 Square + 1. My students were becoming proficient with 4 Square, but they are struggling to do 4 Square + 1. They have difficulty remembering that the detail sentences must compliment each other.

3. Discuss the Virtual Field Trip experience.

We took a virtual field trip through Tennessee. My students enjoyed the PowerPoint, but it moved too fast. The PowerPoint was set up to scroll through on its own, and I didn’t have time to discuss the pictures as it scrolled through. We did the PowerPoint several times to give them ideas for their writing.

4. What problems are your students encountering?

My students have difficulty making both detail sentences relate to each other when doing 4 Square + 1. They want to put two different ideas in the same block.

5. What problems are you experiencing?

My only problem was with the Tennessee PowerPoint moving so quickly while I was doing the virtual field trip.

6. What suggestions would you have for making this project more beneficial to you and your students?

I would like to be able to click my way through the field trip at my own pace, but I have had no real difficulties. Both my students and I are enjoying writing.

December
 

1. Describe positive experience(s) with Four Square writing this past month.

We are continuing to learn more about 4 square writing. My students are becoming better at staying on topic and understanding how to write a good feeling sentence.

2. How far did your students get with the Four Square method this month? (4 Square, 4 Square to paper, 4+1, 4+3) Why?

We are doing 4 Square + 1. My students are challenged at this level, and I do not yet have any who are ready to move further. I have about 3 students who still need to work at the 4 Square to paper level.

3. Discuss the Sentence Stretcher experience.

We had done sentence stretchers before, and my students really enjoy these activities. This has been a great way to teach them to write better sentences. They understand what I mean when I ask them to add more details. Some of the Sentence Stretchers seem to have some quirks. The latest ones that were developed have some mistakes in them.

4. Were you able to complete a Colonial America writing activity? Discuss the success/problems.

The Colonial America activity was great! My students learned a lot of history, and their finished paragraphs were really good. I could tell what they had learned, and they did a good job of putting their ideas down on paper. They had some problems understanding that Colonial America was a time period and not a place that they could actually visit today.

5. Were you able to successfully download a file from the Write On site this month? Tell about any problems you encountered.

I did successfully download Mr. Indent without any problems.

6. What problems are your students encountering with their participation in this project?

My students are not really encountering any major problems. I have a few who really need to develop writing skills, but most of my students are progressing well.

7. What problems are you experiencing?

I have not encountered any problems. Scheduling is difficult, but I know that is a problem for everyone.

8. What suggestions would you have for making this project more beneficial to you and your students?

This project is wonderful! I am so glad I’ve had the opportunity to participate. 

February
 

1. Describe positive experience(s) with Four Square writing this past month.

My students did an excellent job on a President’s Day 4 square writing assignment. They do a great job with making sure their paragraphs are coherent. They are doing a much better job of writing good “3rd grade” sentences.

2. How far did your students get with the Four Square method this month? (4 Square, 4 Square to paper, 4+1, 4+3) Why?

We are now doing 4 square + 1. Most of the class was ready to move on from 4 square, but 4 square + 1 was a challenge. They are now becoming more comfortable with 4 square + 1. I have three students who are at the 4 square to paper level.

3. Discuss the Goof’s activity.

4. What improvements are you seeing in your students through participation in this project?

My students’ writing has improved drastically. They know what a good topic sentence is and how to write a good paragraph. They have learned to stick to one main idea in their paragraphs.

5. What is the biggest hurdle you have experienced in composition instruction with your students?

I struggle with getting them to come up with original topic sentences. I generally give them examples of potential topic sentences. Some students use one of my examples, but those who are capable create their own original topic sentences.

6. What activity through Write On has been most beneficial to your students?

Several activities have been very beneficial. They are now competent users of the 4 square method. The PowerPoint collections have also been very helpful in teaching language arts, science, and social studies skills.

7. What suggestions would you have for making this project more beneficial to you and your students?

I really don’t have any suggestions for improvement, but the more PowerPoint collections, the better. I love to use these to teach skills across the curriculum. There is not a lot of time for teaching science and social studies concepts in 3rd grade, but there are a lot of these concepts that must be taught. PowerPoints are an easy way to accomplish what I need to in the classroom.

March
 

1. Describe your class’ experience with Four Square writing this past month.

We are continuing to do 4 Square + 1. We wrote compositions on “amazing animals”, and we did one of the Writing Across the Curriculum Science activities.

2. Did your students participate in a science cross curriculum writing activity? If so, describe its successes/weaknesses.

We did a science cross curriculum activity on fossils. My students enjoyed learning about fossils, but a lot had a difficult time taking good notes and then including the information in their composition. We will be working to develop better note-taking skills. Some gave me “nonsense” sentences (sentences that didn’t really tell anything), so we had to work on including facts from the PowerPoint presentation. I shared examples from some students who did a great job on the assignment, and I reviewed the PowerPoint with them a couple of times.

3. Other than time restraints, what is your biggest problem in composition instruction?

Some students continue to write huge run-on sentences. This is a problem for even some of my most capable students.

4. What positive effects can you see in your students through the participation in the Four Square method of composition?

My students organize their writing well. No one is stumped by not knowing where to begin. In general, they write good, coherent paragraphs.

5. Have you been able to share experiences or activities addressed through this project with any other educators? What was the result?

I have shared some of the write-on activities with my grade-level peers. They especially like the on-line activities such as writing across the curriculum and the on-line language arts activities like sentence stretchers, etc.

6. What changes will you make in your approach to composition in the upcoming school year?

I don’t really planning on making any changes from the way I do things this year. I am excited that I have developed such skills in teaching composition. I plan to start off making certain my students can write good sentences, and then I will move on through the steps of the 4 Square Writing process.

May

This project address the following Tennessee Master Plan Goal: State of the art technology will be used to improve curriculum. Tennessee Report Card Performance Indicators Competency (Composition Skills) How do you feel this project moved toward the goal of improving student composition skills?

This project has provided many ideas for integrating technology and curriculum. Through the activities provided in this project, my students have developed a better understanding of the writing process. They have become much more competent writers.

List ways your participation in this project has positively affected the writing skills of the students in your classroom.

My students know how to organize their writing. They can develop good topic sentences. They have learned to "stretch" their sentences to include more details. They write coherent paragraphs on a variety of topics. Through the use of the Writing Across the Curriculum activities, my students have been able to learn new content and subsequently compose a paragraph detailing the new information they learned. Many writing skills have been developed through the use of this project.

How did your participation in this project positively affect your instructional strategies?

I have gained knowledge about "best practices" in education. I have been provided with many new ideas and resources for teaching my grade-level content. The resources provided through and developed during this project make it easier for me to teach objectives using technology. I am more confident about my ability to teach writing because I am now a more competent teacher of this skill.

How has your approach to writing composition changed through your participation in this project from that of previous years?

I have become more able to teach the Four Square method of writing composition. I had not used technology to teach writing in the past, but I now use this very frequently.

What other curriculum areas would you like to see implemented in a professional development technology integration project?

I would like to develop more technology integration with science and social studies.