Diane Chappell

September
1. Describe your approach to composition. I used a book that has writing lessons. We work on lessons for a couple of weeks and then I test them on that skill.

2. How often do your students attempt to write each week? I try to do writing every other day.

3. How have you integrated technology into instruction in the past? I have never used computers in this way.

4. What do you hope to gain from participation in this project? A better way to teach writing. This is my least favorite subject to try and teach. To help my students become better writers.

October

1. Describe your class’ positive experience(s) with Four Square writing this past month. Most of my students knew about the 4 Square writing. They could fold their papers, and tell me what should go into each square. My students like doing the four square. I saw some interesting writing.

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 only. They could not seem to get their thoughts together for writing sentences.

3. Have you experienced any problems through your participation in this project this past month? Describe. My students want to write one word instead of a topic sentence. They are having trouble making complete sentences.

4. What suggestions would you have for making this project more beneficial to you and your students? Have someone model this for my students. I do not feel confident enough about this method of writing.

November

1. Describe positive experience(s) with Four Square writing this past month. Several students are developing better writing paragraphs this past month. A few understand and can write

a more organized paper.

2. How far did your students get with the Four Square method? (4 Square, 4 Square to paper, 4+1, 4+3) Why? We are working on 4 Square + 1. Students are still have trouble making complete sentences.

3. Discuss the Virtual Field Trip experience. My class went to Easter Island for our trip. I could not get the sound to work, but they enjoyed the slides. They wanted to go to the moon.

4. What problems are your students encountering? They want to rush through the process and turn in a paper every time we do a 4 Square. Their sentences are not complete, and do not make sense. I do have a few students that could go on to

4 Square + 3. I am not sure how to get them to that point with so many others having trouble with the easier one.

5. What problems are you experiencing? I am not confident when teaching the 4 Square writing. Trying to conference with students. They all need help, and I can’t talk with the one I need to when everyone is at my desk waiting for help.

6. What suggestions would you have for making this project more beneficial to you and your students? None at this time.

December

1. Describe positive experience(s) with Four Square writing this past month. I can see a little progress this month. Sentences are better structured, and thought about before writing them down.

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 still working on 4 Square to paper. We are still working on the basic plan to get the four squares down .

3. Discuss the Sentence Stretcher experience. My students really enjoyed doing the stretcher sentences. They wanted to do more than one. I would like to do this activity once a week with them.

4. Were you able to complete a Colonial America writing activity? Discuss the success/problems. No I forgot.

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

I did not have any trouble downloading .

6. What problems are your students encountering with their participation in this project? They drag their feet about writing. Most do not want to write at all.

7. What problems are you experiencing? Keeping them motivated to write.

8. What suggestions would you have for making this project more beneficial to you and your students? Help me to find some fun ways to encourage their writing.

January

1. Describe positive experience(s) with Four Square writing this past month. I am afraid with Christmas break and other happenings, I did not get any four square writing

done this month.

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? I am still doing 4+1. They have trouble getting this much done. I can see some improvement from where we started.

3. Discuss the Miss Take’s Challenge experience. My students really enjoyed this activity. We have done this activity twice this past month. They like getting up and doing the corrections on the TV monitor. They like to make a game of it. I put them in groups and they liked showing the other groups up when they got it right.

4. Was Mr. Indent or The Hook helpful to your students? If so, in what way. If not, why? I did not get to do this with my students.

5. What problems are your students encountering with their participation in this project? They really don’t enjoy doing this and complain when we do a writing activity. They want to know why they have to do this. Why can’t they write theit on paper and just go down the page. I explained that it helps to organize their thoughts.

6. What problems are you experiencing? I struggle with writing myself and so it is hard to teach it when you are not comfortable.

7. What suggestions would you have for making this project more beneficial to you and your students? I can’t think of any right at the moment.

February

1. Describe positive experience(s) with Four Square writing this past month. I can tell a few of my students are ready for 4 Square + 1. I did a 4-Square paper with them on my favorite animal. They watched me through the whole process of thinking and writing out my ideas. I am encouraged that a light bulb went off in there brains, saying “Oh I understand now”.

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? This month we still did 4 Square to paper. I think they are finally starting to understand why we do this activity. I want to start a couple of students on 4 Square plus 1 this month. I believe that some are ready to begin that next step.

3. Discuss the Goof’s activity. My students really love to do the goofs activity. They are still learning but it gives them a break from the TN Topics I usually do. The enjoy hearing the music and sounds and want to be the one to answer the questions. I have done at least four of the goofs, plus the Valentine one. They say can we do one more. I think, leave them wanting more.

4. What improvements are you seeing in your students through participation in this project? My students enjoy science and social studies more because the power point presentations are interesting and bring subjects to life for them. And some are starting to enjoy writing.

5. What is the biggest hurdle you have experienced in composition instruction with your students? I struggle with writing myself, and so it is hard for me to know if I am giving them the best instruction to help them be successful. I have learned a lot myself, just practicing has helped.

6. What activity through Write On has been most beneficial to your students? I think my students have learned more through the writing across the curriculum. It is a compact lesson with meaty information in it. I can open an activity to help my students understand in a different way, what I have already taught.

7. What suggestions would you have for making this project more beneficial to you and your students? I would like to see more writing across the curriculum on a variety of subjects. It adds to my lessons, and the students enjoy them.

March
 

1. Describe your class’ experience with Four Square writing this past month. Students are still having trouble with adding one detail to their 4 square. Sentences are short without much detail, very boring. They can tell me details but they do not write those details.

2. Did your students participate in a science cross curriculum writing activity? If so, describe its successes/weaknesses. No I will be working on a science one during Tcap week.

3. Other than time restraints, what is your biggest problem in composition instruction? Student’s sentences are short and boring. No imagination or detail. I do have a few that have a great sense of detail, but most struggle with details.

4. What positive effects can you see in your students through the participation in the Four Square method of composition? I do see some improvement in some of my students. My students are writing better, if not for moving so slow in that direction.

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 this with my fellow fourth grade teachers. One of them did write on last year, the other is a new teacher. She has tried a couple things on the web page.

6. What changes will you make in your approach to composition in the upcoming school year? I will start off everyday writing. I also hope to take my students farther in the process than the ones this year .Once I start it is much easier to stay on task with my students. I would like to use the science and social studies curriculum to help my students understand those concepts through writing with the science and social studies.

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?

I can see an improvement as a whole, but for my class I did not see a lot of improvement. My students for the most part struggle with writing, but those who were exposed to it last year made the most improvements. I am believe the children that had the most trouble this year next year will fill more at ease and make some improvements.

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

I struggle to organize my own writing, and this project has helped me to focus on that skill and has given me more confidence to teach writing to my students.

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

I have learned to use writing in many forms, from basics to creating paragraphs. Using games and PowerPoint prsentations to help writing to be fun and interesting. Teaching will be easier with handy tools at my disposal. It has also given me some ideas to make my own games and PowerPoint presentations to help individual children in my class.

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

I would like to see something on Reading.