The Home Stretch!!!
As we enter into this last week before Spring Break, I feel like American Pharaoh at the Belmont Stakes! Charging ahead at breakneck speed. Days and weeks (and months and years for our Triple Crown Winner) of hard work and training all coming down to the final lap. And as his trainers felt about their indomitable horse, I feel about our spirited writers.
Proud. Nervous. Excited. Responsible. All at the same time. Will these first grade writers be able to take this complex unit of study and create a graphic narrative that tells a story through pictures and only a few words? It's as if I am a spectator in the stands, and all I can do is cheer and clap and watch as the students apply all that they have learned as they approach the finish line with their finished products!
And I can tell you with tears in my eyes that when a young writer hands me his beautiful six-panel graphic narrative that artfully tell his story of helping the world by picking up trash with his Grandma, I know that we've crossed the finish line together.
Let's go back and deconstruct his work. I know that some who see his pictures will wonder what all of the excitement is about. But there is so, so, so much more writing and thinking behind his beautiful piece...
First, we read a book. In this case, it was Miss Fox’s Class Goes Green, by Eileen Spinelli. This student was inspired to write a story about a time he became aware of trash in his neighborhood...and how he wanted to help change the world.
As we enter into this last week before Spring Break, I feel like American Pharaoh at the Belmont Stakes! Charging ahead at breakneck speed. Days and weeks (and months and years for our Triple Crown Winner) of hard work and training all coming down to the final lap. And as his trainers felt about their indomitable horse, I feel about our spirited writers.
Proud. Nervous. Excited. Responsible. All at the same time. Will these first grade writers be able to take this complex unit of study and create a graphic narrative that tells a story through pictures and only a few words? It's as if I am a spectator in the stands, and all I can do is cheer and clap and watch as the students apply all that they have learned as they approach the finish line with their finished products!
And I can tell you with tears in my eyes that when a young writer hands me his beautiful six-panel graphic narrative that artfully tell his story of helping the world by picking up trash with his Grandma, I know that we've crossed the finish line together.
Let's go back and deconstruct his work. I know that some who see his pictures will wonder what all of the excitement is about. But there is so, so, so much more writing and thinking behind his beautiful piece...
First, we read a book. In this case, it was Miss Fox’s Class Goes Green, by Eileen Spinelli. This student was inspired to write a story about a time he became aware of trash in his neighborhood...and how he wanted to help change the world.
Next, (and months later), our writer chose this story out of three others to expand into a graphic narrative. You may have noticed that he had some words written below each sketch and sentences. He was listing the words that described his actions (movements) and feelings in each part of his story. He then moved those words onto a list outside of his sketchbook.
After some revision, our writer had a word storyboard of sorts from which to begin his graphic narrative. Remember, this entire unit is built around the question of how we physically move to positively impact our own lives and the lives of everyone around us.
So, now the writer began the work of composing story panels that would tell his story primarily in pictures, with only speech bubbles or text boxes for word context. I think this was the hardest part of the process. These writers had to decide how to lay out their stories across six story panels. Do you see that he organized his word list using "b", "m", and "e" to identify how he was going to lay out his story? Sort of like organizing paragraphs, right?
So, now the writer began the work of composing story panels that would tell his story primarily in pictures, with only speech bubbles or text boxes for word context. I think this was the hardest part of the process. These writers had to decide how to lay out their stories across six story panels. Do you see that he organized his word list using "b", "m", and "e" to identify how he was going to lay out his story? Sort of like organizing paragraphs, right?
Sometimes, the story wasn't entirely clear for readers through our students' pictures. In fact, this writer was faced with a reader who wasn't sure what the character was doing in his first picture. The words "That's bad" did not contain enough information for his reader. And so, as he continued to draft, our writer cut out a speech bubble, and added the words "trash is falling oh no", adding enough context to his panel for his reader to understand his story!
Here is his finished product...
Here is his finished product...
I am literally sitting here with tears running down my face. I am in awe when I look at the beauty of his pictures. When I see how he has drawn himself and his grandma feeling unhappy about the trash (notice it is the only panel with a brown background). When I look at the last panel and can see and feel his joyous jump. When I "read" his thoughts at the end of the narrative - a heart and exclamation point. When I know that this is his story of helping to clean up the world around him. The writer has certainly told a story of how he saw a problem, moved to make a difference, and ended up making a positive change in the world.
And this is just one example! All of our writers are making beautiful stories. And they are all winners; they will all cross the finish line with what they have learned about writing and drawing and storytelling in their hearts.
I feel exactly like my student writer, "stoupendus"!!
Have a great writing week!
#allkidscanwrite (and draw!)
And this is just one example! All of our writers are making beautiful stories. And they are all winners; they will all cross the finish line with what they have learned about writing and drawing and storytelling in their hearts.
I feel exactly like my student writer, "stoupendus"!!
Have a great writing week!
#allkidscanwrite (and draw!)
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