Ruth W. Wilson
CONCEPT
: Recognizing the relationship between speech and writing.
OBJECTIVE
: Students will become interested in writing one’s thoughts.
MATERIALS
: Individual journals, pens, chalkboard.
ACTIVITY
: A student will pass out the journals which the students will put their names on.
PROCEDURE
: Teacher will introduce the new project of journal writing. Teacher will tell the students that in order to become better writers they must write. Explain that writing encompasses all forms such as.: writing letters, poetry, bills, newspapers, thank you notes, etc.. Explain that we are going to be doing some creative writing and we are going to be using our imaginations! We are going to say and write things that you never thought you could do. And you will see this come alive as you use your very own journals to put your thoughts in.
Introduce the term “clustering” by putting a sample word on the chalkboard such as “rapping”. Now draw a circle around that word (as shown in the process section of unit). Now just let the students tell you whatever words that comes to their minds . . . first impressions are the best.
(figure available in print form)
Next, from the sample on the board, students copy it into their journals (this is the cluster). Now the students can choose all words or only a few words and write a short paragraph on “rapping.”