DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

1
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

• POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
• Jeanette Woods
• Brooks Elementary School
• 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Bldg. 300C
• Windsor, CA 95492
• [phone]
• http//ctap295.ctaponline.org/jwoods/

2
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING
(OR HOW TO GET YOUR RESOURCE STUDENTS TO IMPROVE
THEIR WRITING)
3
DEDICATION

• This entire project from beginning to end is
  dedicated to the real Angells of Windsor - Kathy
  and her husband, Mark. Without their constant
  help, this website and presentation would not
  exist.

4
As a special education teacher of 4th and 5th
grade students, I chose to do a lesson on
descriptive writing because I have noticed over
the years that writing paragraphs is one of our
students biggest challenges. I have been
seeking ways to make writing more fun for kids.
After being introduced to this CTAP computer
course using websites and the internet, I felt
that this may just be what is needed to turn
kids on to writing.
5
EXPECTATIONS

• When I first signed up for this course, I
  thought I would be learning how to operate a
  computer. Up to this time I had only used a
  computer as a glorified typewriter.
• If I had known I would be designing a web page
  and how complex this course was really going to
  be, I might not have signed up for this course,
  particularly since I dont yet own a computer
  other than an Apple II GS.

6
MY RESULTS/WHAT I LEARNED

• I learned that I was really over my head, but
  that someone would help me to get this project
  finished. (KATHY ANGELL)
• The CTAP program itself has gone through changes
  since I began last summer, so what I was learning
  at the beginning may be different now.
• Some of my links disappeared before the final
  project.

7
RESULTS/WHAT I LEARNED

• The best thing I learned is that the Internet is
  a wonderful tool for educators , for anyone. I
  loved looking at other peoples stuff.

8
SUCCESSES

• I was able to stick with the program with the
  constant support of our instructor Kathy Angell.
• I am hoping to buy a computer this summer with
  the money Ive made doing this.
• I now feel more like a contemporary professional
  instead of a total dinosaur.
• The students are much more interested in writing
  when a computer is involved.

9
FAILURES

• I was not able to purchase a computer during
  the school year this impeded my progress
  somewhat.
• My computer at school could not handle the
  amount of information needed to produce a website.

10
SHORTCOMINGS SO FAR.

• I will have to spend the next school year really
  getting into the process of using the internet
  and my website in my special education program.
  I really didnt have enough time or expertise
  this year.
• I have not yet had time to see if using this
  website and the computer in my classes will
  actually improve the quality of my students
  writing but I am hopeful!!

11
PRE-TEST/POST-TEST DATA
12
REVISIONS TO LESSON PLAN

• I tried to reformat the print in my lesson plan
  because words were pushed together after a few
  months.
• Some of my links had disappeared, so I had to
  look for new websites.
• I realized that the kids needed more time to
  write rough drafts and final drafts before typing
  their descriptions of monsters on the computer.

13
REVISIONS TO LESSON PLAN

• I found that I had to limit the kids drawings of
  monsters to shapes that could easily be described
  in writing and easily reproduced by the other
  student who was reading the description.
• I made a list of shapes that could be used and a
  word bank of difficult words such as
  rectangular, horizontal, etc.

14
CONCLUSIONS

• I think using technology such as the computer, my
  very own website, and the internet to discover
  other educational websites will vastly improve my
  with-it-ness as an educator and will change
  students attitudes towards writing.
• I learned that there is a whole lot more to
  learn!!!!

15
CONCLUSIONS, continued

• I really think I have learned something that will
  continue to benefit me as an educator and as a
  21st century adult.
• I am sure that this course will inspire me to
  proceed with technology and improve my
  instructional strategies.

16
CONCLUSIONS

• Using the California Standards insures that I am
  being a responsible and informed educator and
  this should impress parents, administrators and
  board members
• Student learning is supported through the use of
  technology by the fact that students need a new
  modality for learning. Computers are a hands
  on experience .

17
CONCLUSIONS, continued

• I absolutely love exploring educational websites
  and hopefully I will keep updating my own.