“Piecing Together a Writer’s Quilt”
Audience: Grades 4 and 5
Students
will understand and identify voice in what they read, and make connections with
an author and their lives as readers and writers. They will practice what
is taught and use it in an independent context. This approach increases the
likelihood that students will use what they learn in their own reading and in
the independent work of publishing their own writing. The program is designed to
engage students through read aloud, group discussion, guided writing activities,
and incorporating the arts.
Lesson/Activity
First,
the author will present her book Katherine’s Quilt Made for Dreaming with
writing lessons to help students understand how to identify voice in what they
read. Students will study Katherine’s personal belongings to practice
observation and to make inferences about the character. Students will write to
describe the character. Students will then write to describe items of
importance, replacing Katherine’s things with personal items of their own.
Students will draft and revise a piece of writing describing a keepsake or
heirloom that gives them a sense of belonging. The author will conduct lessons
based on Common Core State Standards to help students strengthen voice in what
they write, demonstrating ways in which voice is connected to descriptive and
figurative language, vivid detail, rich vocabulary, sensory words, dialogue, and
meaningful endings.
For the Teachers
Teachers will
develop voice in their own writing so that they will be more comfortable in
teaching voice to their students. Teachers will gain a better understanding of
Common Core State Standards and Six Traits of Writing. In addition, teachers
will gain further understanding of the writing rubric for the PASS test and how
to use the Time to Write Checklist as a student self-assessment tool.
Supporting Material
Katherine’s
Quilt Made for Dreaming, a read-along music CD, standards-based writing and
arts integration activities, and references for supporting informational text to
use in the classroom.
Suggested Duration
3-5 days
Common Core State Standards Addressed
4th
Grade: CC.4.RL.1, 2 and 3; CC.4.W.3, 4 and 5; CC.4.SL.1 and 4; CC.4.L.3.a;
CC.4.L.5.a; CC.4.L.6
5th Grade:
CC.5.RL.1, 2 and 4; CC.5.W.3, 4 and 5; CC.5.SL.1 and 4; CC.5.L.3.a; CC.5.L.5.a;
CC.5.L.6
“I
have been afforded the opportunity to teach at a school where an author or an
illustrator of children's books visits annually. I must share that of all the
visits, Crystal Ball O'Connor has been the best! She is gifted in not only
writing wonderful literature, but she also draws the children into her world as
she shares her writing process. I have never seen the children so "tuned-in" to
every word and every move in the way they did with her. Every school in
South Carolina should be afforded to enrich the lives of their children with her
visit!”
Mollie M. Phillips, Chesterfield School District
