Amazing Authors

A cute animal story

     March 9 was ICSB's biennial elementary Young Author's 

     Fair.   Each student in the elementary school wrote and 

     illustrated a story.  A large population of our elementary 

     students are non-native English speakers.  In my class alone, 

     I have only 3 out of my 16.  Speaking in another language 

     let alone writing a creative, original story takes a lot of

     effort.  (These students cease to amaze me.)  

I loved the illustrations here.....

At the end of January we began our stories.  My students were     very excited about writing their very own book.  

We began by looking at great examples of books. We used some from our reading curriculum.  Then, I inspired my students by showing them a Tomi DePoloa video where he talks about the ideas for his stories and shows his illustrations.  They loved that!  

  

and here...

   

     We made a list of what good authors do: 

        - Make a story exciting

        - Use different sized words, and curvy words 

        - Use ideas from their life

        - Use ideas from nature

        - Neat handwriting

        - Reread stories and make changes

        - Fix spelling mistakes

A great cover illustration

Next came the brainstorming!   Oh the ideas they had....

- Football teams with the come from behind win

- Caterpillars that ate too much

- Ducks that couldn't swim

- Boys that didn't have friends

- Treasure hunts

- Adventures to reclaim lost items

- Animals, animals and more animals

 

One of the amazing illustrations.  Yes, this student is only 8.  

   

      We discussed what makes a good beginning,

      middle and end of a story, where you

      introduce your character, describe the setting, 

      where to tell the problem and how to make a

      good solution.

Another page from the first place book.  

Once the rough drafts were completed, I helped each student edit and revise their stories.  Some needed little help.  Others were were cutting out huge chunks of their stories because it was just rambling.

Some I challenged them by asking questions where I pretended I couldn't connect all the dots and made them tell me more details.

They fixed spelling and grammar mistakes.  They made sure their quotation marks and punctuation where correct.  They were perfect stories.

A page from the first place book.  It was SO funny.  

Finally,  the students began their final copies.  It was momentous for them.  Once the writing was finished they did their illustrations.

This student had great descriptions

I was very proud of my students.  It was amazing the talent and creativity that God has given them.  I was also reminded that many of these students are writing and expressing in their second (or third) language.  They blew me away with what they did write.
We celebrated by inviting the parents in to view their child's masterpiece.  Then we held the awards ceremony.

Love the fashion influence in the illustrations

   
     Each grade level had a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place 

     award for the best story that was chosen by two 

     other teachers.  There were honorable mentions 

     for "Outstanding Illustrations".   Every student

     got recognized with an individual award

     chosen by me.  In my class some of them   

     included: Best Pet Story, Best Football Story,

     Best  Handwriting, Best Character Description,

     etc..
     All in all it was a very successful experience.