Thinking
maps can help students develop better critical thinking skills, more organized
thinking, can allow students practice in being more organized, students can
develop better writing skills, and better studying skills. Thinking maps are
typically easy for students to use and are a great helper tool in allowing the
student the ability to brainstorm and even begin writing. So, thinking maps
could be used as writing prompts. For example if you were talking about the
topic of Careers with your students you could use this example thinking map as
a writing prompt before beginning your writing lesson. 
This awesome document that I found has 1000 quick writing ideas. As well as, some various templates for quick writing worksheets and different grammar rule worksheets. This document is full of a lot of useful information. Link: 1000 Quick Writes I plan to use quick writing as much as possible and for journal writing in my classroom. I found this Kid President video that is really funny; that you could show your students for writing prompts for quick write. Also, I found an instructional video based on instructing a quick write activity; it seemed very helpful in providing even more knowledge in instructing this.
Never really thought about using thinking maps as writing prompts, but I see how easily it could work. The nice thing about quick writes is that you let those students who are creative and imaginative, use those strengths to share what they have learned. Some of the my students' best works have been from these
ReplyDeleteThat is good that you are able to use the quick writes in your classroom. For some reason I also didn't realize that you teach at our Mexico High school. I have been subbing over there a lot lately. Hopefully, the quick writes can be something easy enough for, even the not so creative, students to succeed at. Thank you for commenting.
DeleteActually I teach out at R6
DeleteI really liked doing "Quick Writes" since it will help with my future ELA class. It was really neat to be able to use another website/app called Padlet which I was not familiar with.
ReplyDeleteI am really not that familiar with many of these writing strategies. I have heard of them but I haven't used them in a class setting. I did like the quick write strategy that allows students to choose their learning direction.
ReplyDeleteUsing your thinking maps for writing prompts is an interesting idea. I have never thought about doing that. Thanks for the idea. I like using quick writes. I understand the importance of having students write every day and this is a small way to get that to happen. I agree with Kim, the padlet app was really neat. I have never seen that before and most definitely will be using that in my classes. I think it helps students be more accountable for their work because they know everyone can see it, it will help make grading easier because everything is in one place, and it is a visual representation of student's thoughts and ideas. I love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I look forward to all the new and different ideas everyone has on their blogs. I think that the students can benefit from writing everyday as well. I didn't originally think too much about getting the students to write everyday. I think keeping journals with various topics; can allow the students to see their growth. I thought Padlet was interesting. I still don't know about everyone seeing everyone else's work. I feel like some students can be very judgmental of others and this could possibly cause student's self esteem to falter. Thank you for commenting on my response.
DeleteI love our example of a double bubble map, so cute! I also really liked the video of things that kids should say more often it was really cute. I agree with you that writing prompts and thinking maps can help students through their thought process and help them to become stronger writers.
ReplyDelete