Core Skills Analysis
Writing and Language Arts
- Mila learned how to organize thoughts systematically by following the 'Think It' step, promoting pre-writing cognitive skills.
- By 'Say It,' she practiced verbalizing her ideas, reinforcing oral language development and helping with memory and clarity before writing.
- The 'Type It' phase helped Mila improve her keyboarding skills alongside sentence structure and word choice in written form.
- In 'Check It,' Mila developed editing and proofreading abilities, cultivating attention to detail and self-assessment in writing.
Technology Skills
- Mila practiced basic typing on a keyboard, which aids in digital literacy essential for modern learning.
- Following the sequential model supports the development of procedural memory for using technology tools effectively.
- She enhanced hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills required for typing.
- The activity integrates writing with technology, helping Mila connect traditional literacy with digital communication.
Tips
Tips: To deepen Mila's writing and typing skills, encourage her to create her own writing models on different topics, fostering independence in structuring thoughts. Incorporate storytelling by having her first think of a story, say it aloud, then type it up, reinforcing the four-step process creatively. You can also introduce peer-review by swapping papers digitally to practice giving and receiving constructive feedback, further strengthening editing skills. Introducing fun typing games or timed typing challenges can build speed and accuracy while maintaining engagement.
Book Recommendations
- The Writing Workshop by Katie Wood Ray: A guide to help young writers understand writing processes and develop their voice.
- Keyboarding Made Simple, Age 7+ by Linda Williams Aber: An interactive book to build typing proficiency with step-by-step lessons suited for children.
- Chipmunks (Animal Factfinder) by Judy Yates Sargent: An engaging nonfiction book full of facts about chipmunks that can inspire writing content.
Learning Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.5: With guidance and support, focus on a topic and strengthen writing as needed by revising and editing.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.6: With guidance and support, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.4: Tell a story or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant details.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.2: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Try This Next
- Worksheet: Create a fill-in-the-blank template for each of the four steps (Think, Say, Type, Check) focusing on different animals or topics.
- Writing Prompt: Ask Mila to say aloud a brief story about her day and then type it, followed by a self-edit checklist to 'Check It.'