Generating Ideas with Strong Feelings

Even though it's January, some of my third and fourth graders still frequently struggle with generating or brainstorming ideas on what to write about.  (We did do a "detour" from Lucy's plan and do expositiory writing for a while.  So, we're just getting back into the swing of narrative writing.)  I know part of the problem is that many of my students have so much to worry about every day that they see many stories in their life as being too old and therefore not relevant.  But I cannot do anything about that.

Then I have a few kids who really struggle to copy down simple things like a t-chart or the days table of contents, due to fine motor and attention span.  Lately, I've been trying out typing out some graphic organizers for the days strategy.  At least, that way I get a date and a heading which states the strategy.  I can also see if they didn't do any work that day.  I worry that my highest writers think they can write less that day by only doing the one page.  I could probably pull them as a small group or give the expectation that "advanced" writers do more than just the page that gets taped into their writer's notebook. 

This lesson will basically be the following:

Connection: We have all used the strategy of thinking of a first time to help us think of a story, like my story about learning to ride a bike.

Teaching Point: Writers write powerful and important stories by writing about a time they had a strong feeling.      

Mentor Text: A Chair for my Mother  

Teach:  Today I want to teach you that [state teaching point].   Yesterday, I was looking at A Chair for my Mother and wondering how the author generated here ideas for the book.  I realized that she might have used the chair, an important object to generate her story idea.  Or that she might have thought of another strong feeling, fear, excitement, sadness, or even a first or last time.  So, I made a t-chart with some of those feels for us to explore as writers.  Here's my list.

Active Engagement:  Now, I want you to choose one of these strong feelings and think of a small moment.  Put up your thumb when you have at least one idea.  Turn to your partner, "My small moment is a time..."

Link: Today we learned that [state teaching point].  We made a t-chart to start a list of small moments to write about.  All week, I want you to take some time to continue adding to your t-chart so that by next week you will have at least 5 story ideas.