Collaborative Story Writing with the Dell Venue Pro Smartphone

Writing Workshop with the Dell Venue Pro Smartphone
By: Anna Karas

Writing Objectives:
• Student will write collaboratively with peers on Smartphone device.
• Student will write independently in writer’s notebook.
• Student will reread their writing as they draft.
• Students will reflect on their writing process.

Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.6 With guidance and support from adults, use technology to produce and publish writing (using keyboarding skills) as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Procedures:
Teacher Modeling:
"Good writers reread their writing throughout their writing session. Today we are going to complete an activity using the Dell Venue Pro Smartphone that will require us to reread before adding to the writing piece. Watch how I reread my work as I draft my writing."

The teacher models and thinks aloud her writing process while using the Story Cubes as inspiration to guide her story.

Suggested teacher talk below:
I rolled a rocket ship. I think I will make that the setting of my story. I will begin my story with:
“To infinity and beyond!” The astronaut said above the roaring of the spaceship’s engine. He was excited to make his first trip into outer space.
Let’s me reread what I have so far and make any changes. I want this story to make my reader feel as thrilled as the astronaut. “To infinity and beyond!” The astronaut said…I think I will change that to shouted…above the roaring of the spaceship’s engine. He was….I want to add VERY….excited to make his first trip into outer space.

The teacher continues to model rereading as she drafts. She rolls the Story Cube again in order add to her story.

Guided Practice:
"Now it is your turn. First we will write in our writer’s notebooks. I will roll the dice and I want you to begin writing a story. Don’t forget to reread as you write."

The students are given a few minutes to write after the Story Cube is rolled.

Independent Practice:
"During your independent writing time, the Dell Venue Pro Smartphone will be passed around with a Story Cube. When you get the Dell Venue Pro Smartphone be sure to reread what your peers before you have written. We want our story to make sense and flow logically. We cannot do that if we do not reread. If you read a word from your peer’s writing you are unfamiliar with, you may search it on the internet through the phone’s browser. When it is not your turn with the Dell Venue Pro Smartphone you will continue writing in your notebook using this new strategy."

Students write independently during the remainder of writing workshop. The teacher confers with students about the writing strategy.

Differentiation:
OT Students: The teacher or a student helper can type the orally given text into the Dell Venue Pro Smartphone for the student so they can participate.

Closure:
"Let’s read what the class collaboratively wrote together on the Dell Venue Pro Smartphone. How did rereading the writing help you draft this piece? Excellent job everyone! Before we leave, I want you to assess your use of the rereading strategy. You will log your assessment using a rating scale of 1-5 on the socrative.com website opened on the Dell Venue Pro Smartphone."

Formative and Summative Assessment:
Formative: Students rate their use of the rereading strategy using a 1-5 scale (5 being outstanding) on the Dell Venue Pro Smartphone on the website www.socrative.com. The results are collected for the teacher’s viewing.

Summative: Students demonstrate the rereading strategy during conferences with the teacher. The teacher observes and takes anecdotal notes. The teacher can use the Dell Venue Pro Smartphone as a note taker and e-mail the notes to herself.

Materials:
1. Dell Venue Pro Smartphone
2. Story Cubes: http://www.storycubes.com/
3. www.socrative.com teacher account
4. Chart paper and markers