Expository Writing Has Gone To the Dogs! Who Let the Dogs Out?

I saw this really cute video on Face Book. Dogs dine in this funny video. It looks as if they are dining around the holiday season. I always look for silly videos to show my students. They like dogs and cats. One boy today asked me to find a funny dog video. I guess he has seen too many crazy cat videos. To honor him, I found a cute video. There is a cat cameo.

I am going to use this as a trigger to write in an expository way. First I will show the video. Then they will watch it again to try to find what they like about it. Then I will ask them their opinion about it. They will write a belief statements and discuss with a partner why they believe what they do about the partner by citing examples and evidence from the video. They will then take a quickwrite and discuss what they thought. They will read their writing to partners of 2 and 3. Each partner will read and then listen for a belief statement and reasons which could include evidence and examples from the video. They will then sign each other's paper's stating that they listened to each other's work.
We will then debrief and share out. Expository writing is everywhere! It has gone to the dogs!

Crazy Cat Videos

I created this video using video clips from Face Book. I used Snag It! to record the screen and then imported the MP4 files to Camtasia. I know my students will love seeing these crazy felines. I plan on using them to launch expository writing and why I believe that cats are crazy!

Jeff Anderson's Visit and His New Book Zack Delacruz-Me and My Big Mouth

I know this is a long time coming, but never late than never, right? I think it is about time that I finally posted some of my reflections about Jeff's visit back in 2014. Thrilled is how I felt when I heard that Jeff Anderson was going share his knowledge and expertise with many teachers and coaches. When some consultants visit, I can take them or leave them. Not with Jeff! Nope he is highly respected and regarded in the language arts community.  We were not disappointed in the least. He had so much to share about expository writing. Because we experienced the writing together, many of the things that he had taught us had a high stick factor. He was engaging, hilarious and nothing but fun!  Those are my kind of staff developments!

I really liked how he showed us authentic mentor expository text. We used these examples and tried them out on our own. This was very engaging.

Jeff Anderson and Maureen Ucles

In addition to that, I loved the idea of power writing. I have used this with my students. We used it the other day with our reading responses. They were so jazzed about it.

Overall, the day was great. I wasn't bored one time and I took copious notes. As I was going through my photos from my phone, I found a few that I want to share. It was an honor having Jeff join us in SBISD and to get to talk to him. He is a great guy and fantastic staff developer. His books are nothing short of fantastic. Now he is an author of a middle school novel. (See below.)

Jeff Anderson's new book to released in August, 2015

http://www.amazon.com/Zack-Delacruz-Me-Big-Mouth/dp/1454914998

 It will be out soon and I will definitely buy a copy to read and share with my students. It's pretty cool to say that I know the author! Pretty darn cool!  Thanks Jeff!

For more information about Jeff Anderson, go to the link provided:

http://www.writeguy.net/

https://twitter.com/writeguyjeff

Story of My Thinking-Gretchen Bernabei

I just started reading Gretchen Bernabei's new book.  I am up to page 38 and onto chapter 5.  I have taken some notes and am learning so much.  I love the way she shares and tracks the movement of her thinking as she shares her questions about expository writing.  She went from Newkirk to James Moffett to Harvey Daniels to name a few.  I like her pure honesty.  It's refreshing and not in the least snobby.  It's like having a conversation with a friend across the hall or having lunch with a friend.  These are some of the questions I wonder about too but maybe not in the same way.  All in all,(I remember learning the all in all way of concluding from my 8th grade English teacher Ms. West.  She was one tough English teacher who mentored me and showed me that I could do anything if I worked hard at it.)  Anyhow, I try not to deviate too much.  All in all, I really like this book so far.  It's thought provoking, teacher friendly, and human!  That's what I like about Gretchen's books and attending her inservices. 

• Indelible moments-I really like that chapter.  I like the ideas of using different types of stimuli in forms of paper to record those indelible moments in our lives.  From using a coffee filter to a moving tag to an invitation to graduation paper.  These are sort of artifacts we can use to trigger the memory. I often want to add those things to my writer's notebook so as not to forget.  When I was in the hospital visiting my sister a nurse came in and cut off her wrist band because she was being transferred to another hospital.  I wanted to ask her to keep it but I thought she might think I was crazy or something.  So I didn't ask. I did keep the check stub with her room number on it so I can put it there. I want to remember how she survived an impossible situation.  I love the idea.  I also love the idea of them trying out three of them and using a trifold to write what happened before and after.  
• Personal Narrative with Reflection-I always like the idea of generating ideas with a quicklist.  Then we try out three memory kernels.  We always share out.  One thing that I have never tried but want to consider doing is having the kids start the final part of the kernel with, " I have learned that..." to go with the final thought.  You bring truisms full circle. I like interrogating the final details.  Asking the questions and considering the reader.  I love it!
• Elastic essays from narrative-taking something written and seeing it from a different perspective whether it be expository and defining that and then exploring the use of persuasive.  This is clearly multigenre thinking.  I like the planning sheet and taking an idea and running it through the genre filter.  Cool idea.
• Mining Journals-I have often wondered how this was done.  Now I get it and I like the idea.  If we have had our students adding quickwrites and entries into the writer's notebook and students are given choice to what they have the "itch" to write about, then mining the journel brings it all back to the context.  What have I written and where would I categorize this? I like the different categories.  It stretches the study of writing genre while analyzing ones own writing.  This definitely has great connections with reading and writing.  If you are worried about AYP, then you this will help with literary analysis big time.  There are great connections as she stipulated in the introduction.  It's too late for me to get the quote but I'll be back with it!  

So far, so excellent!  Great job Gretchen!  

Swipe Queen Baby! Expository Video Revised

Revised Version-Better Version of Swipe Queen Baby!

Here is the release of the new video from ORANGE TERROR Productions! I took the feedback from Karen Justl and added a few things.  Is any type of writing and video blogging ever done?  No, there's always a way to make it better.  I am sure that this will not be the last.  Karen suggested that I add some slide so that you can read most of them.  Before, some of the slides were hard to read because it had a lot of text on them.  I was tired on Saturday when I finished and it's good to see how to improve it. She also suggested that I do an interview type thing to explain how I came up with the idea and what technologies I used.  I hope you like it.  I'm gonna say it right now-It's not done yet but for today!  I know adults and kids alike with enjoy this.  If you like watching Animal Planet and their videos, I think you might like this.  Please comment below and let me know what you think.  Mil gracias! Thanks!

Omaly

2 years ago

Maureen, I loved it! I like the idea of conecting video (actions) with text. Very well done! Great tool to use it as a model writing for kids. I also liked the interview at the end. So proud of you!

Maureen Ucles

2 years ago

Thanks so much for your feedback. I think I worked on this at least 10-15 times back and forth. It was worth it to make it better. I am sure I can make it better still. I wanted it to be the best it could be for my audience. I expected that people would laugh and enjoy this, especially people who love cats. I showed this to some of the people I work with who have cats and they really liked it. It was fun and having your feedback is important to me. Peer conferencing is powerful. I remember when we did that at Sam Houston State Writing Project. Going through that process is nothing but positive. Yes, I would be honored to come and present to the next group in 2013. Pencil me in for sure! Let's keep up the communication. Thanks again Nancy!

Read more

Nancy

2 years ago

I thought the beginning of the video is much better than the original. Revision...just like when we revise our writing. I loved the interview and your thought process on how and why you created this video. Awesome. Perhaps you might like to come to our Sam Houston Writing Project Summer Institute June 2013 and present to our writing fellows.

What is Expository Writing? A Video Survey

Here is a video survey.  Many adults and students were questioned about their knowledge about expository writing.  Check this out!

Tabitha Pena

2 years ago

ha! I showed my students this video today and I told them to be ready when Ms. Ucles comes with a camera to our classroom!!

Jenny Holter

2 years ago

Thank you for posting this video. I plan on using it in my presentation to the staff on Wednesday's staff meeting. My presentation is all about expository explanatory essays and what they really look like. :) I will let you know how it goes and I will post the flip chart I am using for the meeting.

I am a Princess Expository from the Archives

I Am A Princess-Expository

  Alana Morris showed me this video the other day.  She showed it to me without the visual of the video. I only heard the voices in the video. I was critically listening to find  the central or controlling  idea. Listening in to the video provided opportunity to pause and find place to fill in the gaps for the reader.  There were places where an anecdote used to prove a point would have been perfect.  However, when you watch it, the visuals used are the examples that you would find in the writing.  The author the writing (without the visuals) would need to support their beliefs with examples.
  The video itself, with the visuals, is very touching.  However, if you just listened to the words you would want to find out more.  This would be  good one to do with Analytic Talk or Say Back.  Alana alluded to fact that in hearing it, without the visuals,  this would be an excellent way to see where the author could include anecdotal examples. He/she would do this to solidify and support their belief. There are always places to revise. I really like this idea.  Alana has such great ideas but it doesn't end there.  Nope.  Wait for it....she makes her own yogurt! CRAZY, right?  No, it's quite simply Alana, a woman of many talents!  Thanks Alana!  Have fun with the video and the idea.

Jeff Anderson-My Reflection and New Book

I know this is a long time coming, but never late than never, right? I think it is about time that I finally posted some of my reflections about Jeff's visit back in 2014. Thrilled is how I felt when I heard that Jeff Anderson was going share his knowledge and expertise with many teachers and coaches. When some consultants visit, I can take them or leave them. Not with Jeff! Nope he is highly respected and regarded in the language arts community.  We were not disappointed in the least. He had so much to share about expository writing. Because we experienced the writing together, many of the things that he had taught us had a high stick factor. He was engaging, hilarious and nothing but fun!  Those are my kind of staff developments!

I really liked how he showed us authentic mentor expository text. We used these examples and tried them out on our own. This was very engaging.

Jeff Anderson and Maureen Ucles

In addition to that, I loved the idea of power writing. I have used this with my students. We used it the other day with our reading responses to what we read in ludic reading. They were so jazzed about and wanted to continue doing it the next day. 

Overall, the day was great. I wasn't bored one time and I took copious notes. As I was going through my photos from my phone, I found a few photos that I want to share. It was an honor having Jeff join us and to get to talk to him. He is a great guy and fantastic staff developer. His books are nothing short of fantastic. Now he is an author of a middle school novel.

Jeff Anderson's new book to released in August, 2015

http://www.amazon.com/Zack-Delacruz-Me-Big-Mouth/dp/1454914998

 It will be out soon and I will definitely buy a copy to read and share with my students. It's pretty cool to say that I know the author! Pretty darn cool!  Thanks Jeff!

For more information about Jeff Anderson, go to the link provided:

http://www.writeguy.net/