Authentic Writing Tasks ...

Good day Sophyta.

I'm glad that you're a little awaken now. You're amazed to discover that there are a number of journals on authentic writing tasks. All this while, you narrowed down your search to Authentic Writing Strategies and it left you with repetitive discoveries. You didn't go far. You just couldn't get away from the Heringtons and Lombardis.

Yesterday you finished reading the field project by Susan M.Heinitz. She wrote about The Effect of Using Authentic Writing Task on Students' Attitudes toward Writing. Bravo! I can see that the article did shed some lights on what you can do with your students back in school. Mrs Heinitz got her Fourth and Fifth Graders to write books on animals for the kindergarteners. It was awesome! It had never crossed your mind right, dear Sophyta? Nonetheless, she only focused on attitude and motivation. You were once told off by your SV for the shallowness of your topic. Bear in mind - you're a PhD candidate! You like it or not, your scope has to be wider.

Since you are catering for the technology, you ought to do it using technology and your main device is the CLOUDBOOK or as it's known as GOOGLE CHROMEBOOK. Get your students to utilize the cloudbook to the max. Let them explore the wonder of cloudbooks. Think big but start small. Don't be jittered if your very first lesson flop! Keep on trying. Turn on deaf ears to the 'educational' noise.

First of all, teach them how to write using cloudbooks. Teach them five writing units on the following topics:

1. food
2. animals
3. festivals/celebrations
4. places of interest
5. activities in everyday life

Prepare Authentic Writing Units Guides. Refer to Year 4 and Year 5 DSKP for English. Spend at least a week for each topic. Get them to write in groups, in pairs and also individually. At the end of the units, assign them writing tasks. 

Initially, KIDS ONLINE MAGs was on top of your list. However, when you surfed the Net, there are a wide arrays of interesting mags online. Think again, buddy. Who on earth would want to read your kids' mags? Could you get others to read the written pieces voluntarily? Yes! VOLUNTARILY is the key factor in your case.

Your second plan - writing to students in other country. That makes more sense. You don't have to coerce others to read your kids' work. In other words, it's like Students Exchange Programme. Contact your ex-mentor, David. He's the best person to help you execute your plan. I believe you could get it done. In fact, you will do it very well. 

Let's get the ball rolling ...

Prepare Authentic Writing Units Guides. 

Have ADDIE Model as your core.

Refer to the DSKPs. Consult the Content Experts. Who will you call up? Do consider Mr Basil, Mr Douglas and Ms Jill Ewe.

Prepare Interview Questions.

These questions will be used to counter check the reliability and validity of the Kear's Writing Attitude Survey.

Refer to Mrs Heinitz's questions.

Print out Kear Writing Attitude Survey. Enclose the Reprinting Permission.

Read up Keller's ARCS Model and how to integrate it in your lessons.

You refreshed your understanding of the ARCS successfully. Kudos!

A- Attention

R- Relevance

C- Confidence

S- Satisfaction

That's about it. You're done for the morning session, Sophyta.

Sophyta