Are you familiar with the look of stress and anxiety on a young learner’s face when given a writing task? Dr. Tonia Randle, an ESL teacher for grades K-5, used to witness this daily in her classroom. However, she came up with a brilliant solution called “Shorten It” to alleviate the stress and anxiety for her students. This approach is particularly beneficial for ESL students who may feel overwhelmed by lengthy writing assignments.
The main focus of Dr. Randle’s hack is to simplify writing exercises by physically reducing the size of the materials. For students in kindergarten through 2nd grade, she uses half lined sticky notes, while for grades 3 to 5, she cuts composition notebooks in half. This adjustment helps students concentrate more on the quality of their writing rather than the quantity, which is crucial when preparing for state tests that require narrative writing skills.
So, how does the “Shorten It” hack work? Here’s a step-by-step guide to implementing it in your classroom:
1. Gather your materials: You will need composition notebooks (or large lined sticky notes) and a sturdy cutting board, typically found in school copy rooms.
2. Cut the notebooks or sticky notes in half: Depending on your cutter’s capacity, you can slice one or more notebooks at a time to half their original size.
3. Label your new materials: After cutting, use new labels to refurbish the notebooks. Re-labeling helps maintain a neat appearance since the original label will be cut in the process.
Dr. Randle has observed significant improvements in her students using this hack:
– Reduces anxiety: Smaller writing spaces make the task less intimidating, encouraging students to begin writing.
– Improves focus on quality: Limited space prompts students to express their thoughts clearly and concisely.
– Tracks progress: By storing their writings in a folder, students can review their growth over the school year, boosting their confidence and motivation.
For successful implementation, Dr. Randle recommends students keep their sticky notes or halved pages in folders as a log for growth reflection. This practice helps students see their progress and teaches them to take ownership of their learning journey. While Dr. Randle uses this method for ESL students’ narrative writing, teachers can adapt the concept across different grades and subjects. It can be used for journal entries or science observations, focusing students on content rather than filler words.
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