Bookmarked Materials and Learning Theory

Bookmarked Learning Materials

• How To Teach Writing Remotely

• It’s Hard to Teach Writing Online

• Digital Writing Activities for Distance Learning

• 8 Ways to Shift Writing Instruction for Remote Learning

• Writing Activities for Your Second Grader

• 3 Writing Lessons to Teach at the Beginning of the Year // Beginning of the year writing lessons K-2

• How to Launch Writing Workshop In First Or Second Grade

Why these materials?

These materials have tips and advice for teaching writing to second graders in person and remotely. Through reading these articles, blogs, and watching these videos, parents or educators can support their children in their writing education no matter where their learning takes place. There are materials that educators could use if they were teaching students like it was a normal school year without remote learning. There is another material that offers suggestions on how to take those ideas and advice based on the CCSS (Common Core State Standards) and turn it into remote learning. The materials collectively serve as help to everyone involved in developing the writing skills of a second grader.

Learning Theory

Constructivism is the learning theory that guides this work. Constructivism is when, "learners use their previous knowledge as a foundation and build on it with new things that they learn" (Western Governors University 2020). In this writing unit, students will use their own experiences to gain writing stamina. They will take their own interests, small moments in their lives, and more information about themselves to grow as writers. They will learn how to use items in their lives such as a favorite stuffed animal and elaborate using specific details and strong word choices. The students will also learn to edit and revise their writing work after writing a rough draft. The motivation from their own life experiences will drive the students into wanting to make their stories more detailed. They will also build off of their prior writing knowledge from first grade to help them develop their writing. They will use their knowledge of stories having a beginning, middle, and end, but now learning how to write a beginning with a strong hook or onomatopoeia. There is also an important social component to writing and constructivisim. Students need to orally rehearse their story before putting it to paper. This helps all learners with writer's block or students with learning disabilities who cannot organize their writing. They can also use their peers, teachers, and families to help them edit and revise their story to add more details to their story.

References

Western Governors University. (2020, October 21). What is constructivism? Western Governors University.

https://www.wgu.edu/blog/what-constructivism2005.html.