Thesis

Spring Semester — Week 2

REFINING FOCUS

As I’ve been researching literacy education and different avenues for exploration, I’ve been able to refine how I define the focus of my thesis project. My goal is now to develop a structured program to engage children in consistent writing activities that sparks creativity, fosters self-expression and boosts confidence.

WRITING ACTIVITIES EXPLORATION

Using the framework of my initial concept, various types of writing activities, I’ve researched how writing is tackled within the school setting. Most schools us the Writer’s Workshop approach which:

· focuses on giving children opportunities to see themselves as authors

· iterates cycles of organizing, drafting, revising, editing and publishing

· builds positive attitudes toward and greater increases in writing quality

· scaffolds the writing process by breaking it into instructional chunks

· accounts for differentiation in ability and skill level, interest and learning style

JOURNEY MAP

I envision each discrete writing activity as multi-step process that takes children through the process of brainstorming, organizing ideas, planning and structuring composition, writing and revising, and then creating a final narrative piece.