WINNEMUCCA - Each December I present a reading and writing tutorial in classrooms. It is a wonderful opportunity to inspire students and their writing as they inspire me with their delightful insight. Since it is close to the holidays, I use the book "The Polar Express" written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. Many of you are familiar with this story (and movie) about a boy who rides the train to the North Pole where he receives the first gift of Christmas, a silver bell.
The silver bell, of course, contains a touch of magic for those who believe, for those who think miracles can happen, for those who wonder. I read the book aloud showing the gorgeous pictures. We share how the words interact and how the music of the word selection flows melodiously. We discuss strong words that invigorate the senses; we talk about words that fall flat. Twice Van Allsburg uses "cold dark" so it is the perfect way to slip in word choice. Students exclaim, Freezing! Icy! Midnight! Shadowy! for changes we might make. This year one student suggested "ice-creamated." Talk about a word that is not in our language but perhaps they should be! Visualize an "ice-creamated North Pole."
After reading we chat about story elements: who (characters), what (main idea, when and where (setting), how and why (the body of the story) and the lesson learned. Students nail every answer because they know this story and because they know that attentive listening and group interaction bring success.
Now I share my Christmas story. Although my tale may vary from class to class, my favorite is when I was 3, driving home from my Nana's, and seeing Santa Claus driving his enormous, crimson Buick up our hill. The event filled me with wonder then as it still does today. I then draw a large oval on the board with a smaller oval inside. The inside oval is labeled "What," the main idea of the story. We consolidate the "what" of my story through student responses. Next I divide the large oval into thirds with spokes radiating out. In the first third I write "who," "when" and "where." Students offer answers and I jot them in, explaining that sometimes the "when" is not so important but sometimes it is, as in my story when I'm helping my dad drive home and I am 3 years old, sitting on his lap (a 23-year-old learning to drive like this presents an entirely different scenario).
In the second oval portion I jot "how" and "why." Students share details of my story, the parts that they believe are important to understanding. Finally we complete the third oval with "what I learned" or "how this event affected me." We have created a brainstorm of my story where students have identified the parts and plugged them into the correct section.
Now they are set to write their own Christmas, family, or holiday adventure or their special wish if they were to receive the first gift of Christmas. They draw their ovals, insert the "what," the main idea which may later become the title, and then complete the other sections with words and phrases that will prompt their writing. Not only does the UnO (Universal Organizer) get ideas rolling, it also establishes paragraphs based on each third of the organizer. Marvelous! One student who rarely writes and then sluggishly jumped right into this telling me that the book and my story had him ready to write.
Tales abound with decorating trees, enjoying festive meals, ripping open video games. They also include "having my family together as one, like it used to be"; "seeing my grandma for the last time"; having no more family quarrels"; "seeing my dad walk again after his surgery." One explained how she wants her mom who passed away to return. I tried to reassure her that her mom was in her heart but she replied, "I don't want her there. I want her here!" It made me realize that sometimes even the best adult explanations fail to meet a child's needs.
The UnO model will help your child write more clearly and with organization. Select a favorite book and read it together, share your connection to the story, then allow your child to verbalize his. You can jot information onto an UnO sheet to guide later writing. When discussion is complete, your child is ready to create a masterpiece - guaranteed!
Gini Cunningham's education column appears the third Tuesday of each month in the Humboldt Sun. She can be reached via e-mail: gini.cunningham@sbcglobal.net.
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