To see a complete list of the reflection activities and for an explanation of the program, visit my Day By Day Main Page.
Mini-lessons Cycle 2: Teaching Conventions in Mini-Lessons
Day 6: Artful use of conventions creates voice
Challenge: Get your hands on a book that breaks the rules and study it. Hypothesize, on paper, at least two different reasons the author chose to use punctuation in a particular way. Then push yourself to imagine how you will try the same kind of craft move in your own writing work. Once you’ve finished your written hypothesis, weave your writing into a mini-lesson you’d like to teach about breaking the writing rules.
Do you feel uneasy about encouraging your students to break the rules?
What makes you feel nervous about this pedagogical decision?
How did an emphasis on using conventions to convey meaning assist you when instructing your class about rule breaking to create voice?