Small Moments writing

We had Music and Library today. - Dasia
Mr. H. read a story to us called 'Owl Moon'. - Jenna
Today, we had Grade 1 Reading Buddies. - Taylor
We made small moments stories about lunch. - Cam H.

Today, we started talking about small moments writing. If you don't know what small moments are about, it is taking a small moment in your life, and using a lot of detail and description to show just how interesting these moments often are. We began by reading Jane Yolen's wonderful book Owl Moon (check it out on our Shelfari!), a story of a young girl who goes 'owling' at night with her father. It's a wonderful example about how describing a moment in great detail (what's going on around you, what you're feeling, etc.) can make these moments into extraordinary stories. After we read the book, we talked about all the amazing detail and description that made the book so interesting. Then, I took something that most students wouldn't think twice of writing about: a fire drill. I started off by writing the following:

"We were working in the classroom when the fire bell rang. We had to hurry quickly outside. When we heard the bell ring three times, we went back inside."

I challenged the class to come up with more details about the fire drill, to make it a lot more interesting. After some discussion at their tables, this is what they came up with:

"We were working in the classroom on the Daily 5 when the fire bell rang – some students were reading, and some were writing. Some of the students jumped out of their chairs and knocked them over because the bell was really loud, and startled them. The students dropped what they were doing, and had to hurry quickly outside through the nearest exit to our classroom. They didn’t even wait for Mr. H. to tell them – they knew their job was to get out quickly. The first person through the door held it open, so that everyone else can walk out. The students usually line up in a number line, but when the fire bell goes, you just go. It was a warm day, and it was partly cloudy. We rushed outside, and lined up in our classes. It’s our job to line up single-file, and to not talk. Sometimes, just standing there can be pretty boring. Mr. Hoeppner writes a note that says whether all the students are in the line. When we heard the bell ring three times, we went back inside. When we came back inside, we got a chance to use the washroom."

The students were amazed at how they had taken something they thought would make a boring story, and turned it into a really interesting piece of writing. After this, I challenged the students to write about their lunch hours today. They weren't all finished yet, but while I was walking around the classrooms, I saw some really good examples of using detail and description to make a story much more interesting - I can hardly wait to see them all!