Deanna Said:

Does anyone have creative ways to teach writing to third grade students?

We Answered:

I teach third grade and we just finished writing our first personal narrative. I've taught for 13 years, and this was the first year that it actually went relatively smoothly!

First, I gave them the prompt, "Imagine a time when you have worked with a partner in class. In a personal narrative to your teacher, discuss this particular time that you worked with a partner." (or something to that effect...I don't have my notes with me!)

Then, as I modeled the lesson on the overhead, I had the students make a web, using the middle circle as the topic and using who, what, where, when, why, and how for the "legs." I modeled exactly what I wanted them to write, and they copied it in their writing journals. Then we edited, wrote our final copies, and published our work by illustrating our personal narratives.

I spread the assignment out over four days, and the kids did really well. Granted, it wasn't all their own writing, as I was modeling much of it, but they really seemed to understand what I meant by personal narrative, and they were able to figure out what I wanted from them in the way of organization.

I hope this helps! Good luck!

Denise Said:

Any advice on teaching a class on Photoshop?

We Answered:

well start with the basics (moving picture scaling and deleting parts with the magic wand) the go to slightly more advanced (dodging, burning,smuging) then move to the hard stuff (liquidfying, magnet colors, ect)

Samantha Said:

Is it normal for creative writing classes to be taught by people who only have a master's degree?

We Answered:

It's very common. It's especially common in the area of creative writing because there isn't really a PhD in Creative Writing. Creative Writing is an applied field (you do it) whereas Literature is the academic field (you study it). The PhD is an academic degree.

Creative Writing is a studio art (just like painting) and the terminal degree in the studio arts is the Master of Fine Arts. The MFA isn't a 1-year master's degree and it doesn't concentrate on research (as the PhD does) but instead on actually doing the art. Many professors of the applied arts have a master's and considerable professional experience in the field. You'll find this common in music, theatre, studio art, and creative writing.

Most creative writing positions require more than that degree though - they also require some successful writing experience. In fact, the published writing experience is often more important. I took an advanced fiction writing workshop from someone with no degree in English/Literature -- his degree was in Poli Sci. It was a DPhil in Poli Sci from Oxford and he was a well published fiction writer of spy novels. Best class I ever took.

Also know that less than 6% of the whole US population has a master's degree. That's not "only a master's degree..." - less than 2% of the whole population has an academic doctorate.

Paula Said:

Can you teach yourself to write with the other hand?

We Answered:

yes, it is very possible, in fact my current math teacher had to learn a new skill for one of her classes and did this task.
the key would be to practice, just like you did when you were learning to write, do a little bit every night, like write out the alphabet twice, then 3 times, the write words, piece it together, then try to use it in your every day life, like writing your grocery list, you'll get the hang of it
Good luck!
hope this helps

Raymond Said:

Did America begin its long decline when they started teaching school kids printing instead of cursive writing?

We Answered:

They still teach cursive at the schools my grandkids attend.