Stamina has been on my mind lately. Maybe it is because it is May and the year is coming to an end. Maybe it is because I’ve been thinking about standardized testing and the stamina it takes for kids to complete the English Language Arts sections. Maybe it’s because I’ve been increasing my stamina during my daily walks. Whatever the reason, stamina is on my mind.
The structure of Writing Workshop (5 – 15 minute minilesson; 25 – 45 minute independent writing time; 5 – 15 minute share time) is essential to helping students develop stamina as writers. Often at the start of the year, the independent writing time is a bit shorter. However, as time goes on, the independent writing time ought to become longer. Just like exercising, when we increase the independent writing time bit by bit, students are able to develop their stamina.
Why is stamina important?
- In order to stay with a difficult task.
- To keep writing through the tough parts of the process.
- To write well when in an on-demand situation.
What are your thoughts when it comes to stamina?
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Hi! I’m going to look for that book, The Daily Five, because I also am faced with a stamina issue with my second graders. Now, however, in May, it is the issue of decreasing stamina. I have to say, though, you are not alone in overlooking “teaching stamina”. We are using the Readers’ Workshop (Fountas & Pinnell) and Lucy Caulkins Writing Workshop model. My little authors have fizzled out. I’m still their cheerleader and coach, but…..
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I just read The Daily Five over the weekend which is about how two teachers tackle their literacy block. One thing they talk about when it comes to getting kids into the mode of reading for 30 minutes is to take it a little bit at a time and to build their stamina for reading. They suggest starting with 3 minute intervals and to make sure kids are exhibiting only the positive behaviors they’ll be expected to do all year.
I haven’t ever really crossed the idea of stamina before that…and now I’ve run into it twice in one week! Especially when it comes to reading, it didn’t even occur to me that asking my students to read for 30 minutes a night at home might be hard for them just because they aren’t used to reading for that long. I work with students who are hard of hearing and for many of them reading is difficult. I have focused so much on doing book talks and encouraging them to read this year but I never thought about prepping them and teaching them how to read for long periods of time. I also made writer’s notebooks for each of my students this year but it was really hard for me to get them to write at home. It’s hard for me because I don’t see them everyday in a classroom setting, but I think when it comes to reading and writing, I need to focus on building their stamina so they can independently write at home.
Honestly, because I have been a voracious reader since I can remember and I love to write, also, it never occurred to me that they would need help to build their stamina for reading and writing for extended periods of time, especially independently. It never ceases to amaze me how easily it is to overlook or not think about things even after teaching for eight years. It is so true that we are always learners!!!
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