List of Lists

The students have been working so hard in their writer's notebook.  I hope you are getting a chance to see what they have inside.  Today the classes worked on list of lists.  I had created a large group of post-it notes that students could come and grab off our board.  The post-it notes were filled with ideas for lists.  Some of the ideas included:  things that make you proud, favorite books, favorite movies, favorite things you do on a rainy day, and so on and so on.  Students would create a list and then go to the board to fetch another list that they could make in their writer's notebook.

Now I am a huge list maker.  I have a grocery list sitting next to me right now waiting to be finished for my weekly trip to Kroger's.  I always keep a list of books and a list of cd's and a list of movies.  I love lists for some reason. 

I know what you are thinking...list writing is not really writing.  I think I used to think that as well, but lately I have been seeing list writing everywhere.  Some of our students are reading poems in small groups and both poems are essentially just lists.  Also in every magazine I pick up or blog that I read there is always some sort of list.  The list of the five best summer movies to see and then a little blurb about each movie.  I know for certain that I will read a huge amount of list writing this weekend as I prepare for my fantasy drafts.  It seems like every fantasy article is a list (the top five running backs, the top five busts in your draft, and of course the top five sleepers).  

I think students could turn their lists into this type of list writing.  Also if nothing else they serve as a great way to gather ideas and build writing fluency.

Speaking of lists I still have a few things to cross off my school list, so I am going to get going.  I cannot believe that tomorrow is Friday.  The time has been flying!!