Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for the Slice of Life Challenge.
It’s Dr. Seuss week at one of my schools, so each day is a different dress-up day. Last week I was sick for a few days and then there was the Beta convention, so I missed out on seeing some of my students all week. I wanted to plan better. I got so far as to order yellow mustaches and a used copy of The Lorax. I didn’t put together a full costume, but I let each student choose a mustache style. The rule was you had to wear your mustache while we read The Lorax. Little did I know the thing would tickle every time I spoke. But it made for a festive way to celebrate, nevertheless.
Mrs. Simon’s Loraxes
Following this selfie, we got down to the real business of criticycles. I want my students to be ready for the March Slice of Life Challenge. They’ve been writing a slice each week, but their writing lacks elaboration and interest. I pulled out the sticky notes. I projected a student’s recent post and asked that student to read aloud his/her writing. On the sticky notes, we made symbols for critiquing (+ for something positive, ^ for something to change, and ? for further questions). Following the criticycle session, my students were motivated to return to their posts and edit.
I had forgotten how powerful peer review can be. For whatever reason, we hadn’t done it in a while. My students were receptive to their classmates’ ideas and were motivated to make their writing stronger. I just stood by and watched as they discussed their writing in a meaningful way. I need to remember that sometimes all it takes is a yellow mustache and blue sticky note to turn readers into writers.
Reflections on the Teche 
Fantastic slice of life!
Dr. Seuss is the best. Add in those mustaches, you and your students, and wow! You create exactly what his books intended.
Love the mustaches and the quote! It is such a great feeling when we engage our students in activities that get them motivated and excited again! Good luck to your students on the challenge!
Such fun – the mustaches, and the spirit of writing in your classroom!
Love the spirit of fun those mustaches brought to your classroom. And I like how you used the criticycle session so that students were motivated to revise their own work (based on peer recommendations).
So funny to see that picture, and I agree, hearing from one’s peers is powerful. I also found that the students could “see” things to revise in other’s work much easier than their own, too. We discussed that a lot & tried to find ways to be outside ourselves when reading our own work. It’s hard for me, too! Thanks for that peek about the blue stickies!
Love that you can stand by and watch the meaningful discussions about writing happen. Clearly you’ve laid great groundwork for that to happen.
I love the direct teaching of critiques. Whenever someone says that Dr Suess’ books must have been so easy to write, I feel enraged. He was a genius of his time for sure. Love the mustaches.