I just learned the meaning of this word, decalogue, this week.  First I stumbled across the website of NNWP Teacher Consultant, Corbett Harrison who provides wonderful mini-lessons to use with mentor texts.  He recommends reading chapter four of Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn Dixie, which contains a wonderful decalogue — a  list of ten things the preacher tells Opal about her mother. Corbett writes: "On day one of class, I ask my students to create a list of ‘Ten Things I Know about Myself as a Writer.’ These first-day decalogues are placed safely in their portfolios, and during the last week of class, they make a new list on the same topic. A large percentage of my students’ final grades depends on the conversation we have about the difference between their two lists."

This got me thinking of all the other fabulous decalogues we could ask our students to write.  So here is my decalogue of writing decalogues (thanks, Mr. Harrison):

1. Ten things I know about myself as a writer

2. Ten things I’m passionate about  (to spark writing ideas)

3. Ten spelling rules I always forget

4. Ten grammar rules I don’t really understand (good feedback for providing appropriate mini-lessons)

5. Ten memories I wish to forget (but know I won’t, so I might as well write about them)

6. Ten things I wish someone would say about my writing

7. Ten sentences I admire (keep an ongoing list in the reading folder)

8. Ten things my classmates don’t know about me (and maybe I’ll write about them)

9. Ten words I love

10.

 What is number ten?  Write in your ideas, I’d love to share them!

P.S.  Monday Mini-Lessons for primary teachers are being archived.  Click on the button to the right to see past newsletters.