I have stated in previous articles that writing has to permeate every aspect of the elementary curriculum. Books, reports, essays, journals and other types of writing should be overflowing in the classroom and tied to all areas of the curriculum from science to social studies to religion. I set a goal for my class of twenty children at 170 published books for the year, collectively speaking. I have a paper strip on the wall with the numbers placed on it in intervals of ten. Every time new work is published the red line goes higher and higher. "How hot is grade five on the publication thermometer?" Not only do we publish independent work but also a number of class books.
One type of class book I like to put together includes the class's reflections on shared experiences. For instance, I recently took my class to see a high school rendition of Guys and Dolls and after returning I had them take fifteen-twenty minutes writing up their thoughts about the play. I encouraged them to be creative and to write about what they liked or didn't like about the play along with some details about what it was like.
When they were done I let the kids share their writing responses and then I collected them. In this case, since it wasn't writer's workshop writing, I gave them a quick teacher edit and then turned them back to the children to rewrite and "publish" by affixing their final drafts on a construction paper background. When I had each of their reviews gathered I binded them together in a plastic folder that I purchased from the Dollar Store and in Sharpie pen put the title "Fifth Grade Reviews of Guys and Dolls."
In addition, I chose one that represented a model summary and published it as a review with the fifth grade newspaper online.
Teachers can make a dozen class books like this during the year by simply having their children respond in writing to movies they watch at school, presentations they view, concerts they attend, field trips they go on etc. It's an easy way to make an attractive book for the parent community to enjoy when they stop by.