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Great Resources for Busy Teachers
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Great Resources for Busy Teachers |
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Six Traits Writing Workshop Ideas Organization Word Choice Sentence Fluency Voice Conventions THE TRAIT OF ORGANIZATION
In order to organize writing effectively, children must learn narrative and expository text structures. In both structures, readers will encounter leads (the first sentence(s), paragraph(s) or chapter that sets up the story and draws the reader in); sequence (the order of events); transitions (sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph progression); and conclusions (satisfying endings). Students can learn to organize their writing by mimicking picture book text structures, applying story structure to wordless picture books, studying expository structures and applying it by writing on topics they know, and practice sequencing their sentences and paragraphs together. Most writers tend to make lists. It's rare that a writer uses a graphic organizer. Organizers have their place, but once a child knows an organizer, they should be able to choose whether they need it or not (or choose which organizer works best for them). The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst Fortunately by Remy Charlip If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg Tuesday 29, 1999 by David Wiesner Ruby the Copycat by Ruby Rathmann The Enormous Potato by Aubrey Davis The Giant Carrot by Jan Peck Personal Narrative It has been said that writers should write what they know. A personal narrative focuses on a clear moment in time when a person has had an experience that can be told in story form. A personal narrative has all of the elements of a story, but it's usually a real experience. The Art Lesson by Tomie de Paola Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul by Jack Canfield (This book is loaded with short, personal narratives.) No longer do children have to read and write "encyclopedia" type articles. Today's nonfiction for children is loaded with poetic language, uses narrative elements and creates strong mental pictures in the reader's mind. This list is of exemplary nonfiction that is worth exploring. Welcome to the Green House by Jane Yolen A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry The Popcorn Book by Tomie dePaola Letter Writing Children certainly need to learn how to write both formal and informal letters. This is an important social and business skill that they will need in the future. Letter writing can also provide real audiences and help children to develop and understand voice. In many primary classrooms teachers write a "daily letter" to their students on large chart paper. This is excellent modeling with a real purpose. Search for opportunities to write letters for real purposes and watch your young writer's blossom. Dear Mr. Blueberry by Simon James Felix Travels Back in Time by Annette Lagan The Gardener by Sarah Steward Letters from Felix: A Little Rabbit on World Tour by Annette Langen Felix Travels Back in Time by Annette Langen Felix's Christmas Around the World by Annette Langen Felix Explores Planet Earth by Annette Langen Felix Joins the Circus by Annette Langen Jolly Postman by Janet Ahlberg Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type by Betsy Lewin Persuasive Writing To persuade is to convince. Learning to put together a persuasive argument is an important life skill. Begin with picture books that explore elements of persuasion. Can I Have a Stegosaurus Mom? by Lois G. Grambling *small plastic stegosaurus Earrings! by Judith Viorst *small pair of stick-on earrings Duck for President by Doreen Green My Teacher for President by Kay Winters Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Williams *small school bus sticker or eraser Dear Mr. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Arloff A lead in a picture book is usually the first sentence. A lead can be several sentences, paragraphs or even chapters. The lead is what "hooks" the reader in and makes them want to read more. Leads are important to the piece of writing. They set the tone and get the piece moving. A poor lead can easily turn a reader off and cause them to put down the writing. A dynamic lead will excite and entice the reader. This is just a small list of books with fabulous leads to use as models. Hurricane by David Wiesner (dialogue) The Art Lesson by Tomie de Paola When I was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes Encounter by Jane Yolen The Pumpkin Blanket by Deborah Turney Zagwyn The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn Some Birthday by Patricia Polacco A Pig Named Perrier by Elizabeth Spurr My Great-Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston Weslandia by Paul Fleishman (dialogue) Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney My Mama Had a Dancing Heart by Libba Moore Gray THE END. Don't think of a conclusion as just "the end" of a story. A good conclusions leaves the reader dreamy about the story and hungering for more of the same. A good conclusion ties up all of the loose ends and satisfies the reader like a good meal. Sometimes a conclusion surprises the reader or jolts the reader, but either way, the reader leaves the book with lingering thoughts. The Wednesday Surprise by Eve Bunting (surprise ending) The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg (mysterious) The Sweetest Fig by Chris Van Allsburg (surprise) The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant (circular) The Ghost-Eye Tree by Bill Martin Jr. (circular)
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