Good Beginnings, Endings Stuff in Between

1. Good Beginnings, Endings & Stuff in Between~ This workshop will assist you with ideas, strategies, and techniques that will help students craft better writing. The Writing Workshop Resource Manual will be a great resource for you and your students

2. Explicit instruction Explicit Instruction helps all students � those with and without learning disabilities Instruction should be explicit about: Process � planning, revising, and helping kids learn to monitor what they�re doing Goals � why kids are being asked to do the writing assignment and what they intend to give the reader

3. Encouraging young writers Model the process. The work that goes into writing � planning, drafting, revising, and editing� all goes on inside the mind. Make it visible to students Help make handwriting, spelling, and sentence construction routine (automatized, so students don�t have to stop and think of each word) Provide grammar and vocabulary instruction

4. Extra attention to the fundamentals pays off As a student�s spelling improves and their writing improves, there is a carryover effect in: improved sentence construction increased amount of writing increased quality of the writing

5. Mechanics versus content Often interrelated. For example, if you struggle writing the words you�re going to produce less content If a kid struggles with mechanics, provide focused instruction in letter formation and spelling to help kids move past that point. Look for alternatives to help the student keep up (e.g., word processing software, speech synthesis software) If a kid struggles with content, sometimes it�s a structure issue or a knowledge issue. Instruction should center on how to get ideas and ways to organize ideas

6. Other effective strategies Explicitly teach children how to form sentences Use reading as a model for writing Have kids do research and ask questions to get ideas for writing But nothing beats a well-prepared, knowledgeable, dedicated teacher in helping kids become good writers.

7. How to model sentence formation Take small, kernel sentences Show how to make those into more complex sentences Have kids work with you to do the same thing, then work with each other Have them apply the practice in their own writing

8. The Writing Workshop Resource Manual Let�s take a look inside to preview some helpful ideas, strategies, and techniques that will assist your writing instruction in your classroom or instructional setting

9. Chicopee Writing Rubric:Fourth Grade; Proficient Topic is clearly stated and well developed All sentences on topic Adequate number and choice of details support the topic 5-paragraphs with precise introduction, body and conclusion Ideas logical and sequential Paragraphs are well organized to convey writer�s purpose Precise use of transitions Evidence of compound/complex sentences Sentences vary in type and length Word choice supports writer�s purpose Sensory words and figurative language

10. Writing Conventions; Proficient Capitalization Punctuation Grade level words spelled correctly Correct use of subject/verb agreement in and verb tenses Pronouns, plurals, and possessives

11. Prewriting First step to a well developed composition is organizing your thoughts in the prewriting step which helps the writer: Stay focused on the subject Think sequentially Form strategies for beginning, middle, and end Come up with all options before writing Write descriptively Consider the audience and purpose of their writing

12. Some Prewriting Strategies Brainstorming Making a list Webbing Sequencing with a storyboard Graphic organizers Transition timeline First, next, after� Memory Chart Who, What, When, Where, Why?

13. Webbing

14. Bold Beginnings Lets the reader know what the topic is In narrative, you let the reader know you are going to tell a story. In expository, the beginning makes an important statement that can be explained and supported with reasons and details.

15. Bold Beginnings An introductory paragraph: Includes the main idea/ topic sentence, as well as a sentence for each detail paragraph (from bubbles in web) Concluding sentence should restate main idea and/or add an emotion word A good introductory paragraph acts as a guide for the rest of the composition!!

16. Bold Beginnings Hook Sentence/Grabber Sentence Catches the reader�s attention Pulls the reader into the essay and makes the reader want to read more! It�s appropriate for the purpose and audience being written for. (Binder; p. 75-89)

17. ACTIVITY Hooking your reader!! Winning a prize! A Day at the Beach What are some tacky beginnings?

18. Marvelous Middle 3 detail paragraphs Paint a picture for the reader with specific details that are organized and stay on focus. Have students utilize the prewriting strategies to stay organized.

19. Marvelous Middles Ingredients for a good composition Details! Details! Details! Stay on topic Sequential/logical order Emotion words Dialogue (limited!) Sensory Words Sentence variety and length Voice

20. Marvelous Middles Show, don�t tell Means to describe something to the reader instead of telling them something too obvious. It paints a picture in the reader�s mind

21. Marvelous Middles The boy was very frightened. The boy screeched in terror and threw his hands up to protect himself. Even though his legs felt like they had turned to jelly, he jumped to his feet and ran screaming all the way.

22. ACTIVITY Show, don�t tell Rewrite one of the following sentences! The girl was happy to see her mom. He was mad they didn�t win. The garden is pretty. That ride was fun.

23. Marvelous Middles Vivid vocabulary Strong verbs Adjectives/adverbs Specific nouns Figurative language Similes Metaphors Idioms Onomatopoeia

24. Marvelous Middles Conventions Punctuation Capitalization Spelling Creative spelling is OK for the first draft. Circle words that may be misspelled. Grammar

25. Marvelous Middles Each detail paragraph should have a hook sentence/main idea sentence. Paragraph details come from the web, or prewriting. Concluding sentence should restate the paragraph topic or use a feeling word to make it more personal. The concluding sentence helps lend to the VOICE of the essay.

26. Excellent Endings The concluding paragraph Restates the topic that is in the introductory paragraph. Summarizes the points in the body of the essay. Brings the essay to an end. Gives the reader something to think about. Wrap it up! What do you want the reader to remember?

27. Excellent Endings Here are some ideas for excellent endings: End with advice to the reader End with a quote End with a question End by rewording the beginning

28. ACTIVITY Write an excellent ending! Win a prize! Have you ever been so frightened that you couldn�t talk or move? That�s what happened to me last Thursday. It was the scariest day of my life. I had just arrived home after school. I was surprised to see the front door wide open. I called for mom, but no answer. I ran through every room in the house calling for her. I couldn�t find her anywhere. That�s when I got really scared. What had happened to my mother? Imagine my relief when she walked into the house. (ADD AN ENDING!)

29. Revising Students clarify their writing and make it more interesting to the reader. They may make changes in content, word choice, sentence structure and organization.

30. Revising Helpful Hints Skipping lines on first draft makes it easier for students to make corrections. Have students use colored pencils in revising. Students should read their first draft aloud, either to themselves or a classmate. Make a revision checklist available, so students know what they are looking for when revising. Make word lists, thesauruses, and dictionaries available.

31. Editing Students review their writing to correct errors in conventions Punctuation, spelling (circled words), capitalization, indenting, and grammar. Model and practice skills in small groups and center activities Differentiate instruction Provide editing checklist

32. Publishing Not all writing needs to be brought to this point. Students do love to share their writing whether it be in completion or just a portion.

33. Final Thoughts Give explicit instruction to demonstrate writing process and skills. Allow students time to practice writing. Write across the curriculum. MAKE WRITING FUN!