Ms. Docherty

Writing Strategies

 

Goal: 13.7

Title:

 What's Worth Keeping? 

Age and reading level:

3-5+ 

Brief Description:

 Before writing, come up with ideas on a sticky note. One per sticky note. As you go through them and reread them after writing. Ask yourself "Are these ideas worth writing about?" 

Materials needed:

 Writing utensils, paper to write, sticky notes 

Steps for instruction:

• Write down ideas for writing on sticky notes 

• Reread sticky notes 

• What seems to be worth keeping? 

• What can you elaborate on easily?

• Are they going to help you tell your story? 

• If you think they are worth keeping, put them on your first page. If they aren't worth keeping, toss them

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Title:

 Make a Plan for Writing Time

Age and reading level:3-5+

 

Brief Description: Before writing children should have a plan, they will then know where they are going with the writing. Within that time should be a time frame. Students will run out of ideas if the time is too long, or not have enough time to give detail. Show students what is expected from them in a period of time. 

 

Materials needed: 

Writing utensil and paper

 

Steps for instruction:

• Make a list in front of the classroom with expectations for the students 

• Layout a time frame so student know when or where they should be at a certain time 

• Students will follow the time frame closely to be able to achieve the goals

• If the time frame is displayed students won't feel rushed or conflicted during their writing time.

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Title: Have Fun

 

Age and reading level: 2-5+

 

Brief Description: This is a simple strategy but rarely discussed. Include fun activities every day, like cool writing prompts that the students are interested in to make writing fun. 

 

Materials needed:

writing paper and utensil

 

Steps for instruction:

• If students arent enjoying writing, find fun prompts for students to write about. 

• Make sure to let students know they do not need a certain amount

• Interest students with different prompts

• Have students pick a prompt to write about to make it fun

• If students want to share they can

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Title: Read Aloud 

 

Age and reading level: 3-5+

 

Brief Description: Students will take their ideas and talk about their idea for 3 minutes straight. If it is easy to talk for that long about their idea, they should pick that topic. This is also a great time to add to the topic of choice. While you speak you will think of other things about the topic that you might not have written down. Read aloud is also good for the revising phase. Read aloud to yourself to check your writing.

 

Materials needed:

topic, writing piece, writing utensil, voice

Steps for instruction:

• Choose topics you are interested in 

• Create different ideas for each topic

• Continue on and talk aloud about each topic for 3 minutes

• Try to not stop talking during this time

• You will end up coming up with more ideas about your topic

• Choose the topic that was easiest to talk about.

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Title: Written Response

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Age and reading level: at a comfortable writing level: 2nd-5th+

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Brief Description: Asking students to write about the story they are reading. This can be before, during, or after reading the book/passage. It can have both open-ended and prompt responses to be offered to students.

 

Materials needed: Writing utensils, paper, passage/book

 

Steps for instruction:

Choose a passage or book for students

Have students answer questions pre, during, and post-reading.

Questions like:

Describe an event in your life that resembles the character in the book. Note similarities or differences

What would have been a good title for this part in the story?

What do you think will happen next in the story?

Describe the character in your own words.

You can have students turn these in or have a journal to themselves to keep.

To challenge their skills, ask for volunteers to share their responses.

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