Writing




 http://www.thegrammarheads.com/kids/

__Downloads from The Grammar Heads:__

http://www.thegrammarheads.com/kids/downloads.html 

Here's a neat site a parent shared with me "Write On Reader" http://library.thinkquest.org/J001156/writing.htm

Here's another great site Mr. Frederick has shared with us during our Grade Level Meetings: http://www.readwritethink.org/







 * Some things to work on at home...**

We have been working in the classroom to answer questions to a short text using the boxes and bullets format. Try using a boxes and bullets type response orally at home with your child. Have them answer using a topic sentence and then provide details. For example, you may ask them why they should get time on the television, why it's important for them to do their homework, what three things they like about their new video game, etc.

Also, we have been concentrating on "Noting Details". This includes understanding that an author uses details in their stories to help the reader understand the importance of certain details. We have completed a variety of activities on pulling out the details using a web-format. For example, we would read a story or even just a paragraph and then put the character/item's name in the center. We then listed everything that we could about what we had learned from the author's story.


 * Summary:** When asked to do a summary, students need to pull the main ideas/events from the text.

 New format for short response!!!! ... is similar to the OOTTS, called "Boxes and Bullets" Student puts a box at the top of the page and writes in this box their topic sentence. Student places as many bullets as are needed in the middle section. For example if the story asks for two details the would draw two bullets. The last part is a box again where they restate the focus. Remember, this is for short response, so each category mentioned above will only be about one sentence.
 * Writing an Answer to a Question:**
 * Read the question carefully
 * Look for key words to help you decide what information the question is asking you for.
 * Use key words from the question in order to focus your answer
 * Give facts and examples that provide the information asked for.

Here is a sample of boxes and bullets:



In the OOTTS writing format the writer begins by introducing the topic, giving some general information and then listing three things they will write about within the body of their story. The first paragraph begins with a topic sentence and then gives 3-5 sentences of supporting ideas. Remember that everything within this paragraph stays focused to the topic sentence. This is repeated for paragraphs two and three. In the "S" paragraph - Summary - the writer restates the topic, perhaps pulls one most interesting piece of information out of the body of the text, and then restates the three things written about.

Students are scored in five domains: focus, content, organization, style, and conventions. A copy of the state rubric is available by just asking!

Writing is a tricky topic to plan for as many times the stories take longer than expected to create. Following is an outline of what I would like to get done... However in my long term plans I think I am overestimating - much of our time will be spent on PSSA type problems in written responses to text. Where does the time go??

January
 * Journal Prompts
 * My Own Special Place - Narrative
 * Helping to Build Peace - Expository
 * Taking a Stand on Requiring Exercise and Nutrition Education - Persuasive
 * <span style="color: rgb(215, 25, 128); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The Case for or Against Extracurricular Activities – Persuasive