Genre-Specific Ideas
Nonfiction Favorite is One of "Kristina's Picks"
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
The Kid Who Invented the Popsicle is a collection of short, nonfiction passages written about the creators of everyday objects (e.g., high heels, Kleenex, pockets, etc.). This is a long-standing favorite mentor text for teaching nonfiction reading and writing to students in grades 3-12. [read more...]
Strategies to Teach Compare-Contrast
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
If someone says "Compare-Contrast," most of us envision the two overlapping circles of a Venn Diagram. But this graphic organizer only separates information between the two circles; which makes it hard to truly compare information between two items. A better alternative is the T-Chart. [read more...]
Persuasive Letters Lead to Argumentative Writing
Thursday, February 23rd, 2012
The CCSS outline expectations for the youngest writers to generate opinion pieces. Kindergarten students must be able to write "opinion pieces" where they "state an opinion or preference." For first grade, students must also "supply a reason for the opinion." [read more...]
Micro-Fiction Helps Make Every Word Count
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
How long does it take to tell a complete story? For students who love to write, many think the more words the better. However, we want our writers to communicate succinctly and clearly. We want every word to count. [read more...]
Argumentative v. Persuasive Writing
Wednesday, December 14th, 2011
When introducing argumentative writing to students, describe it as a debate on paper--with both sides represented by facts, evidence, and relevant support. It's similar to the closing arguments at the end of a Law & Order episode. [read more...]
How-to Writing is Real-Life Writing
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
As readers, we encounter how-to writing all the time. Whether it's trying a new recipe or driving to an unfamiliar destination, we value instructions that are clear and concise. Tackling this genre in the writing classroom is time well spent. [read more...]
