Grade by grade elementary mathematics expectations are clear cut. Grade by grade writing expectations are more subjective. Looking at the “English–Language Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools” one can see why it can be a challenge to figure out exactly what you want your students to accomplish this year. Notice the writing content standard [...]
You and your students have worked hard on writing all year… and now it’s time to make sure it gets all the credit it deserves. Sometimes mandated writing rubrics can have harsh consequences… because sometimes fantastic writing misses the mark when it comes to the rubric. The goal here is to not only to improve [...]
Often student writing is not held to the same high standard that student work is in many of the other subjects. Here are a few reasons why: 1. Writing is an art. There is not an “easy answer key” for the writing teacher. 2. The way writing is taught can often [...]
Paragraphs have unity and coherence. A paragraph has a single minded focus. There must be no information in the paragraph which does not serve that purpose. We call these “good paragraphs.” The best of the best are known as “perfect paragraphs.” But not all paragraphs are good… let alone perfect. In fact, it doesn’t take [...]
What is the goal of your writing instruction? • Is your instruction geared to helping your students become the next great American novelist? • Is your primary goal to make sure that your students never leave a dangling participle or slit an infinitive? • Do you hope to develop a passion for writing? • Is your goal to help [...]
Two Kinds of Writing Assignments for Student Essays and Reports 1. The topic has not been assigned. Students choose the topic. 2. The topic has been assigned. Students must follow the directions and stay on topic. Teachers must find the right balance between these two methods when giving assignments. These ideas will help when you do [...]
Research based report writing deals extensively with the organization of information and ideas. That’s a VERY, VERY important part of what “Pattern Based Writing: Quick and Easy Essay” teaches! After using “Pattern Based Writing: Quick and Easy Essay” your students will easily be ready for these “Fifteen Steps to Fantastic Research Reports!” (I’ve outlined the [...]
A Paragraph Beautifully Defined A paragraph is a collection of sentences with unity of purpose. A paragraph handles and exhausts a distinct topic. Alexander Bain – 1871 This description of a paragraph is about as good as it gets! Alexander Bain is also credited as having been the first person to have formally [...]
State Standards, Standardized Tests, and… Writer’s Workshop? In the real world of state standards and standardized tests, it can be a little difficult for a teacher to get their head around what Writer’s Workshop is. As long as I have been teaching there has been a continuing push towards making teachers more and more accountable [...]
Grammar, Vocabulary, Worksheets… NOT! Grammar, phonics… whatever my students need is what I want to teach. I can get as excited about the sound of a single letter as I can about an entire essay. Discovering the full beauty and interconnectedness of a particular subject is always fascinating to me. This beauty exists in even [...]