Synopses & Reviews
Here are over 265 reproducible writing process activities that make writing fun for students in grades 4-8. Designed for minimal teacher input, activities are complete with directions written at the level of student understanding to help them master the writing process—pre-writing activities, including brainstorming alone or in groups, speedy writing of a first draft, revisions, and the final copy.
Organized into the following eight sections according to types of writing and level of difficulty, these ready-to-use lessons and activities are printed in a big 8-1/4" x 11" format that opens flat for copying:
PLAYING WITH
Synopsis
Over 265 stimulating activities that "turn students on" to writing, while guiding their practice in the writing process -- from prewriting and brainstorming, to first draft, revisions, and a final draft. Students get specific examples and step-by-step instructions that show them exactly how to write paragraphs, essays, letters, journals, and more. Best of all, students can complete all of these reproducible activities independently, with minimal direction from you!
About the Author
Carol H. Behrman has taught writing to students in grades 5-8 for more than 20 years. Author of numerous nonfiction books for children and young adults, she has conducted workshops on the writing process for students and teachers. In addition, Ms. Behrman is the author of three other resources on the writing process published by The Center, Hooked On Writing! (1990) Writing Activities for Every Month of the School Year (1997) and Writing Skills Problem Solver (1999).
Table of Contents
Preface ix
About This Resource xi
Unit One: Playing With Language 1
Examples: "The Timid Turtle (Fill-In Story)," "Contrary Mary," "Icky Squirmy," "Additional Alliteration," "Creating Critters".
Unit Two: Paragraph Writing 33
Examples: "Scrambled Paragraphs," "Captain Hook," "Paragraph Seeds," "Stop That Chop," "Too, Too Much".
Unit Three: Simple Essays 71
Examples: "I Didn't Know That Was There!" "One Hour in a Supermarket," "A Look at Me, Ten Years From Now".
Unit Four: More Complex Essays 115
Examples: "Great Friends," "Who Collects Stamps?" "The Amazing Man From Milwaukee," "A Perfect World".
Unit Five: Simple Letters 161
Examples: "Friends Across the Miles," "Guess What I'm Doing," "Dear Owner," "Dear Twentieth-Century Folks".
Unit Six: Business Letters 193
Examples: "You've Got a Complaint!" "I Can Help," "Dear Box Number," "Team Business Manager," "Summer Cash".
Unit Seven: Creative Writing 237
Examples: "Building Blocks," "Feeling Fine," "Say What?" "Irresistible Beginnings," "A Day in the Life of the Sillies"
Unit Eight: Variety Pack 275
Examples: "Rhyme Time," "Feeling Happy/Feeling Sad," "Chasing the News," "Classroom Flash," "An Interview With Who?"