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 processpre-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 LANGUAGE: 29 activities like Invasion of the Letter Snatchers and Batting Champ guide students into the fun of writing through words, phrases & sentences.
PARAGRAPH WRITING: 33 activities, including Outrageous Description and Captain Hook, offer experience in creating paragraphs, using the steps of the writing process.
SIMPLE ESSAYS: My Hero and 21st Century Inventions and 40 other activity pages give instruction and practice in composing simple essays.
MORE COMPLEX ESSAYS: 42 activities provide more advanced essay subjects and construction, including some business and technical subjects such as Making Better Schools and Music! Music! Music!
PERSONAL LETTERS: 30 activities such as A Buddy in Space and News from Home help students enjoy writing simple personal letters.
BUSINESS LETTERS: Job applications, letters of complaint, and other activities, 34 in all, such as Radio Station Rock 106 and Summer Cash, give students practice in writing business letters.
CREATIVE WRITING: 31 activities with titles like Whats Happening? and Irresistible Beginningsprovide instruction and practice in writing descriptions, dialogue, characterization, and plots for stories.
VARIETY PACK: The final 31 activity pages present a variety of writing activities including journals (Who Am I?), journalism (Chasing the News), poetry (Flower Power), and more.
In short, youll find this innovative resource provides a wealth of stimulating activities to give your students the directed practice they need to learn to write clearly and competently and in a form all ready to copy as many times as you need them for use with individual students, small groups or an entire class!
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.
About This Resource.
Unit One: Playing With Language.
Examples: "The Timid Turtle (Fill-In Story)," "Contrary Mary," "Icky Squirmy," "Additional Alliteration," "Creating Critters".
Unit Two: Paragraph Writing.
Examples: "Scrambled Paragraphs," "Captain Hook," "Paragraph Seeds," "Stop That Chop," "Too, Too Much".
Unit Three: Simple Essays.
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.
Examples: "Great Friends," "Who Collects Stamps?" "The Amazing Man From Milwaukee," "A Perfect World".
Unit Five: Simple Letters.
Examples: "Friends Across the Miles," "Guess What I'm Doing," "Dear Owner," "Dear Twentieth-Century Folks".
Unit Six: Business Letters.
Examples: "You've Got a Complaint!" "I Can Help," "Dear Box Number," "Team Business Manager," "Summer Cash".
Unit Seven: Creative Writing.
Examples: "Building Blocks," "Feeling Fine," "Say What?" "Irresistible Beginnings," "A Day in the Life of the Sillies"
Unit Eight: Variety Pack.
Examples: "Rhyme Time," "Feeling Happy/Feeling Sad," "Chasing the News," "Classroom Flash," "An Interview With Who?"