Posts in Writing Mini-lessons
Beat Writer's Block: A Brainstorming Bonanza
Beat Writer's Block: A Brainstorming Bonanza

To me, learning how to brainstorm is a critical skill to advance the writing process.  Students genuinely need direct instruction and allocated time to practice how to brainstorm.  Without teaching this skill, students are likely to deem it fruitless, skip to outlining, and eventually find themselves in a writing rut. 

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Best Practices, The Writing Process, Writing Mini-lessonsGuest Userwriter's block, writing process Comment
3 Genres of Writing: Narrative, Creative Writing and Poetry
3 Genres of Writing: Narrative, Creative Writing and Poetry

Stay in the know! Read to find out how you can stay supported with incorporating genres of writing into your classroom! Gain support with Narrative Writing, Creative Writing and Poetry!

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Poetry, Writing Mini-lessons, Writing WorkshopGuest Userwriting activity, poetry, poetry lessons, narrative writing, creative writing, creative, writing genres, writing mini-lesson, Writing block, writing poetry, elementary, elementary writing, writing in elementary, mini writing lesson, mini-lesson, mini lesson, writing mini lessonComment
Narrative Writing Mini-Lesson: Narrow Focus
Narrative Writing Mini-Lesson: Narrow Focus

A HUGE mistake I see many Elementary writers make is trying to write a story about a topic that’s too broad. Instead of focusing on a small slice or seed of the story, they try to cover EVERYTHING that happened from when they woke up to when they went to bed. Here is a mini-lesson that will help your students narrow their focus to a specific event.

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FREEBIES, Writing Mini-lessons, Writing Workshop, The Writing Process, Modes of Writing, Best PracticesGuest Userelementary writing, writing mini-lesson, writing mini lesson, writing in elementary, 2nd grade writing, 3rd grade writing, 4th grade writing, 5th grade writing, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th gradeComment
Interactive Writing Notebooks: Creating a "Space-Saving" Reference Section
Interactive Writing Notebooks: Creating a "Space-Saving" Reference Section

Including a reference section in student writing notebooks is essential! Read to learn more about ways to set up the resource reference section and to gain suggestions on types of resources to include. Students will become more independent writers when writing skills and strategies are at their fingertips!

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Best Practices, Editing and Revision, The Writing Process, Writing Mini-lessons, Writing WorkshopGuest Userwriting notebooks, writing strategies, writing tips, writing journals, interactive writing notebook, writing process, writing workshop, workshop, struggling writers, writing support, writing in elementary, writing, back-to-school, back to schoolComment
Help Your Students A.C.E. Response to Text Writing
Help Your Students A.C.E. Response to Text Writing

In order for students to learn to effectively write responses to text, we must teach them how to cite evidence and explain it. Here is an easy formula to teach students how to write an effective response to text. 

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Best Practices, Writing Mini-lessons, FREEBIESGuest Userelementary writing, writing in elementary, elementary, third grade writing, second grade writing, fourth grade writing, fifth grade writing, sixth grade writing, writing activity, writing practice, response to text, responding to text Comment
Writing Engaging Leads for Narrative Writing
Writing Engaging Leads for Narrative Writing

Grabbing and holding the reader's’ attention is what makes or breaks a story. I don’t know any teachers who get excited to read 30 narratives that begin with the same boring opener. I have taught 2nd - 6th grade and I expect more from my students. The lead is an important element of the story and should take effort and thought.

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Descriptive Writing Lesson - A Winter Setting
Descriptive Writing Lesson - A Winter Setting

One area of narrative writing that my students continue to need practice is with elaborating details. When my students write to tell a story, they generally want to get the information out in the shortest way possible. Getting them to stop the story and elaborate on details is often a challenge. Adding descriptive details is a learned skill in which students need to be given support and lots of practice.

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FREEBIES, Holiday Writing, Writing Assignments, Writing Mini-lessonsGuest Userdescriptive writing, winter writing, narrative writing, elementary writing, writing lesson, writing activity, mini writing lesson, freebieComment