How Writers Work - Narrative

How Writers Work, the first writing unit, was created to introduce students to writing workshop, to the writing process, and to getting to know why writers write in the ways they do.

Students will:

• Think about what authors and illustrators are thinking and feeling when they write and draw
• Notice how authors incorporate personal experiences, emotions, and details to enhance readers’ experiences
• Focus on using uppercase and lowercase letters
• Understand how the writing workshop will function
• Discuss and share ideas presented in this unit

List & Labels - Informational

In this List and Labels unit, students will create lists and label books based on models. Younger students have success reading simple lists and labeling books and therefore have a natural curiosity about how to compose them.

Students will:

• Create illustrations that support text
• Make a plan for writing
• Ask important planning questions such as “How will this topic or idea look on the page?”
• Focus on using uppercase and lowercase letters, spacing between words and use action verbs

Personal Narrative - Narrative

Personal narratives are typically the easiest, most natural form of writing for children because the stories are already complete inside their minds, which enables the words to flow more easily onto the paper.

Students will:

• Consider audience and purpose
• Understand some stories are told in sequential order
• Name and use techniques of author’s craft from mentor text to include in their own writing
• Understand how authors slow down time by using details
• Paint vivid scenes and images
• Focus on using end punctuation and adjectives

FUN-ctional Writing - Opinion

Functional writing is an excellent genre for students to immerse themselves in because they are already involved with and surrounded by real examples everywhere they go.

Students will:

• Understand different formats of functional writing, including letters, lists, maps, charts, notes, etc., and the purpose of each
• Use pictures and words to bring places to life for readers
• Develop precise reasons to strengthen persuasive writing
• Focus on capitalization, proper nouns and comma usage