WRITING

 

 

 

We will be spending a lot of time on strengthening our writing skills this year!  All great writing begins with the construction of a great sentence. Therefore, focusing our attention on how to craft a quality sentence will spiral into discussions on word choice, organization, fluency, and mechanics.  We are highlighting organization, elaboration, and the use of transitions in each and every writing piece across the content areas.  

 

WORD STUDY: 
Every other week your child uses the patterns in words to complete word study activities.  Some are completed in class while others are for independent practice at home.   This is different than "spelling words" as they will not necessarily be assessed on words on their list but on words that follow the same vowel-consonant pattern.  Therefore, they will not have to "study" or "memorize" a specific word, but instead apply the same pattern to other words.  Some days, students will be writing sentences.  We use the term "WOW sentences" for students to recognize that there is a level of increased expectation that comes when you transition to FIFTH grade and ultimately, for the upper grades to come.  When your child has sentences for spelling homework, these are some questions you could ask your child.



 

1. Did you reread your sentences aloud?


2. Did you ask yourself how you could make a "good" sentence "better"?
 (REVISION)

3. Can you show me how you used context clues in your sentences?
 (TO SHOW YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WORD MEANS)

4. Can you show me what sophisticated verbs or adjectives you used?


5. Can you show how you answered questions like Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? in your sentences?  

                (when)       (who)             (what)                                 (where)          (how)      

Example:  Yesterday, we took a math test in the computer lab quietly

     (why)

because we didn't want to distract the class across the hall.

 

6.  Did you check your work for CUPS?  (CAPITALIZATION, USAGE, PUNCTUATION, SPELLING)

 

Paragraph/Essay Writing:  Students will be assigned writing on a random basis relating to content we are learning in class (i.e. Science topics, Social Studies, etc.) or asked to write a Book Buzz or other form of writing based on our Writing Workshop topics shown below.  Their goal is to formulate a main idea to write about and support it with detailed sentences.  Every paragraph should start with a topic sentence, followed by at least 3 detailed sentences, and a closing sentence.  Writers are encouraged to use a "hook" in the beginning of the paragraph to grab the reader's attention and vivid details that keep the reader engaged through visualization techniques, such as descriptive words or use of literary devices (similes, alliteration, onomatopoeia).  These writing techniques have all been taught in class and are revisited daily.  Writers may like to use the "hamburger template" as a guide to organize their paragraph.  All writing should be reviewed with C.A.R.E. and C.U.P.S.

 

*All research reports/assignments should follow the proper paragraph structure throughout.  

 

REVISING -making your work better    EDITING  -making your work correct

Change, Add, Rearrange, Eliminate      Capitalization, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling

 

    *Remember- When you think you're done, you've just begun...

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

At-Home Writing Tips


1. Shop with your child for a journal and have them write in it daily. Topics could be generated together, or ask us!


 

2.Have your child write a letter to a friend, or family member.


 

3. Play a game where you say or write the beginning of a story, and the other person adds to it...Keep alternating to

create an organized, yet whimsical story. 


 

4. Have your child help a younger brother or sister with their writing.


 

5. Play the sentence-stretching pyramid game. Draw a triangle and add four or five lines across it. In the smallest box (the tip) write a two word sentence: She eats. In the remaining boxes, keep adding details, until the longest box (the base) will have the best sentence yet!

Example: The young girl sits patiently on the concrete steps chomping on her chewy Cheetos while waiting for the school bus to arrive.

You could even create a way to earn points  by counting how many words were used in your sentences.