My Favorite Resource Books
for Teaching Writing
Teaching the Youngest Writers:A Practical Guide by Marcia S. Freemon
The Art of Teaching Writing by Lucy McCormick Calkins
A Fresh Look at Writing by Donald Graves
Writing : Teachers and Children at Work by Donald Graves
Craft Lessons by Ralph Fletcher
Writer's Workshop by Ralph Fletcher
Writing Mini-Lessons for First Grade by Hall, Cunningham & Boger {also editions for 2nd & 3rd grade}
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Additional Links
Creative Writing- First Grade Style!
An excellent example of the writing process in action. Check it out!
Making Books With Kids
Class Book Ideas
Class Books from CanTeach
Our Class Books from Our School Family
Mrs. Levin's Class Books
ABC Riddle Book- Mrs. Golubic
Collaborative Class Books from Hubbard's Cupboard
Young Writers Workshop-Prompts
Mr. Moore's Writing Process

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Mini-Lesson Ideas Here is a list of the mini-lesson topics I use frequently throughout the year. They are not necessarily in the order in which they are introduced or taught. Also, all topics are not covered every year. It all depends on the readiness and needs of the children and the "flavor" of the classroom community. Often a writing "skill" will be readdressed throughout the year. IAlso, remember the motto...model-model-model!

Choosing a Topic Where to Find Ideas Procedures Rules Steps in the Process Conferencing With a Partner Conferencing With the Teacher Sharing -manners -being a good listener -P-Q-S (praise/question/suggest) -asking questions -giving praise -making suggestions Illustrations Ways to Publish Genre -poetry (types of poetry) -riddles -news -reports -writing to inform -letters -autobiographies -biographies -picture books -writing to persuade -How-to Books -ABC Books -observations -interviews -book reviews -advertisements -mysteries -fairy tales -folk tales -tall tales -word problems -slogans -recipes Mechanics -spacing -letter formations -left-to-right -front-to-back About the Author Stories With Repetition Comparisons

Cause and Effect Other Ways to Say It (said, and) Adding Detail Capitalization -beginnings of sentences -I -names -proper nouns Punctuation -using a period -using a question mark -using an exclamation mark -quotation marks -commas Writing Complete Sentences Combining Sententes Rearranging Sentences Writing Paragraphs Sounding Out Words "Have a Go" (spelling) Where to Find Words -word wall -classroom dictionaries -personal dictionaries -ask a friend -theme charts -classroom labels Word Play -alliteration -onomatopoeia -idioms -homophones -"clippings" (shortened words) -"sniglets" (creating new words) -word pictures -compounds Descriptive Words -adverbs -adjectives Beginning-Middle- End Settings Characters Staying on Topic Sequence of Events Problem/Solution Who/What/Where/When/Why Leads

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Writing Prompts Writing prompts are another tool that can be useful in helping the children with their writing. I use them periodically along with free choice writing topics. Prompts are good for children when they say, "I don't know what to write about!" Also, there will be times when they are asked to perform a specific task in life. Prompts aid them in focusing to perform a task. Sometimes I give them all the same prompt, while at other times, I give them a choice between 2-3 prompts. My goal is to give them a variety of experiences with writing. The following is a list of prompts sorted by month. It is by no means a complete list. Writing prompts and topics are endless. here is a site with ideas as well CanTeach Wrotong Prompts

August & September

Over the summer I...
The best thing about summer was...
August needs a holiday! Write about a new holiday for August.
This year I would like to learn...
Write about some ways to make new friends this year.
Imagine that you are a school bus. What would you tell the children riding on you?
If there were no school rules...
Imagine you are a worm looking for the best apple. Write about the perfect apple for a worm.
Dogs are "man's best friend." What other animal would you pick to be "man's best friend." Why?

October

The best things about fall are...
My favorite orange things are...
If I were a spider I would...
Write a recipe for Monster Stew.
If I were a scarecrow I would...
If I were a squirrel I would hide my acorns...

November

If you were a turkey how would you convince people not to eat you for Thanksgiving dinner?
On Thanksgiving my family..
The best things about my family are...
My favorite Thanksgiving food is...
How to make a pumpkin pie.
If I were a hibernating bear I would dream about...
If you were a tree what animals would you invite to live in you in the winter?

December

My favorite thing about December is...
T'was the night before Christmas and ...
If I were a Christmas tree I would...
If I were a gingerbread child I would...
How to catch a gingerbread child.
Where would you go if you had a magic sleigh?
If you worked for Santa, what would your job be?
If I were and elf I would...
What would be the best present to give your parents?
I followed some strange tracks in the snow and...

January

My New years wish is...
If a snowman could talk he would... The best thing about snow is...
Would you rather be a penguin or a polar bear? Why?
When I woke up there was so much snow that...
The best thing about winter is...

February

When the groundhog came out of his hole...
If your teeth could talk what would they tell you?
If I were president...
What does the Tooth Fairy do with all the teeth she collects?
I gave my valentine to...
The best things about my friend are...
My Family.

March

My favorite Dr. Seuss book is...
The day it rained Oobleck!
If a peanut could talk ...
If I were a kite...
Imagine that everything turned green. What would you do?
If I found a pot-of-gold I would...
How to catch a leprechaun.
How to find a leprechaun.
If I caught a leprechaun I would...

April

Instead of raining "cats and dogs" it rained...
My favorite color in the rainbow is...
The easter Bunny was so tired he...
My favorite thing to do in the rain is...
I found a mysterious egg and...
My favorite thing about spring is...
If I were a tree...
I planted some strange seeds and...
How to catch a frog.
My favorite things to do outside are...
My Favorite Animal.

May

My favorite outside game is...
May 9th is backwards day. Tell 3 things you could do backwards.
If I was an insect I would ...
If I were a fluffy, white cloud I would...
My favorite things about this school year were...
My mother is special because...

June & July

Imagine you are an ant at a picnic. What would you do?
There was an enormous watermelon growing...
My favorite thing to do in the summer is...
Pretend you are a hermit crab looking for a new home. Where would you look and what would you do?
When it's hot I...
The best thing about my dad is...
If I were a 4th of July sparkler...
My favorite summer foods are...

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