K-5th- ADD ARTICLES HERE — TeachWriting.org

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.

Best Practices, Writing Mini-lessons, FREEBIESGuest UserMay 8, 2018elementary 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

Encyclopedia Memoirs: What they are and why they are the BEST way to end a school year

The end of the school year can be chaotic, so keeping students engaged and having fun is incredibly important. I have used the project detailed here every year I've taught and it never fails to keep students loving their school work and writing until the very end.

Writing ProjectAmanda WernerApril 17, 2018end of the year writing activity, end of the year writing reflectionComment

Public Service Announcements: A How-To Guide for Teachers

One of the ways I like to give my students voice to share their opinions is to have them create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) about something they are passionate about.

FREEBIES, Technology & WritingGuest UserApril 12, 2018persuasive writing, elementary writing, public service announcement, how to create a public service announcement, third grade writing, second grade writing, fourth grade writing, fifth grade writing, how to make a PSA, 3rd grade writing, 2nd grade writing, 4th grade writing, 5th grade writingComment

Student Collaboration Strategies for Writing Workshop

When the classroom expectation is that students will be collaborating about their writing and sharing what they wrote with others, they begin to take ownership in their written pieces. Learning how to effectively collaborate is a skill that must be explicitly taught, practiced, and then practiced some more!

FREEBIES, Best Practicesjeanine schneiderMarch 22, 2018writing workshop, collaborative writing, writing conference, freebie, anchor chart, writing lessonComment

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.

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.

FREEBIES, Holiday Writing, Writing Assignments, Writing Mini-lessonsGuest UserDecember 21, 2017descriptive writing, winter writing, narrative writing, elementary writing, writing lesson, writing activity, mini writing lesson, freebieComment

Thanksgiving Writing Activities to Develop Family Traditions

Spend some quality time learning, laughing, and talking as you share these Thanksgiving writing activities at your dinner table this holiday season.

Holiday Writing, Writing AssignmentsMeredith DobbsNovember 22, 2017writing assignments, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving writing, holiday writing, family, activities, writing extension, writing at homeComment

3 Ways to Motivate Writers: An Exclusive Interview with Teaching in Room 6

Stephanie Moorman from Teaching in Room 6 has been inspiring teachers and supporting student writers for two decades now. She has graciously agreed to share her best tips for motivating students to write here on teachwriting.org! Read this post to find out what Stephanie has to say about motivating students to write.

Best Practices, Philosophies on Writing, The Writing Process, Writing WorkshopAmanda WernerNovember 14, 2017elementary writing, elementary, writing process, writing structure, writing workshop Comment

Writing in the Elementary Classroom: An Interview with the Teacher Next Door

I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to interview Jenn Larson, also known as The Teacher Next Door, about her top tips for implementing a writing workshop in elementary and the relationship between reading and writing. Jenn has been teaching for over 20 years, and over the course of her career, she has developed strategies to help students produce their best pieces of writing and to help teachers navigate writing workshop.

Graphic Organizers vs. Creative Writing- Why Students Need Both to Improve Writing

I love graphic organizers. There is something about the organization and structure they provide. With regards to writing, there is often some debate about whether or not graphic organizers are appropriate for elementary school children. Some educators believe that writing should be totally creative and free flowing. However others believe students need support and structure with writing. In order to be successful writers, I believe students need exposure to both.

Best Practices, Philosophies on Writing, The Writing Process, Writing WorkshopGuest UserOctober 26, 2017writing tips, writing strategies, writing support, elementary writing, writing in elementary, 3rd grade writing, 2nd grade writing, 4th grade writing, graphic organizers, creative writingComment

Peer Writing in an Elementary Classroom

During the last couple years, I started to embrace collaborative peer writing strategies. You know the old saying, "Two heads are better than one?" Why should it be any different with writing? With a collaborative, peer writing culture in the classroom, students inspire each other, become exemplars, generate dynamic ideas, increase confidence, and become critical observers.

Best Practices, The Writing Process, Writing WorkshopGuest UserAugust 15, 2017peer writing, peer review, elementary writing, writing, writing tips, writing strategies, writing workshop, writers workshop, peer editing, collaborative writing, classroom culture, writing process, the writing processComment

Essential Elements for Setting Up an Elementary Writing Workshop

Back to school. A fresh start. A new year. Oh, the possibilities! In this post, I'll share some of my tips for setting up a writing block in elementary school.

Let’s get this year started right…with writing!

Best Practices, The Writing Process, Writing WorkshopGuest UserJuly 21, 2017Writing block, back to school, back-to-school, writing, writing strategies, writing tips, writing workshop, writers workshop, writing structure, writing warm-upComment

12 Strategies to Support Struggling Writers in Elementary

Just like our students, not all struggling writers are the same. Some students struggle with writing because they are stuck for ideas. You know the kid…the one who proclaims, “I don’t know what to write,” then shrugs and stares blankly at you. Those are also often the students getting up to get another drink of water and staring at a blank page. These students struggle with getting started and knowing what to write about.

Best PracticesGuest UserJune 21, 2017writing strategies, writing tips, writing, writing support, struggling writers, elementary writing, writing in elementary Comment

Supporting Writers At All Levels

Teaching writing can be overwhelming to the max! The variety of writing skills (not just six traits) students need to master and the multifaceted competencies our students exhibit can make your head spin! I'm not a fan of labeling students but over the course of ten years teaching writing there are some common characteristics I've come to find among students in my classes every year. Below is a list of these groups of students and strategies for supporting them!

Best PracticesAmanda WernerJune 20, 2017writing strategiesComment

End of the Year Writing Reflection

The Undiscovered Author Writing Reflection is a fun end of the year writing activity inspired by Playbill Biographies. During this writing project, students reflect on their writing assignments for the year. This writing reflection makes a great cover piece for student writing portfolios and they are very cute to hang up at Open House!

FREEBIES, Writing AssignmentsGuest UserMay 25, 2017writing, elementary writing, writing activity, end of the year writing, end of the year writing activity, end of the year writing reflection, writing reflection, writing projectComment

Writing Poetry with Science Content

I love how poetry blends writing and art. It is so beautiful and creative, yet often a challenge for young writers. I also enjoy taking two unrelated skills and marrying them together.

FREEBIES, The Writing Process, Writing Mini-lessons, Writing AssignmentsGuest UserApril 27, 2017poetry, cinquain poetry, poems, writing poetry, creative writing, science poem, fossil poetry, elementary poetry, poetry lessonComment

Poetry for Writing Workshop in Grades K-5: 10+Devices and Poems to Model Them All!

Many teachers and students are intimidated by poetry, including me! There is just so much you can do, it is a bit overwhelming. Some teachers might also feel that teaching poetry is just fluff. I completely disagree!

PoetryAmanda WernerApril 25, 2017poetry, poems, poetry lessonComment

5 Strategies to Build Confidence in Young Writers

5 Strategies to Build Confidence in Young Writers.

Yes, I love teaching writing. Helping young writers build confidence is one of my teaching passions. However, it's not because I am an amazing writer. In fact, it is quite the opposite: writing is one of my biggest challenges.

Best Practices, FREEBIES, Philosophies on WritingGuest UserMarch 23, 2017writing tips, writing strategies, writing fluency, writing endurance, writing processComment