Transitions, or linking words, help readers navigate the text. When students use them, writing flows. For beginners, provide a list of terms. As they become more proficient, ask them to…
Varying sentences improves style. When kids feel finished with their writing, it’s time to shake things up. First, begin every sentence in a paragraph differently. Second, vary sentence types. For…
Elaboration can really strengthen persuasive writing. Let’s take a look at three ways to teach it. As an easy first step, ask kids to add examples. When they get the…
Word choice improves persuasive writing! When kids use specialized vocabulary, their writing becomes more credible. How can your students ramp up their persuasive power? Ask them to develop specialized word…
Persuasive writing structure is strong and straightforward. Begin with an opinion. Add three strong, supportive reasons. End with a call to action. When third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade…
Persuasive paragraph perfection can be achieved. Just teach in four chunks: structure, ideas, sentences, and words. For best results, model the process. Don’t be afraid to write in front of…
Halloween writing prompts are fun! Just ask kids about carving pumpkins. Soon they’ll be planning and penning the step-by-step process. This writing activity works well for third and fourth grade…
Teach how to write fables first! Begin your narrative writing unit with these classic tales. Kids choose a moral, think of a situation that will teach it, and develop animal…
With the hamburger paragraph analogies, kids can write better informational text. First, gather three or four closely related details. This is the meat of the sandwich. Second, slip the “meat”…