Writing Fundamentals Slides for teachers to add to their presentation for Back to School Night. Danielle Meekings K-5 Literacy Coach Chester Public Schools

What is Writing Fundamentals Chester Public Schools has adopted a new Writing Program, Writing Fundamentals, published by Schoolwide for grades 2-5. Aligns to the Common Core State Standards for English and Language Arts and address the instructional shifts for teaching ELA. Writing in three genres for all grades levels: Narrative Informational/Explanatory Opinion

The Writing Workshop Model Mini-lesson: Demonstrate the skills and strategies through explicit whole-class instruction Independent Writing Time and Teacher Conferencing: Students write independently. They practice or try out what was modeled in the mini-lesson and make decisions about their writing. Teachers confer with students individually or in smalls groups to help the writer move forward. Group Share: Class gathers back together and students share writing and reflect on the ideas presented.

The Writing Process Immersion Generating Ideas Selecting Collecting Drafting Revising Editing Publishing

Grade 2 Writing How Writers Work: Launching Unit Establishes routines for the workshop model, view mentor texts and see that authors use experiences from their lives as a basis for writing. Personal Narrative: Narrative Unit Personal narratives tell the stories of our lives. They will write a narrative story in sequential order and will learn elaboration techniques that will help enhance their stories. Gail Gibbons, Non-Fiction Author Study: Informational/Explanatory Unit Writers will explore the works of this author, compare and contrast different writing formats, and will conduct age-appropriate research on a self selected topic. Letter Writing: Opinion Unit Writers will examine the features of different kinds of letters, learn to write various types of letters and will share opinions and offer supporting reasons. resource for Writing Fundamentals Literacy Coach, Dickerson/Bragg Schools

Grade 3 Writing How Writers Work: Launching Unit Establishes routines for the workshop model, view mentor texts and see that authors use experiences from their lives as a basis for writing. Patricia Polacco Author Study: Narrative Unit This author is the consummate story teller who draws upon family history and ritual for many of her tales. Personal narratives tell the stories of our lives. Writers will study her craft to help broaden their writing and publish and personal narrative of their own. Non-Fiction: Informational/Explanatory Unit A non-fiction book can be a reference book, or it can share information through a story. Writers will discover the features of NF writing; fact based, informative purpose, uses data and specific details, compiles research, uses visuals and content specific vocabulary. Writers will conduct age-appropriate research on a self-selected topic. Biography: Opinion Unit Biographers write about people who interest and inspire them. Writers will explore the features of this genre and how different biographers present important events, accomplishments, struggles, character traits and how they use word choice and to convey their admiration or opinion of the person. resource for Writing Fundamentals Literacy Coach, Dickerson/Bragg Schools

Grade 4 Writing How Writers Work: Launching Unit Establishes routines for the workshop model and view mentor texts and see that authors use experiences from their lives as a basis for writing. Cynthia Rylant Author Study: Narrative Unit Writers will view mentor texts by this author and learn how an author’s craft can broaden their own writing. The writers will produce narrative piece from their own life experience to produce a sequential piece of writing with different elaboration techniques. Non-Fiction: Informational/Explanatory Unit Writers will learn how nonfiction writers think, research topics and convey ideas and information clearly. Writers will conduct age-appropriate research on a self-selected topic. Feature Article with Editorial: Opinion Unit Feature articles are informative, explanatory pieces that profile people, examine a topic, analyze events or explore trends. Writers will read and analyze the characteristics of feature articles and then publish a clear and coherent feature article of their own. resource for Writing Fundamentals Literacy Coach, Dickerson/Bragg Schools

Grade 5 Writing How Writers Work: Launching Unit Establishes routines for the workshop model and view mentor texts and see that authors use experiences from their lives as a basis for writing. Memoir: Narrative Unit A memoir is short recounting of a portion of person’s life. Writers will identify how authors use their own life experiences and interests to generate memoirs; discover the features of memoirs, such as reflection and sharpening the focus to brief period of time. They will publish their own memoirs while studying mentor texts. Biography: Informational/Explanatory Unit Biographers often select people who interest and inspire them. This unit focuses on purpose, audience, research, integrating facts and opinions and well-crafted language. Essay: Opinion Unit Essays can be written to explain, explore, or argue ideas on a specific topic. Writers will learn the features of and organizational form of essays. resource for Writing Fundamentals Literacy Coach, Dickerson/Bragg Schools