Student's Can Right If You Give Them a Chance Write Student's Can Right If You Give Them a Chance Eric Cohen Books 2005

What do we look for in good writing? Mechanics: capitalization, spelling, punctuation, legible handwriting Language use: correct order, tense agreement, number and function - articles, pronouns, prepositions, meaning not obscured by grammatical errors Vocabulary: uses correct words - variety - appropriate word for topic Organization: sequencing, topic sentence, body, conclusion Content: main idea - details - knowledge of subject Eric Cohen Books 2005

Getting them to write Use their background knowledge Use pictures they recognize Use series of pictures that tell a story Make up different stories with different outcomes from pictures – elicit ideas from them Read stories to them Teach them to how to use a dictionary Guide them – one step at a time – don’t assume Eric Cohen Books 2005

When writing expect: complete, clear and organized sentences correct grammar good spelling relevant vocabulary chunks of language / vocabulary use the dictionary Eric Cohen Books 2005

Vocabulary and Writing Basics = numbers, colors, cognates, classroom, homes, travel, communication, environment, current events Prepositions + = in, on, under, up, down, over, above, the, a, some, many Singular - plural = dog / dogs : picture / pictures : baby / babies Chunking = on the chair, under the desk, in the tree Eric Cohen Books 2005

Grammar and Writing Basic grammar chunks = There are / There is He / She / It has : They have He is / She is / It / They are I /He/She was : You/We/They were Proper Noun Substitutions = Dan is home. / He is home. Connectors = and / or / but Chunking = There are some / There is a/an Present Tenses = sit / sits – am/is/are +ing Past Tenses = was / were – walk/walked – write/wrote Future Tense = will ride Perfect Tenses = has / have seen Eric Cohen Books 2005

What can you do? Read – Read – Read Write examples on the board Always have the students answer and write in complete sentences. Lots of sequencing activities Teach – beginning / middle / end Give them lots of guided-writing activities Give each student a chance to do every writing assignment a second time - correct their mistakes. Give each student a list of general writing rules. Prepare a poster of these rules for the class. Eric Cohen Books 2005

Have fun with writing Show / describe / write / read – You write, then they copy. Introduce poetry Create comic strips /stories/ dialogues (scripts) Write radio news / weather script Write and/or present plays Eric Cohen Books 2005

Using Poetry Rain by Shel Silverstein I opened my eyes And looked up at the rain, And it dripped in my head And flowed into my brain, And all that I hear as I lie in my bed Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head. I step very softly, I walk very slow, I can't do a handstand-- I might overflow, So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said-- I'm just not the same since there's rain in my head. Eric Cohen Books 2005

What do you see? Eric Cohen Books 2005

red, book, red, notebook, red, lamp, skates, pink, chair I see. . . I see a girl with a _______ shirt. I see a blue _______________. I see a _______________ chair. I see pink _________________. I see a _________ __________. I ___________________________. red, book, red, notebook, red, lamp, skates, pink, chair Eric Cohen Books 2005

What are they talking about? Eric Cohen Books 2005

What do you say to a new friend? Complete the conversation Hi! I’m Dan. What is your name? I’m _______ years old. How old are you? I live in _____________. _________________________? Yes, I have 2 brothers and 1 sister. How many_________________? Thanks, I’d like that. ________________________. Hi! My name is _____Anya__. I am _______ years old. Where___________________? I live in _____________. ___________________________? I have ____ brothers and ____ sisters. Do ___________________________? What time? _______________________ Eric Cohen Books 2005

You can also teach that. . . writing is a form of self-expression. writing is a form of visual art. writing is a form of developing imagination. writing is . . . ECB Online - http://www.ecb.co.il/ecbonline/resources/writelit.html Adventure Club Stories Eric Cohen Books 2005