Writing Across the Curriculum Creating Successful Students through Nonfiction Writing Shanna

Alice Greiner

Writing makes the invisible, visible.

Writing is difficult.. Writing takes too long to grade.. Many teachers do not consider themselves good writers.. If writing is so important, why don’t teachers use it more often in the classroom.

Strategies

TAK Strategy #1

Read and Analyze the Prompt T A K Topic – Identify the topic. Audience – Identify to whom you are writing. Key Words – Identify the words that clarify the directions.

Read and Analyze the Prompt T A K

Many people enjoy riding bicycles. While it can be fun and certainly is good exercise, some safety issues exist. Write a paragraph explaining three important bike safety rules students your age should follow. Topic - Audience - Key Words - Bike safety rules Students your age Paragraph, three rules, explain Health

Many famous people are associated with the Civil Rights Movement. Identify four individuals most historians consider to be heroes from that time in American history. Explain who they are and what their contributions were to this era. Topic - Audience - Key Words - Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement None identified Four individuals, explain, contributions History

Tell me the stages of a butterfly. Topic - Audience - Key Words - Stages of a butterfly The teacher Tell, stages, butterfly Science

In one paragraph, explain to your shoulder partner why you must multiply the fraction by its reciprocal in this problem. Topic - Audience - Key Words - Multiplying the reciprocal of the fraction Shoulder partner Explain, why, multiply, reciprocal, paragraph Math

Post-It Parking Lot Strategy #2

Brainstorm Many people enjoy riding bicycles. While it can be fun and certainly is good exercise, some safety issues exist. Write a paragraph explaining three important bike safety rules students your age should follow. Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Write a different bike safety rule on each Post-It.

Have the students place the Post-Its on the board. Guide students in organizing and categorizing ideas. Read them aloud, and invite students to jot down any ones they like. Ask the students to choose the three rules they feel are most important.

Discuss How could this strategy be used with the history prompt?

Traffic Signal Strategy #3

Organize through Color Coding GO – Topic Sentence SLOW DOWN – Big Ideas STOP – Tell me more GO BACK – Concluding Sentence

Expanding with Sentence Strips Topic Sentence Detail Big Idea Detail Big Idea Detail Concluding Sentence

Sentence Starters Strategy #4

Topic Sentence Starters DeclarativeStatistic InterrogativeSituation/ Stance Bike Safety Rules Bike safety rules are important. Following three simple rules can help you stay safe on a bike. How can you stay safe on a bike? If you want to stay safe on a bike, follow these three rules.

Discuss How could this strategy be used with the math prompt?

Expanding with Sentence Strips How can children stay safe on their bikes? Detail Big Idea Detail Big Idea Detail Clearly, if you want to stay safe on a bike follow these three rules.

Expanding with Sentence Strips How can children stay safe on their bikes? Detail One important rule is to always wear a helmet. Wearing appropriate shoes while riding is also important. Detail Finally, it is important to signal turns. Detail Clearly, if you want to stay safe on a bike follow these three rules.

Expanding with Sentence Strips How can children stay safe on their bikes? It’s not enough to just have it on your head; it must be buckled snugly. One important rule is to always wear a helmet. Wearing appropriate shoes while riding is also important. If they have laces, make sure they are tied tightly. Remember, absolutely no flip-flops on a bike. Finally, it is important to signal turns. Hand signals will alert drivers to a cyclist’s next move. Clearly, if you want to stay safe on a bike follow these three rules.

Discuss What might the sentence strip pattern look like with a five paragraph paper?

What’s wrong with this picture? How can children stay safe on their bikes? It’s not enough to just have it on your head; it must be buckled snugly. One important rule is to always wear a helmet. Wearing appropriate shoes while riding is also important. If they have laces, make sure they are tied tightly. Remember, absolutely no flip-flops on a bike. Finally, it is important to signal turns. Hand signals will alert drivers to a cyclist’s next move. Clearly, if you want to stay safe on a bike follow these three rules.

Power Flower Strategy #5

Improve Word Choice important

key valuable essential paramount significant vital critical Unusual Specific Picture Painting

How can children stay safe on their bikes? It’s not enough to just have it on your head; it must be buckled snugly. One important rule is to always wear a helmet. Wearing appropriate shoes while riding is also critical. If they have laces, make sure they are tied tightly. Remember, absolutely no flip-flops on a bike. Finally, it is vital to signal turns. Hand signals will alert drivers to a cyclist’s next move. Clearly, if you want to stay safe on a bike follow these three rules.

Paragraph Analysis Strategy #6

Revise and Edit # of Sentences First Word # of Words End Marks The

CUPS Strategy #7

Revise and Edit C apitalization U sage P unctuation S pelling..... C P/S U. capitalization error Punctuation and spelling error usage error

Grading Word Processing, Online Writing Programs, and Rubrics

Word Processing. Speed up the writing process. Correct careless mistakes. Create a form that is easy to read. Use less paper

Online Writing Programs. Speed up the writing process. Acts as an online tutor. Correct careless mistakes. Create a form that is easy to read. Use less paper. Grades student work

Rubrics. Allows students to understand the requirements of the task. Speeds up the grading of student work. Makes grading an objective process

Questions or Comments