1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. What do you see?
Eric Cohen Books 2005

11. 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

12. What are they talking about?
Eric Cohen Books 2005

13. 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

14. 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 -
Adventure Club Stories
Eric Cohen Books 2005