1. By Mrs. Jacki Scholze

2. Hi, I’m Perky Pencil! I work in this school to help kids like you be better writers.

3. My big job is to help you think like a writer. Today I will help you think about Ideas.

4. The idea is the heart of your message or story.

5. Some writers start to plan with a picture… and others use a graphic organizer.

6. Your picture or graphic organizer should help you think of the details you want your reader to know.

7. After making a plan, writers start a sloppy copy. They must keep thinking about the idea of the story to make sure that the message makes sense.

8. It is important to have interesting details. Tell things that others might not know.

9. As you write, keep reading your story and ask yourself these questions...

10. What is my main idea? Do all of my details tell about my idea? Do I have enough information?

11. Good writers are always looking for new ideas. Keep a notebook of ideas and write your ideas down every day.

12. That’s all for now, friends. Remember…the best ideas of all are the ones you share with others.