Writing about a Canoe Trip

Three Days on a River In a Red Canoe by Vera B. Williams
Many times, teachers ask students to keep a journal on a holiday.  Sometimes a student decides to keep a journal about a special trip.  Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe helps students understand how to keep a journal, what it [...]

Topics: Brainstorming more topics

I also ask have any of you ever been in kindergarten. What’s your teacher’s name, write it down. What do you remember the most. I usually tell them something I remember from kindergarten. Have any of you ever been in first grade? Etc. What about second? Have you ever had a field trip? What was [...]

Writing Mini-Lessons Topics: What do you know about?

Help the children list what they know about. Give them classifications (pets, family members, school kids, friends, field trips, zoo, Walmart). They can record possible writing ideas on the front of their writing notebook, on a colored piece of paper, whatever the teacher wishes.

Writing Questionnaire for Parents to Fill Out

An Example questionnaire to send home requesting that the parents help generate a list of topics that the child has experienced in his or her lifetime.
Your child is writing every day in our classroom. 60% of children learn to read their own writing before learning to read other people’s writing. To help your child’s reading [...]

Brainstorming Topics

On one color paper or a 12 inch x 18 inch paper (big) brainstorm possible topics.
First, the teacher lists lots of broad, general topics on board with input from the class and reads them to class. (transportation, vacations, family, school, favorite places, special people, pets or favorite animals, church, home, relaxation, family members, school kids, [...]

Expert List: Topic Development

To mobilize a student to write, have a conversation with the student. “I don’t got nothing to say.” Let’s make a list of what you’re an expert about. “I’m not an expert about anything ………..TV that’s all. ….. and baseball.” Maybe he mutters, “almost got a home run.” In just one hit? Tell me about [...]