Unit of Study: Fiction Writing

This is a link to a great write up about one of Lucy’s units of study:  fiction.  I am always searching for references to Lucy’s units since many of the teachers I work with use the units as a resource. 
http://bestbookihavenotread.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/unit-of-study-fiction-writing-grades-3-5/

Essay Writing Ideas

Many schools are using Lucy Calkins’ materials and Units of Study.  One of her units includes an essay unit.  Jim Trelease has a site that includes a weekly essay.  It is awesome!  http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/essay-of-week.html  
I am always looking for resources.  This is another site of wonderful resources for us.

Lucy Calkins Writing Kits

 
http://literacybytes.com/  A wonderful site as a Grade 3-5 staff implements Lucy Calkins kits in their building.

Have you shared your idea yet?

writingfix lesson linked here Writing Fix has invited all teachers of writing to share their ideas for this book at their website. Have you? This is the book I used over 15 years ago with my students.
Written By Roni Schotter Illustrated By Kyrsten Brooker, 1997, Orchard PaperbacksISBN: 0531071367
The teacher reads the book, then leads a [...]

Small Moment Writing Lesson

1. Teacher reads the wonderful picture book, Rollercoaster by Maria Frazer. This story adds many specific, exact details in writing to a small moment story. Anyone who has ridden a rollercoaster will recognize this perfect description of a rollercoaster! This is a small moment story. 2. Teacher discusses the importance of adding specific [...]

Strong Emotion Writing Minilesson

Stacey at Two Writing Teachers wrote an awesome writing minilesson about strong emotions. Here is the link. Do you love the candy Skittles? Stacey combines candy and writing into an awesome lesson.
Stacey’s Strong Emotions Minilesson link

Don Murray Writing Quote

Don Murray wrote “I write to know what it is I didn’t know I knew!”
I remember as I wrote my book with Pat Cunningham, Beyond Retelling, this quote was stuck on my computer. I would send a chapter to her. She would send it back with very important questions. I would write what I didn’t [...]

Writing with second graders

Lynn Reichle and her second grade writers using the Teacher’s College Writing Workshop Style. It is exciting seeing Lynn teaching her kids and interacting with her kids. This is a quick paced picture into the classroom.
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=b3ec808b388ea6cb8814

A picture triggers a 1000 words

Over at Two Writing Teachers link about Collecting Ephemera Ruth wrote about her students bring stuff in to add to their writing journals to trigger writing. This triggered memories for me about how I started my writers out with Topic Development using Photography.
I believe that students own responsibility for topic development and teachers need to [...]

Writing Process with a Prompt

Oneteacher tube video prompt 1
Twoteacher tube video 2
Threeteacher tube video 3
Fourteacher tube video 4
Fiveteacher tube video 5