Writing Strategies for Reluctant Writers

Writing Strategies for Reluctant Writers Paula Freiermuth Osseo ABE Summer Institute August 2012

Reluctant Writers

Some solutions • Multiple opportunities for unevaluated writing to increase comfort • Scaffold to build confidence • Choose areas to evaluate

Activities to Encourage Writing • 2-minute Write • Picture/Write • Write about a Picture • Round Robin • Alphabet Lists • On-Board Editing

Journaling

The 4C’s of Sentence Writing • Categorize • Correct • Complete • Create

Step 1—Introduce the pattern • And, but, or, so, for, yet, nor • A comma must go between the two simple sentences when you use one of the seven conjunctions. • The rain stopped, so we still had our picnic. • Mary wanted to go to the movie, but Fred wanted to go to the ball game.

Step 2—Categorize Circle the conjunction in each of these sentences. • Sandy was going camping, but his car didn’t work. • He considered borrowing a car, but his friend wanted to buy a car. • A truck would do, or a van might be a possibility.

Step 3—Correct Add punctuation to these sentences if needed. • Ken went to the store and to the library yesterday. • Mrs. Smith is going to the mall but she is not going to buy anything. • We hiked in the forest so we feel very tired.

Step 4—Complete Complete the following sentences with an independent clause. • Sally likes coffee, but • Mary lives in Florida, • The storm was over

Step 5—Create Write five compound sentences about school. One for each of the following conjunctions—and, but, or, so, yet • Ex. My job is being a teacher, but I also like being a student.

Paragraph Writing • What do I write about? • How do I get started? • What should it look like? • I wrote it, I don’t have to read it.

Paragraph writing activities • Paragraph Sorts • Writing Recipe • Finish It

Finish It Topic sentence: Polar bears have unique bodies that help them live in the harsh weather of the Arctic. • weight up to 1,800 pounds • body fat keeps them warm • white fur protects from winds • white fur helps them hide in the snow • have five long sharp claws on each paw • use claws to walk safely on ice

Student Example 1 Polar bears have unique bodies that help them lived in the harsh wealther of the Arch They are animals that have to be in the cold. The white fur on polar bear help keep them warm, and protect them from winds It has a long sharp claws one ach paw. They used their paw to fine food and keep safe. Polar bears have planty of hair and body fat that keep them warm. and weight up to 1,800 pound. they are very heavey animals.

Evaluating Student Writing • Limit what you evaluate • Student self-evaluation • Conferencing • Rubrics

Student Example 2 Polar bears have unique bodies that help them live in the harsh weather of the artic. Polar bears weight up to 1,800 pounds, and use clawse to walk safely on ice. They have five long sharp claws on each paw, the body fat keeps them warm. The white fur helps them hide in the snow and from winds. That’s why the Polar bears have unique bodies that help them to live in the harsh weather of the Artic.

Writing Strategies for Reluctant Writers