All The Write Pieces
Expository Writing in the Elementary Classroom
The 4Ws of the Writing Classroom
- Writing process: How writing is generated
- Writing traits: How writing works
- Writing workshop: The organizational routines of the writing classroom
- Writing modes: The purposes for writing
Today we'll focus on one mode - Informational
Expository - Informational
- To explain, describe or inform
Expository writing is NOUN driven.
Inform and tell why:
WRITE about something that you look forward to doing. Tell what you want to do and explain why you want to do it.
We'll examine how expository writing works
Don't correct their papers!
If we teach kids that it has to be perfect, we set them up for failure! It's developmentally inappropriate to expect elementary students to produce perfectly correct papers.
Writing is a process. Help them focus on one improvement at a time, so they can have time to practice.Students need to write every day and in every subject!
They don't need to produce a formal composition every day.
During one school year about 6 complete formal essays is enough. Students will work on many other pieces that are designed to practice their skills. They may or not ever take those all the way through the writing process to publish.
Give students choice instead of always giving them prompt!
Use pictures to inspire writing
Fake it 'til you make it!
The traits of writing can show students HOW to write.
The kids need to READ and be READ to!
Informational writing- what it is and what it isn't.
The piece's content
Mentor Texts
"Not Just Any Gum Tree"
Manfish: A Story of Jaques Cousteau
This book is a great model for finding a topic.
Lifetime The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives
Great example of how to take a unique approach towards a topic.
Take a closer look at Manfish
Hands-on brainstorming
Learn to use the rubric
Do you agree that would score a 1 on our rubric?
Mini-lesson for Narrowing the Topic
Here's a link to resources that we used during an afterschool "camp" to assist kids with narrowing the topic:
How does this one score on the rubric?
MENTOR TEXTS
Don't you love that title?
Listen to the lead for this book:
Check this one out for the transitions:
Sharks by Seymour Simon
Any books by Seymour Simon will be great mentor texts for expository writing.
Text Structure
Try this:
2. One way I know it. (How & Why CAFE)
3. Another way I know it. (How & Why CAFE)
4. My opinion
Teach them to steal!
Ruth Culham, author of The Writing Thief, says:
Please Be Safe Sign
Here's a link to a lesson in which my students added voice to a shopping list:
Create a Connection with the audience:
This one is a good example of taking a risk ...
Trading Cards
Students could create trading cards for historical figures, authors or famous athletes to practice using specific & accurate information.
Listen to the word choice from BIG CATS:
by Seymour Simon
Pitchforking:
More techniques to try:
Taboo Word Challenge
Here's a link to that lesson and a few others for word choice: