Strengthen arguments with counterclaims When introducing students to the counterclaim, answer two important questions: How do you write the counterclaim? Where do you put the counterclaim within the overall writing? Duration: 4:15 | Grades...
Equip students to attack prompts independently As teachers anticipate upcoming state assessments, a common source of anxiety is the longer, extended responses students must produce after reading one or more passages. However, Without direct instruction on HOW to...
Plan problems into narrative stories Kid-created pieces often have characters who are walking and talking inside of detailed settings. However, they lack a plot! In order to have a plot, someTHING has to happen to someONE. This conflict is what makes a story engaging!...
Pre-write in 2 steps with the ABC Chart Graphic organizers and outlines, when used alone, presume the student knows what he wants to say and where he wants to say it—at the same time. A more universal strategy to help students cultivate and organize ideas is the ABC...
Overcome “listy” writing with idea development Long writing does not necessarily equate to strong writing. As we encourage students to write more, add details, and make their pieces longer, we must distinguish between writing that is long and “listy” versus that which...
