Six-Trait Writing Resources

Five-Paragraph Essay Sites

Graphic Organizers

4th & 5th Grade Student Research Resources - Writing

 

ABC Books aren't for Babies Unit - Looking for some inspiration for an activity that will engage students -- from kindergarten to college -- while they learn? Why not challenge students to create their own ABC books? Included: More than 200 ABC book ideas -- spanning the grades and the curriculum!

Ace Writing - Incredible resource. Huge number of pages with writing information and guidance for kids in their language.

Apple Annie's Guide to Writing Resources on the Web - A HUGE resource that covers EVERYTHING writing related on the Internet. A MUST see site

 

Better Book Reports - Do you want to find a way to make book reports more fun and interesting for your students? That is the reason this site was produced. It contains various topics such as: Make a Book Report Sandwich, Book in a Bag, An Envelope, an Oatmeal Box...,and 23 other topics. Some of the topics will be familiar to you, but there are others that your students may enjoy doing. Unfortunately the frame advertising tends to be a distraction, but the content is text based and easily followed. Grades 2-7

 

Citing Internet Sources - The Columbia Guide to Online Style presents a guide to locating, translating, and using the elements of citation for electronically-accessed sources.

Citing Your Sources - Outstanding site written clearly. Has several links for other sites if more information is needed.

 

Collab-O-Write - Dianna Egger's ThinkQuest Winning site - Kent Junior High, Kent School District, WA - Section titles: Enter Your Own Story, Add to an Existing Story, Illustrate a Story, Write a Story from an Illustration, Writing Tips.

 

Composition & Writing Hotlist - A list of Internet resources. Includes: SpellWeb, Guide to Grammar and Writing, The Write Stuff, The Grammar Lady, Grammar Safari, Online English Grammar, Reader's & Writer's Resource Page, Children's Writing Resource Center, Online Resources for Writers, Inkspot, "The Elements of Style", and A Handbook of Terms for Discussing Poetry.

Curricular Resources in Writing - CLN (Community Learning Networks) Theme Pages are a mix of links providing curricular content (information, tutorials, lessons) with web sites that offer instructional materials (lesson plans, advice for teachers, tips). 

 

Discover Writing! With Barry Lane - Barry Lane, a nationally known author and speaker, believes writing and its teaching should be fun. His popular seminars and highly acclaimed books on writing provide teachers with quality training, which entertains as it inspires and informs. Come to this website for free writing lesson plans and more.

 

Dr. B's Online Writing Workshop - Site contains the essential elements for getting good exciting writing from your students. Some of the topics include: The Writing Process, Creative Story Writing (Creature Feature), Writing an Essay (Essay Organizer Template, and ARMS) and Revision Checklist, proofreading and editing symbols and thematic novel studies. Grades 4-12

Fan Letter - WebQuest - Writing fan letters can be fun and exciting because you never know if a famous football player or basketball player will send you a reply, an autographed photo, or who knows what! Everyone enjoys receiving mail so let's be sure the letter you send will be interesting and sincere to elicit a response from your favorite player. You are to select your favorite player from one of the NFL or NBA teams, compose, and write a letter to be mailed to this player.

Grade Learning Expectations - Federal Way School District Learning Expectations in all areas have outstanding resources. Choose from grades K-6 and these subjects: Writing, Reading, Math, Science, Communication, & Social Studies.

Guide to Grammar and Writing - Topics move from the sentence level to the essay level. It's a reference that helps with small details (punctuation) but also inspires you to overcome writer's block, avoid plagiarism, create persuasive written arguments & express yourself better. 

 

Journal Writing with Virginia Hamilton - Scholastic's online author writing program

 

"Kid Language" Writing Rubrics - Writing rubrics written in 8th grade "kid language" so that 8th graders (and their teachers) could understand them. Some license was used in creating these rubrics, in that I included elements such as writing in complete sentences and answering all parts of the question--elements that are not included in the standard writing rubrics, but are certainly implied. Includes: Writing to Inform, Writing to Persuade, Writing for Personal Expression

KidsClick! Composition - Resources selected by librarians for kids.

KidsClick! Letter Writing - Resources selected by librarians for kids.

KidsClick! Writing - Resources selected by librarians for kids.

KidsClick! Writing General - Resources selected by librarians for kids.

Language Arts - Elementary - Curriculum Units - INCREDIBLE writing resources for grades K-12.

 

Links to Writing on the Web - Links to various resources for writing on the web provided by the Young Writers Club. These links include other writing clubs and writing resources. 

 

 

Little Planet Times - This original web site encourages kids to read and write with The Little Planet Times, a newspaper created by and for kids. Top stories creatively present monthly themes, like conflict resolution. Readers can find out what's new in the "School Spotlight" or check out the Entertainment section for movie reviews or sports news. "Creative Corner" invites readers to view work of others or submit original poems, stories or artwork. Elementary level

Memaw's Creative Writing Corner - A wonderful resource with many writing ideas and lessons.

 

Monster Exchange - A FREE Online Standards-Based Writing Project Take your students on an amazing journey of imagination! The Monster Exchange is an outstanding project where a student in one classroom draws a monster, writes a detailed description of the creation, then e-mails the composition to a student in another classroom. Next, the student who receives the description draws the monster based on the description. Then both the original and the duplicate drawings are posted in the Monster Exchange Galleries for comparison. Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School

 

Midlink Magazine - Midlink Magazine is an electronic magazine for middle school students, ages 10-15, to share their writing and participate in interactive writing projects. It is published in four seasonal issues, each with a new theme, and includes themed projects, art, and "The Write Spot" writing center where students can submit writings and find interactive stories written by schools from across the globe. Read the past October/November Issue which features Letters to R.L. Stine and the following projects: Haikus, Multimedia Author Portfolios, and the Character Counts role model series. Also view ongoing projects throughout multiple issues.

 

My Hero - My hero is an interactive writing project, produced by the Fund for Innovative TV, in which real life heroes are honored and written about by students across the online world. Students can make submissions about their heroes, whether they be family members, teachers, friends, current public figures, or historical figures. Submissions can include text, audio, and graphics. Visit the Teacher Hero section for a refreshing look at how educators are serving as true role models for our students.

 

Paragraph a Week Program - Paragraph a Week is a yearly writing program designed to give your fifth- and sixth-graders practice with writing various types of paragraphs. In addition it reinforces good study habits and preparation of long-term assignments. Moreover, it involves parents in their child's Language Arts curriculum.

 

PIGS Space: Writing

PIZZAZ! Creative Writing and Storytelling Ideas - Dedicated to providing simple creative writing, poetry, and oral storytelling activities with handouts for use with students of all ages.

 

Purdue Online Writing Lab - Resource for educators interested in Online Writing Lab situations.

 

iTools: One-stop for Internet Tools - Search Tools - Find anything on the Web; Language Tools - Look up words or translate them; Research Tools - Find facts and theories about any subject; Financial - Tools Convert currency; Map Tools - See a map or get driving directions; Internet Tools - Use networking and web tools.

 

Scholastic's Writing With Writers - Scholastic's online author writing program

Biography Writing with Patricia and Fredrick McKissack

Folktale Writing with Alma Flor Ada

Journal Writing with Virginia Hamilton

Mystery Writing with Joan Lowery Nixon

Myth Writing with Jane Yolen

Poetry Writing with Jack Prelutsky

Poetry Writing with Karla Kuskin

Writing a Book Review with Rodman Philbrick

 

So you have to do a Research Project? - Start the year out right by giving 4th to 8th grade students information to help them complete a research project; access tips, worksheets, and resources that help build information literacy skills. Grades 4-8

Standards Based Curriculum Unit Lesson Plans from Poudre School District, CO - Outstanding unit lessons organized by subject areas and then grade level. Once you are at the grade level you can choose a lesson plan. It will take you to an abstract of that lesson and all the activities included in that lesson. If you like what you see and would like to see the entire lesson - simply click "Download Unit". Lessons are formatted in ClarisWorks 4.0.

 

Tips if you want to become a Writer - Gives some basic information to children who want to be Writers. If you want to be a writer, or even think you might want to be a writer, this is the place for you.

 

Young Author's Workshop - This web site provides 4-7th graders with a step by step guide through the writing process. This resource can be used by groups of students. There is a teacher resource page available.

 

Wacky Web Tales - Students can write a Wacky Tale or contribute to one.

 

Writing a Book Review with Rodman Philbrick - Scholastic's online author writing program

 

Writing - Apple Annie

Writing Plans from the Teacher's Desk - Outstanding resources currently being used in an intermediate classroom.

Writing Resumes & Cover Letters Theme Page - This CLN Theme Page has links to two types of resources. Students and teachers will find curricular resources to help them learn about this topic. In addition, there are also links to instructional materials (lesson plans) which will help teachers provide instruction in this theme.

Writing Tips: Paragraph Builder Writing Den - Includes: Parts of a Paragraph, How to Write a Paragraph, & Kinds of Paragraphs

 

Young Writers Club - This club aims to encourage children of all ages to enjoy writing as a creative pastime by getting them to share their work and help each other improve their writing abilities.

 

Zaner-Bloser: Writing Activities

 

ZuZu - Kids can contribute stories, poems, art, or pictures to this online newspaper for kids.

Five Paragraph Essay Sites

Five Paragraph Essay Slideshow - Color-coded for ease of teaching. We used this for the basis of the format we are currently using.

 

An Essay is Like a Journey - A helpful guide to spicing-up your dull five-paragraph essays. Includes a list of questions to ask yourself along the way. From the California State University.

  

 

Basic Guide to Essay Writing

 

Five-Paragraph Essay

 

Five Paragraph Essay

 

Five Paragraph Essay

 

Five Paragraph Essay Wizard - Tips on how to compose a five paragraph essay.

 

 

Going Beyond the Five-Paragraph Essay - Some great criticisms of the five-paragraph essay & its many limitations, from California State University.

 

Guide to Grammar & Writing

Handy Guide to Writing 5 Paragraphs - Clever use of the "hand" to remind students how to write the five paragraph essay.

How to write a Persuasive Essay - This is an excellent website that has a step-by-step unit of curriculum to teach students how to write a Persuasive Essay. The website is interactive, with 10 or more specific lessons/activities that can be downloaded for use either on- or off-line. Students learn the purpose of persuasive essays, the elements and structure of a persuasive essay, and how to critique and create a 5 paragraph persuasive essay. The writing steps begin with constructing individual statements for a persuasive essay, progress to single paragraph writing and work up to writing a complete 5-paragraph persuasive essay.

Ideas for Teaching Writing - Outstanding resources from Kim's Korner

 

Instructions For a Five-Paragraph Essay

 

Organizing, Editing, Revising, & Evaluating the Five Paragraph Essay - The Five Paragraph Essay The five paragraph essay is used as a test for writing proficiency, and is often a timed exercise.

 

Structure of the Five Paragraph Essay - A guide to mastering the five-paragraph essay, with links to examples. Part of Glendale Community College.

Trackstar - Writer's Workshop Resources

Six Trait Writing Resources

Ideas for Teaching Writing - Six Trait Analytic Writing Model - Writing has simply been divided into the six areas, or traits, that teachers value most: ideas and content, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and writing conventions.

 

Trackstar - Improve Your Writing: Choosing Vivid Words - Six Trait Analytic Writing Model - 3 sections: Using a Thesaurus - Six Trait Assessment Scoring Guide - Using Descriptive Words

 Language Arts - Six Trait Analytic Writing Model - Vancouver (WA) School District has developed some tremendous resources including 6-Trait rubrics.

Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory - Six-Trait Web Site - Six Trait Analytic Writing Model - Outstanding resource. This site has been built to support teachers, administrators, and other professional staff who have attended one of the 6-Trait Writing institutes sponsored by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL). 

Six Trait Analytic Writing Model - Six Trait Analytic Writing Model - Outstanding resources Includes Six Trait Handbook, Rubrics, and much more!

Six-Trait Writing - Six Trait Analytic Writing Model - Kent School District's (WA) Six-Trait Writing resource.

 Six-Trait Writing Assessment - Six Trait Analytic Writing Model - Academy School District 20 in Colorado developed this six-trait site complete with rubric and student samples.

Toolkit - Six-Trait Assessment for Beginning Writers - Six Trait Analytic Writing Model - NWREL's primary version of the 6-Trait Writing Assessment Model is designed to help users see early writing with new eyes instead of looking for what a student can't yet do, we look for and build on what they can do.

 

Writing Process - Six Trait Analytic Writing Model - Takes you through the five-step writing process of prewrite, draft, revise, edit, and publish. These steps are demonstrated with movie clips and the fun theme of building a pizza. Also includes links for 6-trait writing.

Graphic Organizers

Essay Organizer - Very nice organizer for essay writing.

 

Graphic Organizer - Great site for anyone looking for ways to incorporate Graphic Organizers into the curriculum or for use in workshops designed to teach others about GOs. Topics include: about Graphic Organizers, how to use GOs in the classroom, examples, implications for the classroom and software reviews just to name a few. It is packed with information.

 

Graphic Organizer References and HotLinks

 

Sample Inspiration Planning Documents

 

Triton/Patterns Fall Symposium 98 - Inspiration - Training module in the use of Inspiration