Fourth Grade, Writing, Set One

The first week I started K. on her journal. First, I read some entries from her sister's fifth grade journal. (It really is fun to go back and read it.) The purpose of the journal is to practice cursive handwriting. She doesn't need to write much each day, just a couple sentences, but the difference in the penmanship from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is surprising.

We are enjoying Writer's Workbook. Each week I've been able to get a book from the library that is either the exact story referenced, or a similar story.

• Tuesday - I read the book/story to K.
• Wednesday - we complete two pages in the workbook. These pages give direction and usually some type of chart to fill in to guide in writing her rough draft paragraph.
• Thursday - we go over her paragraph using the questions on the Revising page in the lesson
• Friday - we edit and proofread her paragraph and K. re-writes (publishes) her paragraph

It has been amazing to see the difference between her rough draft and published paragraphs.

Week Two

• Gloria Who Might Be My Best Friend (from The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron)
• Writing an autobiography

Week Three

• The Boy Who Didn't Believe in Spring
• Writing a response to fiction (wrote a letter to King)

Week Four

• Woodchuck at Blackberry Road
• Writing a summary paragraph

Week Five

• Make Way for Ducklings
• Writing a fiction book review