Four Square Writing

Students often aren't prepared for the level of organization and structure required by high school and college-level writing; guide them towards understanding the prewriting and editing processes that will soon be required of them. Using a simple 4-square graphic organizer model of Understanding Relationships; Brainstorming; Adding Details; and Connecting Words, worksheets help students practice what's required at each step. Written to teachers, examples, hints, and worksheet instructions are provided. 112 reproducible pages, softcover. Grades 1-3.

When your students say they have nothing to write about, what they really need is the skill of organizing and clarifying their thoughts around a topic and developing their content into sentences and then paragraphs. All the help you and your students need about writing and learning across the curriculum can be found in this book.

Finally a method of teaching your students the writing skills they need. Step-by-step, concrete instruction in writing that will fit any reading and language arts program. First, it contains everything you need to implement an effective and unique writing program in your classroom. Also, students will find the 4Square graphic organizer helps them conceptualize, understand and structure their work. Next, the 4Square method can be adapted not only for expository, narrative, descriptive, and persuasive styles of writing but can also be used in the sciences, arts and math. Contents: How to Use this Book Section 1: Getting Organized Learning the Four Square Section 2: Other Forms of Composition Section 3: Samples of Four Squares and Essays Expository, Narrative, Persuasive, and Descriptive Styles Section 4: Four Square and Beyond Across the Curriculum Section 5: Practice Prompts Expository, Descriptive, Persuasive and Narrative Styles

The Four-Square writing method is an innovative approach that gives kids a clear path to learning and using foundational writing skills using a graphic-organizer. Prewriting and organization skills are taught through the four-square graphic organizer, which is employed to focus writing, provide detail, and enhance word choice-and can be used across applicable to multiple writing forms, such as descriptive and informational writing.

The squares can be used across multiple steps like brainstorming ideas, connecting ideas, adding vivid language, and elaborating ideas. As an example, for the step "brainstorming ideas," if the topic was "snacks" that word would go in the center; three boxes would be used for snack brainstorming ideas (peanuts / popcorn / pretzels) and the last box would be used for a summary like "pretzels, popcorn, and peanuts are snacks."

Worksheets move from element to element and provide students with lots of practice ideas for them to fill-in. Lessons build on these blocks, with additional instruction on writing thesis statements and other helpful tips.

The CD-ROM in the back of the book has additional Four Square examples, activities, and writing exercises.

112 classroom-reproducible pages, softcover. Grades 4-6.