A M O ND
I
D
SUPPLIES
Here’s what you’ll need to play ball:
1. One folder to hold your children’s work.
2. At least 20 copies of Diamond A (page 31) and
at least 11 copies of Diamond B* (page 33) per child,
OR blank paper to create your own diamonds.
3. Drawing supplies: pencils, colored pencils, crayons, etc.
4. Lined paper for writing.
5. Paste.
7. Magazines to cut out pictures (optional).
8. Make copies of Evaluation Form (page 35) (use at your discretion).
*Note to Mom or Dad: These copies should last through Unit 5, including practice assignments
scheduled in between units. Permission is hereby granted to the original purchaser only to reproduce as
many copies of items found in the Reproducible Section of this Appendix as necessary for his or her
immediate family’s use.
2
Supplies • Diamond Notes
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
6. Scissors (to cut out pictures on page 37) (optional).
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
INTRODUCTION
Remember when you learned to swim? It was
a bright, beautiful July day. The air was warm, the
water looked so inviting. Your dad had your hand
tightly gripped in his. The two of you carefully approached the side of the pool. He let your hand go
so you could peer over the edge, butterflies in your
stomach. Then Dad shoved you into the deep end
with a joyful shout of “Go forth and swim!”
OK, we hope that wasn’t really how you
learned to swim. But guess what? That is essentially how many kids today learn to write. They are
never taught a practical, step-by-step approach to
writing. Instead, they are just expected to sit down
with a piece of paper and a pencil and write with
little or no guidance.
When asked to “write about your summer
vacation,” many kids don’t know what to say or
how to get started. They get extremely frustrated
extremely quickly. Without direct instruction, kids
simply have a hard time expressing in writing what
they know, think, and feel. That’s why we developed this creative writing program. Think of it as
swim lessons for young writers!
Writing Talent vs. Writing Skill
There are two dimensions to every writer: talent and skill. A few people have a natural talent for
writing. Whenever they sit down to write, beautiful
words flow freely. Unfortunately, you can’t teach
writing talent. Writing skill, however, is completely
different. All children can—and must!—learn the
skill of writing so they can effectively communicate
on paper.
Diamond Notes focuses on improving your
children’s writing skill. We can not guarantee they
will become the next Shakespeare, but we do believe that after using this course they will be able
to clearly express themselves in well-written paragraphs, whether or not they have a natural talent
for writing. And for children who are naturally
talented, this course will help them organize and
channel their expressions even more clearly.
Introducing Diamond Notes
The Diamond Notes method breaks down the
writing process into fundamental, easily-understood
steps that teach students how to gather and organize their thoughts. Just as any coach teaches team
members to practice a regular set of moves—like
a throw to home plate in baseball—so Diamond
Notes encourages students to practice its predefined
steps. With Diamond Notes, comments like “But
what do I do?” or “How do I start?” will be a thing
of the past.
Diamond Notes will teach your children rudimentary outlining skills as they begin to write basic
expository paragraphs. It works because it effectively trains them to organize their thoughts and plan
out their writing so they can express what they have
to say in a clear, understandable manner. After your
children learn the thought processes behind the Diamond Notes method, they will be able to apply the
method to any type of writing they may encounter.
Note to Mom and Dad: You will find many
examples along the way to help you teach the Diamond Notes method to your children. Please be
aware, though, that some of these examples may
seem more advanced than what your children are
able to create. That’s OK, because the examples
are intended primarily to help you understand how
the method works and how to explain it to your
children. So please don’t use our examples as a
yardstick to see how your children’s attempts are
measuring up! If you want to gauge how they’re doing, use the Evaluation Form in the Reproducibles
Section.
To see how Diamond Notes works, take a look
at the picture at the top of the next page.
Diamond Notes • Introduction
3
INTRODUCTION CONTINUED
Second
Base
Third
Base
Pitcher’s
Mound
First
Base
Learning the Method
The Diamond Notes method starts with simple tasks, and then builds in complexity with each
assignment. Here is a unit-by-unit look at what
your children will be taught:
ing Ideas
z
i
r
o
g
e
t
a
C
:
Unit 1
:
how to
Students learn s of the Diamond Notes
use the basic

her
method
up items toget
ro
g
d
n
a
e
iz
a
or
 categ
s belong on
g
in
th
t
a
h
w
 determine
what do not
diamond and
4
Introduction • Diamond Notes
Since most young children are more comfortable drawing pictures than writing words, the first
three lessons feature a simple, non-threatening
introduction to the method. In the first lesson in
Unit 1, your children will draw pictures on the
diamond. In the second lesson, they will use picture cards to show they understand which items fit
in a certain category. This sets the foundation for
writing clear, focused paragraphs later, since only
items that fit together belong on a diamond or in
a paragraph.
(Note to Mom or Dad: If your children
are bored using pictures, feel free to have them go
ahead and use words from the start!)
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
Home
Plate
All the action starts on the Pitcher’s
Mound, just like in baseball. The “Pitcher’s
Mound” represents the subject of the
piece—what will later turn into the topic
sentence. Once your children know the
subject, they should “load the bases.”
First Base should be the first event
or the most important point related to
the subject. Second Base is the second
event or second most important
point and Third Base is the third event
or third most important point. Finally,
Home Plate will be the conclusion
to their paragraph. When the bases are
loaded, they’re done!
g Ideas
n
i
k
n
a
R
:
2
t
Uni
w to:
ho
Students learn
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
ce
er of importan ave
d
or
in
s
em
it
sh
 rank
ide which item
ec
d
d
n
a
te
a
 evalu
e
the most valu
ce them
s and sequen
ea
id
op
el
ev
d

entences
S
&
s
e
s
a
r
h
Unit 3: P
how to:
Students learnr thoughts in an organized
 present thei
in
manner
with phrases
d
on
m
ia
d
 use the
gle words
sons to
addition to sin
ments or rea
te
ta
s
e
re
th
 write
in point
back up a ma
ion in writing
ot
em
y
la
p
is
 d
nce
clusion sente
n
co
a
te
ri
w

entences
S
o
t
n
i
s
a
e
d
Unit 4: I
how to:
Students learn
onto
the diamond
om
fr
ts
h
g
ou
th
 move
paper
te paragraph
le
p
m
co
a
te
ri
 w
The first lesson in Unit 2 teaches how to rank
ideas in order of importance. The next lesson transitions from using pictures to writing words. This
progression helps students begin to organize their
thoughts and ideas and put words together in a
logical manner.
The first lesson in Unit 3 teaches how to write
a concluding sentence that shows emotion. Later
in the unit students will practice using the diamond
to respond to a phrase. This lesson will challenge
them to use higher-level thinking because they
are now developing logical statements to defend
a perspective instead of just listing items that fit a
category. When they master this skill, they will be
able to express their opinions by organizing and
presenting their thoughts in a coherent manner.
The first lesson in Unit 4 teaches how to
transfer thoughts from the diamond to paper and
write complete sentences that fit the topic. In the
next lesson, students will put those sentences together to form a complete paragraph.
Diamond Notes • Introduction
5
INTRODUCTION CONTINUED
g the
n
i
t
e
l
p
m
o
C
Unit 5:
Parag raph
how to:
Students learn to a paragraph
s
 add detail
See for Yourself
6
Introduction • Diamond Notes
As you progress through this program, keep
all of the work that your children create in a folder.
You will re-use some of their work in later assignments, and this folder will also help you to see
how much your children improve.
We hope you enjoy using this exciting new
method. Happy writing!
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
To monitor your children’s progress, try
this: Before the year starts, have them write
about their best friend without giving them any
additional instruction. Keep their work, and
ask them to do this same assignment again after
completing the Diamond Notes course. The improvement in just a few weeks should amaze you!
Unit 5 teaches students how to add significant, interesting details to improve a paragraph.
By the end of this unit, they will have written a
strong paragraph, complete with a topic sentence,
three main points, and interesting details.
Topics list:
Here is a list of the specific topics we use for
each assignment. If a topic does not interest your
children, feel free to pick a different one that sparks
their imagination. Just make sure that the topic
you choose provides the same structural answer
and isn’t already used later in the process.
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
Unit 1 (pp. 10–11)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sports
Tools
Shapes
Clothes
Weather
Animals
Food
Unit 3 (pp. 14–17)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Favorite Drinks
Favorite Pets
Favorite Books/Favorite Movies
I Love Winter
My Mom Is Great
Homeschooling Is Fun
Unit 4 (pp. 18–21)
Unit 2 (pp. 12–13)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Favorite Colors
Favorite Foods
Favorite Toys
Favorite Ice Cream Flavors
Favorite Subjects
Favorite Snacks
• I Love Winter; My Mom Is Great; Homeschooling Is Fun (continued from previous
unit)
• I Wish I Could Go To ...
• (and topics continued from previous lesson)
Unit 5 (pp. 22–25)
• (all topics continued from previous unit)
Diamond Notes • Introduction
7
UNIT ONE
Lesson 1:Using Pictures to
Group Items
Materials list:
• 3 copies of Diamond A (page 31)
• Drawing supplies
• Pictures from magazines (optional)
• Paste (optional)
Sample of
Diamond One
Sports
8
Unit One • Diamond Notes
Diamond One
The first diamond will be about sports,
so have your children write “Sports” on the
pitcher’s mound. Now, ask them about what
sports they like. When they’ve chosen three
sports, ask them to draw pictures that represent
those sports on the three bases. For example,
they could draw a baseball on first base, a basketball on second base, and a football on third
base. Of course they don’t have to use those
sports. As long as they have pictures that represent their chosen three sports on the bases and
“Sports” on the pitcher’s mound, they’ve done
this diamond correctly!
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
“But Mom! I don’t know what to write.” You
may recognize this as the signature call of frustrated children everywhere. If they’re sincere (and not
just trying to get out of homework!), there’s probably some truth to their cry. Without some guidance, most children don’t know how to organize
the many thoughts floating around their minds.
That’s why the Diamond Notes method starts
here. The goal of Lesson 1 is to teach your children how to “load the bases” with items related to
a topic (represented by the Pitcher’s Mound). They
can draw pictures directly on the diamond’s bases
or cut out pictures from magazines instead.
Don’t worry about the order of items right
now. Your children should just concentrate on
grouping items together appropriately. We will
play favorites and rank items in Unit 2.
Once you have gathered the materials you
need, use the following instructions to guide your
children through the assignment.
Diamond Two
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
When they’re done with the first diamond,
move on to the second diamond, which will be
about tools. Ask them to think of three tools
and have them write the word “Tools” on the
pitcher’s mound. Then have them draw pictures
of the tools on the bases. Since the pitcher’s
mound has the word “Tools” on it, all the bases
should have pictures of tools on them.
Lesson 2: Pictures That Fit
Materials list:
• 4 copies of Diamond A (page 31)
• Cut-out sheet (page 37)
• Scissors
• Paste
In Lesson 2, you will challenge your children’s
understanding of the grouping process. Do they
understand the concept of which items belong on
a diamond and which do not?
Diamond One
The first diamond is going to be about
clothes. Have your children write “Clothes”
on the pitcher’s mound of a new diamond. Then
give them five picture cards, three that fit the
category and two that do not. Ask them to place
the correct cards on the bases. If they start to
paste a card that doesn’t belong, remind them of
the topic to encourage them to choose the right
cards. When they finish this diamond, congratulate them and reinforce that all the pictures fit
because they are all kinds of clothes.
Diamond Three
For the third diamond, ask your children
to write “Shapes” on the pitcher’s mound and
think of three shapes. Have them look at the diamond itself if they need some help thinking of
shapes! Then ask them to draw or paste pictures
of those shapes on the bases.
Once they’ve finished their third diamond,
that’s all for the day. Good job!
Diamonds Two Through Four
If the first diamond was difficult for your
children, do the second diamond (“Weather”)
the same way. If the second diamond still proves
difficult, do the third (“Animals”) and fourth
(“Food”) diamonds the same way.
For more of a challenge, have them do the
remaining diamonds with all of the remaining
picture cards. Ask them to paste the cards where
they belong and tell them that some of the cards
will not fit on any of the diamonds.
If you want to really challenge your children, don’t tell them what topics should be on
the pitcher’s mounds and see if they can figure
them out on their own.
Once they’ve finished all four diamonds, that’s
all for the day. Good job!
Diamond Notes • Unit One
9
UNIT TWO
Lesson 1: Ranking Items
Materials list:
• 3 copies of Diamond A (page 31)
• Drawing supplies
OK. Your children have learned to group like
items together and to exclude what doesn’t belong.
But now what do they do with what belongs? In
Lesson 1 your children will learn to put items on
the diamond in order of importance. The key here
is that they understand that first base is for the
most important thing, second base is for the second most important thing, and third base is for the
third most important.
The first diamond is going to be about your
children’s favorite colors, so ask them to write
“Favorite Colors” on the pitcher’s mound.
Then have them color first base their favorite
color, second base their second favorite color,
etc. When they’re done, reinforce how they
ranked their favorite colors using the bases.
The second diamond is about their favorite
foods, so have them write “Favorite Foods”
on the pitcher’s mound. They should then draw
a picture of their favorite food on first base, their
second favorite food on second base, etc.
Diamond Three
For the third diamond, have them write
“Favorite Toys” on the pitcher’s mound.
Then ask them to draw a picture of their favorite
toy on first base, etc.
When they’ve finished all three diamonds,
reinforce how to use the bases to rank items that
relate to a topic: if they’re listing favorites, their favorite goes on first base, second favorite on second
base, etc. Keep up the good work!
Sample of
Diamond Two
Favorite
Foods
10
Unit Two • Diamond Notes
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
Diamond One
Diamond Two
Lesson 2: Ranking Items
with Words
Diamond Two
Materials list:
• 3 copies of Diamond A (page 31)
Lesson 2 is just like the last, except that your
children will now write words on the bases instead
of drawing pictures.
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
Diamond One
For the first diamond, have your children
write “Favorite Ice Cream Flavors” on the
pitcher’s mound. Ask them to write their favorite flavor of ice cream on first base, second favorite on second base, etc. When they’re done,
lead them in a rousing chorus of “I Scream, You
Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream” or, better yet, head to the ice cream parlor for some
hands-on research!
For the second diamond, your children
should write “Favorite Subjects” on the
pitcher’s mound. Ask them to think of their
three favorite subjects that they study. Maybe
they will write “Math” on first base, “History”
on second base, and “Science” on third base.
Diamond Three
For the third diamond, have them write
“Favorite Snacks” on the pitcher’s mound.
They should then write their favorite snack on
first base, second favorite on second base, etc.
If the actual process of writing is difficult for
your children, you can serve as their scribe. But if
your children write well then by all means let them
do the writing! When they’ve finished the third
diamond, they’re done for the day. Keep up the
good work!
Sample of
Diamond Two
History
Science
Favorite
Subjects
Math
Diamond Notes • Unit Two
11
UNIT THREE
Lesson 1: Adding Home
Plate
Materials list:
• 3 copies of Diamond A (page 31)
Now that your children are comfortable loading the bases, it’s time to bring a runner home. In
Lesson 1 your children will learn to write about
how the items on the bases relate to the topic on
the pitcher’s mound. We’ll call this a “home plate”
sentence.
Diamond One
12
Unit Three • Diamond Notes
Have your children do the second diamond
on “Favorite Pets.” They should write their favorite pets (or the pets they most wish they had)
on the bases. A good home plate sentence might
be “My favorite pets are warm and furry.” or “I
wish I had a goldfish, a beta, and an angelfish
because fish are beautiful to look at.”
Diamond Three
For the third diamond, ask your children
to write about their “Favorite Books” or
“Favorite Movies.” You know the drill by
now. Don’t forget home plate!
Note to Mom or Dad: If creating a good
“home plate” sentence is hard for your children,
feel free to spend a little extra time on this lesson.
Make sure they understand this lesson before you
let them move on.
When they’re finished with Diamond Three,
they’re done for the day. Congratulations!
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
The first diamond is going to be about
“Favorite Drinks.” As usual, ask your children to write this topic on the pitcher’s mound.
Then ask them to think of their three favorite
drinks and write them on the bases in order of
importance as they learned in the last unit.
Now ask them to think of a sentence to write
on home plate that explains how the bases relate
to the pitcher’s mound, i.e. why these drinks are
their favorites. For example, maybe they would
write, “My favorite drinks are good when I’m
thirsty on a hot day.”
If your children struggle with this task, it
may help to have them focus on how they feel
about the topic as a whole, or, rather, about
all the bases together. Keep in mind that they
should not write a home plate sentence about
one of the bases (“Root beer is great!”). Instead,
make sure they write about how all of the items
on the bases relate to the topic on the pitcher’s
mound.
See an example of this diamond on page 13.
To help you evaluate your children’s work, use
the Evaluation Form on page 35.
Diamond Two
Sample of
Diamond One
from Unit 3
Lesson 1.
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
Root Beer
Apple
Juice
Favorite
Drinks
Dr. Pepper
My favorite
drinks are good
when I’m thirsty
on a hot day.
Diamond Notes • Unit Three
13
UNIT THREE CONTINUED
Lesson 2: A Phrase on the
Pitcher’s Mound
Materials list:
• 3 copies of Diamond A (page 31)
In Lesson 2, your children will move on to
more complex topics. Instead of just a word or
two, they will now write a phrase or a full sentence
on the pitcher’s mound.
Remember: If your children don’t yet write
fluidly, you should serve as their “secretary” and
write what they tell you. Don’t let their physical
inability to put words on paper stop them from
learning the method!
For the first diamond, ask your children to
complete the sentence, “I love winter because
_____.” They should write “I Love Winter”
on the pitcher’s mound, then their top three reasons they love winter in order of importance on
the bases. Finally, they should add home plate.
(See example on page 15.)
Diamond Two
For the second diamond, ask your children
to think about how great their mom is. They
should write “My Mom Is Great” on the
pitcher’s mound, then write the reasons she is
great on the bases. Finally, they should end with
a “home plate” sentence, such as “My mom
takes the best care of me.”
14
Unit Three • Diamond Notes
For the third diamond, ask your children to
think of the top three reasons that homeschooling is fun. They should write “Homeschooling Is Fun” on the pitcher’s mound, then the
reasons they think it’s fun on the bases. Don’t
forget to make sure they include a home plate
sentence that relates their reasons to the topic.
Note to Mom or Dad: By now you should
have a good grasp of what Diamond Notes is all
about. You can probably envision how the foundation you are forming now will help your children
write later on. Children love to tell stories. You are
merely helping them organize their thoughts on
paper, painlessly creating an outline.
Note to Mom or Dad: You’ll reuse the
three diamonds your children have just created in
each subsequent lesson. Keep them handy and be
sure to complete only the parts that are assigned
each time. And remember: don’t be afraid to help
them by acting as their scribe.
When your children have finished Diamond
Three, they’ve completed today’s assignment. Great
work!
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
Diamond One
Diamond Three
Sample of
Diamond One
from Unit 3
Lesson 2.
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
snowball
fights
sledding
I Love
Winter
building
snowmen
You get to do
things in winter
you never get to do
at any other time
of the
year.
Diamond Notes • Unit Three
15
UNIT FOUR
Lesson 1: Turning the Bases
into Sentences
Materials list:
• 3 copies of Diamond B (page 33)
• Diamonds 1, 2, and 3 from Unit Three,
Lesson 2 (“I Love Winter,” “My Mom Is
Great,” and “Homeschooling Is Fun”)
16
Unit Four • Diamond Notes
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
Have you noticed an improvement in your
children’s ability to organize their thoughts and
ideas? It’s now time to take the next big step. In
Lesson 1, your children will now turn the thoughts
they wrote on the bases in the last lesson into full
sentences.
To start, take out the diamond for “I Love
Winter.”
In the example on the next page, we wrote
“building snowmen” on first base, “snowball fights”
on second base, and “sledding” on third base. To
change these simple thoughts into full sentences,
we’ll write, “My Dad helps me build snowmen,”
“My friends come over to have snowball fights,”
and “We go sledding down the hill.”
After we write these sentences on Diamond
B, the paper looks like the sample on page 17.
(Note to Mom or Dad: we’ve included one diamond outline in the bases at the top of the page.
Your children will simply work from the diamonds
they created earlier.)
At this stage, just let your children think on paper. Don’t worry if their sentences aren’t fancy or
complicated. Just ask them to write what comes to
mind when they think about each base. Encourage
them to use active verbs to describe what they want
to say. If your children just write the first thing that
comes to mind this step shouldn’t take very long.
After your children have turned the bases into
sentences for “I Love Winter,” ask them to do
the same thing for “My Mom Is Great” and
“Homeschooling Is Fun.”
Hold on to these sentences, because your children will use them again. If your children struggle
with this step and need more practice, revisit other
diamonds they have completed and ask them to
turn those bases into sentences as well.
Remember: Feel free to serve as your children’s “secretary” if they struggle with the physical
act of handwriting. Don’t let mechanical issues like
handwriting interfere with teaching the thought
processes that are at the heart of the Diamond
Notes method.
Diamond Notes • Unit Four
17
You get to do
things in winter
you never get to
do at any other
time of the
year.
I Love
Winter
snowball
fights
building
snowmen
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
never get to do at any other time of the year.
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
____________________________________
Paragraph
You get to do things in winter you
Home Plate ____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
We go sledding down the hill.
Third Base _____________________________________________
My friends come over to have
Second Base __________________________________________
snowball fights.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
My dad helps me build snowmen.
First Base _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
I love winter.
Pitcher’s Mound ______________________________________
sledding
Sample of Lesson 2:
Diamond One from
Unit Three
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
UNIT FOUR CONTINUED
Lesson 2: Turning the
Diamond into a Paragraph
Materials list:
• 1 copy of Diamond A (page 31)
• 1 copy of Diamond B (page 33)
• Diamonds used in Unit Four, Lesson 1
18
Unit Four • Diamond Notes
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
By this point your children should understand
how Diamond Notes works. Now that they can
organize and rank their ideas and express their
thoughts in full sentences, the next step is to turn
those sentences into a paragraph.
First, your children will complete a new diamond. Ask them to finish this sentence: “I wish
I could go to. …” On the pitcher’s mound they
should write, “I Wish I Could Go To _____.”
Then they should write their reasons they wish
they could go there on the bases, followed by a
home plate sentence. For an example, look at the
sample diamond on the following page.
After your children finish their diamond, have
them turn their bases into sentences on the lines
below the diamond.
From here, it will be easy for them to move
their sentences into paragraph form. First, have
them indent on the first line and write the sentence
from the pitcher’s mound. That is the topic sentence. Then have them write the sentences from
first, second, and third base and finally home plate.
See the following page for examples of how the
sentences and resulting paragraph would look.
That’s it! When your children complete this
exercise they will have written their first paragraph
using Diamond Notes. As you can see, once everything is on the diamond, changing the diamond
into a paragraph is a piece of cake.
After your children finish their paragraph for
“I Wish I Could Go To _____,” have them
write paragraphs for the three diamonds they
worked on in the last unit: “I Love Winter,” “My
Mom Is Great,” and “Homeschooling Is Fun.”
With a little more practice, your children will
be able to write an excellent paragraph in response
to any writing assignment, just by using the Diamond Notes method. And, once you get the hang
of it, completing the diamond doesn’t take much
time at all.
When your children have finished the four
assigned diamonds, they’re done with Unit 4. Way
to go!
Diamond Notes • Unit Four
19
We have a great
time when we go
to the beach.
I wish I
Could go to
... the beach.
swim with
Sarah,
Timmy and
Justin
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
to the beach.
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
we go to the beach.
___________________________________________
gether. We have a great time when
___________________________________________
sometimes builds a sandcastle to___________________________________________
pick up seashells. The whole family
___________________________________________
and Justin. Mom and I usually
___________________________________________
I like to swim with Sarah, Timmy
___________________________________________
I wish I could go to the beach.
____________________________________
Paragraph
We have a great time when we go
Home Plate ____________________________________________
a sandcastle together.
_________________________________________________
The whole family sometimes builds
Third Base _____________________________________________
shells.
__________________________________________________________
Mom and I usually pick up seaSecond Base __________________________________________
and Justin.
__________________________________________________________
I like to swim with Sarah, Timmy
First Base _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
I wish I could go to the beach.
Pitcher’s Mound ______________________________________
build
sandcastles
together
pick up
seashells
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
UNIT FIVE
Adding Detail
Materials list:
• 4 new copies of Diamond B (page 33)
• Diamond B’s used in the
previous lesson
20
Unit Five • Diamond Notes
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
Your children have learned to express their
organized, prioritized thoughts in a simple paragraph in only four short units. That’s a home run
in our book! But we’re not done yet. The final step
in the Diamond Notes method is to make their basic paragraphs much more interesting by adding
detail.
Let’s go back to the “I Wish I Could Go To
_____” diamond. First, have your children copy
their base sentences onto one of the new diamond
pages. Then, for each of these base sentences, ask
them to add another sentence or clause that explains
why or tells something new about the base sentence.
For instance, our first base sentence was, “I like to
swim with Sarah, Timmy and Justin.” So we need
to add a detail sentence. It could be something
like, “… because we race each other.” Then, we
need to add another detail sentence or clause for
the other bases, such as “Since we have a collection at home, …” for “Mom and I usually pick up
seashells,” and “Last time we made the biggest one
around” for “The whole family sometimes builds
a sandcastle together.” When your children have
finished adding sentences or clauses for detail, they
should complete the page and turn the sentences
into a paragraph.
Our sample diamond and paragraph can be
found on the following page. Note to Mom or
Dad: Please notice that the detail can come either
before (see Second Base) or after (see First Base) the
base sentence and can either be part of the base
sentence (First or Second Base) or a completely
separate sentence of its own (see Third Base)!
After your children have added details and
improved their “I Wish I Could Go To _____”
paragraph, ask them to do the same thing for “I
Love Winter,” “My Mom Is Great,” and “Homeschooling Is Fun.” They just need to add one sentence for each of the bases they already have.
Remember: if your children are struggling
with their handwriting, please act as their scribe.
What’s important is that they “get” the process—
not that they get frustrated!
Now that your children have completed Unit
5, make a copy of the Evaluation Form on page 35
to use when your children are done with their paragraphs. For a little extra practice recognizing the
parts of a diamond in a completed paragraph, see
the Diamond Notes Study Guide on pages 26–28.
Diamond Notes • Unit Five
21
We have a
great time
together at the
beach.
I wish I
could go to
the beach.
I like to swim
with Sarah,
Timmy and
Justin.
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
great time together at the beach.
___________________________________________
biggest one around. We have a
___________________________________________
together. Last time we made the
___________________________________________
sometimes builds a sandcastle
___________________________________________
up seashells. The whole family
___________________________________________
at home, Mom and I usually pick
___________________________________________
other. Since we have a collection
___________________________________________
and Justin because we race each
___________________________________________
I like to swim with Sarah, Timmy
___________________________________________
I wish I could go to the beach.
____________________________________
Paragraph
We have a great time together at the beach.
Home Plate ____________________________________________
tle together. Last time we made the biggest one around.
__________________________________________________________
whole family sometimes builds a sandcasThird Base The
_____________________________________________
and I usually pick up seashells.
__________________________________________________________
Since we have a collection at home, Mom
Second Base __________________________________________
I like to swim with Sarah, Timmy and JusFirst Base _____________________________________________
tin because we race each other.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
I wish I could go to the beach.
Pitcher’s Mound ______________________________________
The whole family
sometimes builds
a sandcastle
together.
Mom and I
usually pick
up
seashells.
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
SEVENTH INNING STRETCH
Summarize Thoughts: create summary
sentences that accurately and succinctly sum up
the main ideas; restate how the main ideas relate
to the topic
Put It All Together: write individual sentences as a complete paragraph; state the topic first, followed by the main ideas, then a summary sentence
Decorate The Paragraph: embellish simple
sentences with interesting details; tell who, what,
when, where, why, and how the main ideas relate
to the topic
Check Spelling: make sure their byootifull
beautiful paragraphs don’t have any ugly spelng
spelling errors
Categorize and Rank Ideas: group items
together in a logical manner; exclude items that
Get Picky About Punctuation: check their
don’t fit; evaluate and place items in the most paragraphs for proper use of commas, periods,
effective order
question marks, and exclamation points
Expand Thoughts: turn individual ideas into
full sentences that relate in a logical way to the topic
22
Seventh Inning Stretch • Diamond Notes
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
OK! It’s intermission: time to stretch your
legs, grab a hot dog, and maybe sing a few bars of
“Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
By now, your children should feel comfortable
using the diamond to write a basic paragraph. In
the weeks to come, you’ll probably want to revisit
the process as your children encounter new, more
challenging writing assignments.
In the meantime, practice makes perfect. As
your children work on other assignments, concentrate on a particular skill each week and let them
know what skill you will be focusing on. That way
they will be sure to pay extra attention to that skill
that week.
For example, here are some skills to take a few
extra swings at in the coming weeks:
CONCLUSION
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
Congratulations!
Your children are now ready to use the Diamond Notes method to complete any writing assignment they encounter in their studies. For example, start by reading the assignment together.
Then, have your children complete a diamond. Finally, have them convert the diamond into a paragraph just like they did in these lessons. Since there
are multiple steps in this process, we recommend
that you let your children complete each assignment over the course of two days: make the diamond the first day and convert it into a paragraph
the next.
If your children ever run into any difficulty using the Diamond Notes method, just go back and
review the appropriate exercises. Don’t hesitate
to review multiple times if it will help them write
more effectively. One way to do this is to go back
to Units 4 and 5 and complete the exercises again,
but use different creative writing exercises instead
of the topics listed in those units.
If your children want even more practice, they
can revisit some of the paragraphs they’ve completed and add adjectives and adverbs to make
their writing more vibrant. They could also look
for simple verbs like “is,” “am,” “are,” and “were,”
and try to come up with new, active verbs that
make their writing more interesting. They can also
complete extra activities in the Study Guide (pages
26–28) for additional practice.
Note to Mom or Dad: You can help your
children see the value of the ideas behind Diamond Notes by incorporating them into everyday life. For instance, you could say, “It’s time for
bed. For first base, change into your pajamas. For
second base brush your teeth. For third base, go
get a glass of water. Now that you have changed
into your pajamas, brushed your teeth, and have
gotten a glass of water, you are ready for bed.”
Or, you could use it to teach your children how
to do chores. “It’s time to clean your room. For
first base pick up the clothes off the floor, for second base, put your toys where they belong, and
for third base make your bed.” As you can see,
there are many possible applications for using the
diamond in everyday life.
If your children see that you are using the
diamond in everyday circumstances, they will be
more likely to understand and use it not just in
their writing, but also in the way they organize
their thoughts.
Another important thing to remember is to
celebrate your children’s successes. If they write a
paragraph that is well-organized and logical, but
has a few words misspelled, be sure to praise them
for what they did well. It is important for them
to see that they are improving in their writing,
and you should encourage them to stop and take
note of how much they have improved as often as
possible.
We’re confident that you’ll see your children’s
writing improve significantly by using Diamond
Notes. In no time your children will be writing
well-organized, focused, and thoughtful responses
to any writing assignment that comes their way.
Just wait. You will be amazed at what they can do!
Diamond Notes • Conclusion
23
Diamond Notes
study guide
STUDY GUIDE
Now, let’s work backwards to see how this
paragraph was organized using a diamond. First,
let’s identify the sentences for each of the bases.
The pitcher’s mound sentence is the easiest to
identify, because it is the first sentence in the story.
In this example, the pitcher’s mound is the topic
sentence.
friendly to tourists. Even total strangers will help
you with whatever you need.
Third Base: And the beaches are the best in the
entire world. No other beach can even compare.
Now that we’ve figured out the sentences, let’s
work backwards even more and figure out what
Pitcher’s Mound: Brazil is a wonderful place to words should go on the diamond.
The pitcher’s mound is: “Brazil is a wonderful
visit.
place to visit.” So to figure out what words belong,
Home plate is also a snap, because you
we have to come up with a few words to describe
know that what is on home plate should be
the main point of the sentence. A good answer
the last sentence. It should explain how the
would be “Brazil great to visit,” Remember: these
bases relate to the pitcher’s mound.
phrases don’t have to be complete sentences.
On first base the two sentences are: “The
weather
is nice every month of the year. The sun
Home Plate:As you can see, the weather, the
people, and the beaches make Brazil an ideal va- is warm, but it’s never too hot.” This one is a little
harder, because you have to condense two sencation spot.
tences into three or four words. [Hint: One senFiguring out the bases can be a little trickier. tence will usually contain the most important deIn this paragraph, the bases stand for reasons why tails, while the other sentence just adds detail.] For
the statement on the pitcher’s mound is true. First these two sentences, a good first base phrase would
26
Study Guide • Diamond Notes
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
To provide a better understanding of how base should be the most important point, second
paragraphs work, let’s start with a complete para- base the second most important, etc.
graph and work backwards to get to its originating
In this example, there are two sentences for
diamond. Let’s start with this paragraph:
every base because the author added detail in a
separate sentence. The second sentence for every
Brazil is a wonderful place to visit. The
base adds a little more detail and tells the reader
weather is nice every month of the year.
a little more than the first sentence does. ConsidThe sun is warm, but it’s never too hot.
ering that the paragraph should have three main
The people in Brazil are very friendly to
points, here is the best way to break up the sentourists. Even total strangers will help you
tences into bases.
with whatever you need. And the beaches
are the best in the entire world. No other
First Base: The weather is nice every month of
beach can even compare. As you can see,
the year. The sun is warm, but it’s never too hot.
the weather, the people, and the beaches
make Brazil an ideal vacation spot.
Second Base: The people in Brazil are very
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
be “great weather.” You don’t need to write all the
So now it looks like the diamond below:
details on the bases. Just put the basic idea there.
For second base, do the same thing. “The people in Brazil are very friendly to tourists. Even total
strangers will help you with whatever you need.”
friendly
people
What is the main message in these sentences?
Probably that “people are friendly,” so we’ll write,
“friendly people” on second base. Everything else
simply adds detail to that phrase.
Brazil
super
great
On third base, we have the sentences: “And
great to
beaches
weather
the beaches are the best in the entire world. No
visit
other beach can even compare.” It seems like these
sentences can be summed up just by saying “super
Brazil is great
because of
beaches.”
weather,
people,
Finally, for home plate we need to write a few
and beaches.
words to reflect the conclusion sentence. Home
plate doesn’t have to be as short as the other bases.
Our home plate sentence is: “As you can see, the
Since your children already know how to use
weather, the people, and the beaches make Brazil an ideal vacation spot.” On home plate we can the diamond to write a paragraph, they can now
write, “Brazil is great because of weather, people, take a paragraph and turn it back into a diamond.
There is a diamond for your children to pracand beaches.”
tice with on the following page.
Diamond Notes • Study Guide
27
Study Guide • Diamond Notes
as
much. Viking ships were well-built
___________________________________________
because
they were sturdy, waterproof
___________________________________________
and
able to travel long distances.
___________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
meant
that sailors did not have to row
___________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Home Plate ______________________________________________
that
could turn to catch the wind. This
___________________________________________
sails
to a long pole on top of the mast
___________________________________________
to
travel long distances. Sailors tied
___________________________________________
the
water out. Viking ships also had
___________________________________________
between
the planks of the hull to keep
___________________________________________
They
packed tar and animal hair in
___________________________________________
knew
their ships had to be waterproof.
___________________________________________
to
make it stronger. The Vikings also
___________________________________________
Third Base _______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Second Base ______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
First Base _______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Pitcher’s Mound _________________________________________
overlapped
the planks of the ship’s hull
___________________________________________
up
in the rough seas. Ship builders
___________________________________________
vessels.
Ships had to be sturdy to hold
___________________________________________
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
28
Viking
ships were well-built
____________________________________
Paragraph
STUDY GUIDE
reproducible
section
Diamond A
Diamond B
Evaluation Form
Cut-Out Sheet
Unit # _________________ Diamond # ________________
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
DIAMOND A
Diamond Notes • Diamond A
31
Diamond Notes • Diamond B
33
Third
Base
Home
Plate
Pitcher’s
Mound
Second
Base
First
Base
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________
Paragraph
Diamond # ____________
Home Plate _________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Third Base __________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Second Base ________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
First Base __________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Pitcher’s Mound ____________________________________________
DIAMOND B
Unit # ____________
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
Unit # _________________ Diamond # ________________
Evaluation Form
Use this chart to determine how well your children did on their assignment.
Needs Work
OK
Great!
Pitcher’s Mound:
The phrase on the pitcher’s mound
accurately reflects the topic.
1
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
2
3
First Base:
What’s written here is the most
important point. It fits the topic and
supports the main point.
Second Base:
What’s written here is the second
most important point. It fits the
topic and supports the main point.
Third Base:
What’s written here is the third most
important point. It fits the topic and
supports the main point.
Home Plate:
The home plate sentence accurately
summarizes the paragraph or shows
how the writer feels about a topic.
Detail:
Interesting and appropriate details
spice up the writing and add
meaning.
Paragraph:
The paragraph puts all the pieces
together properly.
Spelling:
All words are spelled correctly.
Handwriting:
All words are legible and neatly
written.
Diamond Notes • Evaluation Form
35
©2014 by Avyx, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hat
Sun
Cat
Barbie
Ship
Pineapple
Dinnerware
Pants
Thunder Cloud
Scooter
Feather
Shirt
Grapes
Beach Chair
Elephant
Cake
Wind
Dog
Pyramids
Hot Air Balloon
Diamond Notes • Cut-Out Sheet
37