narrative
writing center
Overused Words
Description:
Students create a resource of vivid
language to use in their writing.
Materials
Chart paper
Dictionary and thesaurus
Student directions (page 39)
Overused Words Charts (pages 40–41)
Wall chart of overused words (teacher-created based on
students’ writing)
Procedures for Teaching
Name
Name
Date
Date
Overused
Words Chart
Overused
Words Chart
Chart on chart paper or the board.
This is a word
I use too much :
This is a word
I use too much :
2. Select a word that is ordinary or overused.
(Take a look at students’ writing to
determine which words need to be used
with less frequency.) Explain to students that
you want to find more interesting ways to say
what that word means.
Here are some
other choices.
Here are some
other choices.
3. Write the word in the speech bubble on
Fresh Takes on Centers: Writing
40
Fresh Takes on
the left side of the chart. (Point out that
the chart has space to make lists for two
overused words.)
Centers: Writing
NAR RATI VE
WRIT ING CENT
ER
© 2010 by Mary Beth Allen.
Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
This is a wo
rd I use too
© 2010 by Mary
much:
Overused
Words
(Extended
Chart)
Beth Allen. Scholas
tic Teaching Resourc
es
4. Model using prior knowledge and
Here are som
other choice e
s.
Here are som
e
related words
.
41
reference tools, such as a dictionary or
thesaurus, to create a list of interesting
words that can be used in place of the
overused word.
CENTER
NARRATI VE WRITING
CENTER
NARRATI VE WRITING
1. In advance, copy the Overused Words
Fresh Takes on Centers: Writing © Mary Beth Allen, Scholastic Teaching Resources
37
narrative
writing center
5. Invite students to suggest more words for the list. Encourage them to use
dictionaries and thesauruses as a resource.
6. Discuss words and eliminate any that don’t belong. Add words to
the list.
7. As an option, you can complete the second chart (Overused WordsExtended Chart). In this case, model how to identify both other choices
and related words.
8. At the center, display a wall chart of overused words, including some
from students’ writing. For independent practice, have students work at
the center to create charts for words they overuse. Encourage students to
keep the charts in their writing folders (and/or display them to share at the
center) and refer to them to as a resource for using more interesting words
in their writing.
Suggestions for Differentiated Learning
Provide More Support
Guide students in using
an online thesaurus to find
additional words.
Have students find a specific
number of related words,
such as three or four, for each
overused word.
Ask students to try substituting
each word for the original word
to see how it sounds in the
sentence.
Have students use pictures or
other visuals to guide their word
selections.
38
Provide More Challenge
Have students find several
related words and then generate
synonyms for those words. (See
Overused Words–Extended
Chart, page 41.)
Encourage students to discern
shades of meaning among
synonyms—for example, the
word big may be overused, and
synonyms may include large,
huge, gigantic, immense, bulky,
spacious, and considerable, but
depending on usage, one word
may be more appropriate in
meaning than another.
Fresh Takes on Centers: Writing © Mary Beth Allen, Scholastic Teaching Resources
narrative
writing center
Overused Words
What to Do
What
You NEED
1. Choose a word from the list or one from your own
writing that you use too much.
2. Choose an Overused Words chart and follow the
appropriate directions.
Overused
Words Charts
(choose one)
Overused Words Chart
<< Write the word in a speech bubble.
Pencil or pen
<< Use the online dictionary
or thesaurus to find more
interesting words you
can use in place of that
word. Write the words
on the lines below the
overused word.
Dictionary and
thesaurus
CENTER
NARRATIVE WRITING
CENTER
NARRATIVE WRITING
Name
Name
Date
Date
<< Repeat the first two
steps with another
overused word.
Overused
Words Chart
Overused
Words Chart
This is a word
I use too much:
This is a word
I use too much:
Here are some
other choices.
Here are some
other choices.
40
Fresh Takes on Centers: Writing
© 2010 by Mary Beth Allen.
Scholastic Teaching Resources
Overused Words (Extended Chart)
Fresh Takes on
<< Write the overused word at the
top of the chart.
Centers: Writing
WRITI NG CENTE
R
Name
Date
This is a wor
d I use too
much:
Overused
Words
© 2010 by Mary
<< On the left side, fill in other choices
for that word.
NARR ATIVE
(Extended
Chart)
Beth Allen. Scholasti
c Teaching Resource
Here are som
other choicese
.
s
Here are som
e related wor
ds.
<< On the right side, fill in words that are
related to each of the other choices.
41
3. Place the chart in your writing folder. Use it
as a resource to revise for your writing.
Fresh Takes on Centers: Writing © Mary Beth Allen, Scholastic Teaching Resources
39
narrative writing center
narrative writing center
Name
Name
Date
Date
40
Overused
Words Chart
Overused
Words Chart
This is a word
I use too much:
This is a word
I use too much:
Here are some
other choices.
Here are some
other choices.
Fresh Takes on Centers: Writing © Mary Beth Allen, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Fresh Takes on Centers: Writing © Mary Beth Allen, Scholastic Teaching Resources
41
Name
Here are some
other choices.
This is a word I use too much:
narrative writing center
Here are some related words.
(Extended Chart)
Overused Words
Date