TEACHER’S GUIDE
TEACHER’S GUIDE
Suggested Internet Resources
Periodically, Internet Resources are updated on our Web site at
www.LibraryVideo.com
• library.thinkquest.org/J001156/index.htm
This student-created site,“Write On Reader,” offers support for young
writers, in the form of brainstorming ideas, graphic organizers and tips for
revising and editing.
• www.angelfire.com/wi/writingprocess/awards.html
“ABC’s of the Writing Process” is a helpful site that walks students through
the stages of the writing process, presenting them with useful tips along
the way.
• teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/index.htm
This “Writing with Writers” site, presented by Scholastic, offers information
about writing poetry. Students can explore this genre, and follow guidelines
from poets like Jack Prelutsky, Karla Kuskin and Jean Marzollo to write their
own!
Suggested Print Resources
• Fletcher, Ralph. How Writers Work: Finding a Process that Works for You.
HarperCollins, New York, NY; 2000.
• Hajdusiewicz, Babs B. Words, Words, Words: A Reference Book for
Beginning Writers. Good Year Books, Parsippany, NJ; 1997.
• Kemper, Dave, Ruth Nathan & Patrick Sebranek. Writer’s Express: A
Handbook for Young Writers, Thinkers and Learners. Great Source
Education Group,Wilmington, MA; 2000.
• Wong, Janet S. You Have to Write. M.K. McElderry Books, New York, NY;
2002.
Writing Resources
Grades K–4
W
riting is so much more than just jotting a series of
words on paper! Students can use this powerful tool
to share ideas, explore thoughts and feelings and find out
about the world around them.No matter what form students’
writing takes — whether it’s poetry, descriptive writing, an
expository piece or a persuasive speech — students can
reach out with a clear purpose to an intended audience and
communicate. Helping students to improve their writing by
gaining a deeper understanding of the writing process is
providing them with a skill that will serve them for a lifetime.
TEACHER’S GUIDE
Kristen Lovett Casel, M.S.
Curriculum Coordinator, Schlessinger Media
TITLES
• EXPOSITORY WRITING
• STORY WRITING
• TYPES OF WRITING
• THE WRITING PROCESS
• WRITING RESOURCES
Teacher’s Guides Included
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Teacher’s Guide and Program Copyright 2004 by Schlessinger Media,
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Executive Producer:Andrew Schlessinger
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All rights reserved.
K9035
Introduction
After working on a piece of writing for hours, it may be difficult to figure out
a way to improve it. But it’s a piece of cake when writing resources come to
the rescue! The work of other authors can provide inspiration and writing
models. Books like the dictionary and thesaurus can help with word choice,
spelling and meaning. Rhyme, alliteration, onomatopoeia and other tools can
add spice to writing.To organize thoughts and ideas, writers can use graphic
organizers like story maps and outlines. Proofreader marks can help writers
proofread and revise their writing. Peer conferencing enables writers to share
their thoughts and ideas about each other’s work.All writers need a little help
now and then — and writing resources can be the perfect source for that
help!
Vocabulary
plagiarism — To present the words and ideas of someone else as your own,
without giving credit.
thesaurus — A book that contains a list of words and their synonyms and
antonyms.
synonym — A word with the same meaning as another word.
antonym — A word with the opposite meaning of another word.
syllable — A unit of speech.
rhyming — The repetition of the same ending sound in different words
(e.g., sound, ground, hound).
alliteration — The repetition of the same beginning sound in different
words (e.g., Sally sells seashells by the seashore).
onomatopoeia — The use of words that sound like what they mean (e.g.,
splash, gurgle).
rhythm — The beat in a poem.
characters — The people in a story.
setting — A story’s time and place.
graphic organizers — A visual way to organize information about your
writing. Story maps, outlines and character webs are examples of graphic
organizers.
plot — What happens in a story.
dictionary — A book that contains the spelling and meaning of words.
guide words — The words at the top of every page in a dictionary.The first
guide word is the first word on a page; the second guide word is the last
word on a page.
proofreader marks — The symbols used when a writer looks for and fixes
errors to make the meaning of the writing more clear.
peer conferencing — Sharing writing with a partner and getting feedback
about how to improve it.
Focus Questions
1. How can other authors’ writing be a great resource?
2.What’s plagiarism? Why should writers avoid plagiarism?
(Continued)
3.What is the purpose of a thesaurus?
4.What is a synonym? Give examples of some words and their synonyms.
5.What’s an antonym? Give examples of some words and their antonyms.
6. Describe rhyme. Give some examples of words that rhyme.
7.What is alliteration? Give an example.
8.What is onomatopoeia? Give some examples.
9.Why are graphic organizers important for writers? What are some
examples?
10.Why are dictionaries useful when writing? How are words organized in a
dictionary?
11.Why do writers use proofreader marks?
12.What can peer conferencing do for a writer?
Follow-up Activities
• Encourage students to find pieces of writing that they admire (e.g., favorite
poems, picture books, etc.). Students can discuss with partners what they
like about the pieces.Then they can write their own pieces in the style of
the originals.
• Haiku is a form of poetry that has a specific pattern of three lines: the first
line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables and the third has
five syllables. Encourage students to write haiku poems that follow this
pattern.
• Using graphic organizers can help students organize their thoughts before
they commit their ideas to paper. Students can familiarize themselves with a
range of graphic organizers at the following Web site:
www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/
• Writing resources can be crucial for improving the content and quality of
students’ writing. Encourage small groups of students to select specific
writing resources and write radio or television advertisements that extol
their virtues.
• Create a synonym matching game for your students. On individual index
cards, write words, and on separate cards, their synonyms. Students can turn
over all cards and play a memory game, trying to make matches. Students
can also create their own synonym or antonym matching games.
• The dictionary and thesaurus are helpful for determining word choice,
meaning and spelling when writing. Encourage students to become familiar
with these resources. Merriam-Webster offers a great online children’s dictionary at the following Web site: www.wordcentral.com/ and the American
Heritage Children’s Thesaurus (Houghton Mifflin, 1997) is a great introduction to the thesaurus.
• As a class, make a chart that illustrates and defines useful proofreader marks.
Post in the classroom for a quick reference tool for students when proofreading and revising.
• Challenge students to write poems that include three fun word tricks: onomatopoeia, alliteration and rhyme. Share poems with the class, and discuss
with students what these word tricks add to the poetry.