AGuilford

CRAFT Lessons Week Two pages 79-92

Now this book is getting down to the nitty-gritty of writing.  I really like the opening of this chapter which has listed the books with page numbers of the writing samples the author uses as examples.

I also firmly agree that middle school the time when a student’s writing is pushed aside by the demands of content area curriculum.  As a science teacher I don’t have the time needed to teach the writing process.  If I do then I won’t have time to cover the GPS.  Besides, the writing test isn’t graded but I am judged by my student scores on the CRCT.  It is obvious which choice is made: science or writing?

       The appendixes included at the back are good resources to use with whole class instruction and I enjoyed seeing how to teach the different aspects of writing: audience, describing character, imagery, and internal dialogue.  Each of these topics is at least a week long lesson with lots of practice and feedback.