RIC-20790_Teaching_Strategies_for_Writing_BkB_word_choices

TEACHER NOTES
ABOUT WRITING
A good writer is not simply one who knows about and can
use text types. A good writer is one with the capacity to
produce interesting, informative, grammatically correct
text, for a specific purpose, that achieves any writer’s
intent – clear, precise communication.
TEACHING WRITING
Students can and should be taught strategies that will
help them to write better. These include improvements
in word choices, sentence structure, punctuation and
editing and proofreading. Writing strategies taught
should be modelled, discussed and then applied, firstly
with teacher support and then independently. However,
the emphasis should always be on the writing process,
which requires forethought, planning and a rational,
measured approach in order to produce the desired
outcome. Editing and proofreading are essential
components of any writing. It is important that students
edit and proofread habitually, with a specific purpose,
and concentrate on the careful consideration of each
sentence, one at a time. Activities provided in this series
encourage students to think about appropriate aspects
of their writing before, during and after the process.
LESSON PROCEDURE
Introduction
Discuss the text title with students. Ask for their
interpretations of what the title could mean.
Discuss the text type. Why does it fit into this category?
What are the specific features of this type of text?
Guide the discussion to introduce the teaching points/
strategies to be covered during the course of the unit.
For example, check they understand terms such as noun
group, adverbial, sentence, paragraph and comma.
Development
Read and discuss the text, either in groups or as a
class. Assist students with any unfamiliar vocabulary or
expressions.
Differentiation
Work through the introductory activities with the class
as a whole, ensuring students understand what is
required of them.
Work with those requiring additional assistance while
the remainder of the class work independently on the
activities.
ASSESSMENT
An assessment is included for each unit in the book.
Because of the way it is structured, this assessment
will allow you to see individual student’s understandings
as well as any common points of weakness which may
require further assistance.
FORMAT
Teaching strategies for writing is organised into four
sections:
Word choices
Punctuation
Sentence structure
Editing and proofreading
Each section has four units of work and one assessment
unit.
Teaching units
Each six-page unit of work has a specific focus, two
teacher pages and four activity pages.
Assessment units
• Following each section is a four-page unit of
assessment activities–one page for each unit.
• Answers are provided in the teacher pages for that
unit.
• Teacher record sheets – see pages vi–ix.
Assessment writing tasks
• A suggested paragraph writing topic for each unit is
provided on the teacher pages.
• Teacher recording sheet – see pages x–xi.
• Student writing checklist – see page xii.
• Student self-evaluation – see page xiii.
Review
In pairs or small groups, students review their answers,
giving their reasoning where required and critiquing the
longer sentence or paragraph responses.
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TEACHING STRATEGIES FOR WRITING (Book B)
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