Lesson 1: Becoming An Expert

Students will become experts by writing their own informational books on topics of their choice. I will show them two strategies- using their fingers to pick a topic, and sketching across pages to help add details. I will model the strategies by using them to write a mentor text, and then send them off to their seats to try it. I will put paper out on the tables to encourage students to write prolifically. I will walk around and conference with students. We will end with a share from a few students.

Lesson 2: Adding Headings

Students will learn another strategy to help them write multiple pages on an expert topic. I will introduce headings as another way to organize their ideas. I will go back over my writing from last week and add headings at the top of the pages, then model my expectations by adding another page entitled “Cat Prey.” I will then send them back to their seats to write. I will walk around and conference with students. We will end with a share from a few students.

Lesson 3: Organizing Our Writing

Students will continue adding headings to the top of the pages. I will also review past strategies for picking topics and sketching across pages. That will help them remember what they’ve learned so far. I will model a story for them by counting five things I know about the topic across my fingers and then sketching a quick drawing on a few pages. I will then have my students help me add headings to the top of the pages. To encourage them to use headings, and help them remember their place and purpose on the page, I will offer special green “headings” pens to those who include one in their writing. After the mini lesson students will go to their seats to continue working on their texts. I will walk around and conference with students. At the end of the lesson a few students will share.

Lesson 4: Using Graphic Organizers

I have noticed my students are struggling when writing across pages and organizing their thoughts. To help them I am having them all start a new text about an animal of their choice, using a graphic organizer. I will model filling it in during the mini lesson, and then have students go back to their seats and try it out. The graphic organizer will have four guiding questions for students to answer: what does it look like, what does it do, where does it live, and what do they eat? Once they have completed their graphic organizer they can begin transferring their work onto writing paper.

Lesson 5: Transferring Your Writing

Students will learn how to use the graphic organizer as a tool when writing informational texts. They will transfer their writing onto paper and add headings and more details. I will model this using my penguin text, before handing out their organizers and having them transfer their own work. I will also have heading pens for students to use when adding headings. Students should write their stories across multiple pages, organized by heading.

Lesson 6: Adding Diagrams/Soft Publish

Students will learn how to add diagrams and labels to their work to help illustrate their writing. I will model this in the beginning with my writing about penguins. I will Then I’ll send students off to their seats to finish transferring their writing from the organizer to the paper. At the end of the lesson we will have soft publish, where students will have the opportunity to share their work with their peers in their table-groups. Each student will share, while the others listen respectfully, add comments and ask questions.