Writing for Grades
K-2
What kinds of writing?
 Kindergarten- (morning message, 4 square sort, class books,
journal entries, drawings with labels, teacher writes what child
says)
 First Grade- (sentences, 4 square paragraphs, journal
entries, half and half paper, class books, holiday writing
projects, response to reading, writer’s workshop)
 Second Grade- (sentences, 4 square paragraphs, add to the
4 square, writer’s workshop, written response to reading,
holiday writing projects, book reports, journals, class books)
Morning Message / Modeled
Writing
 Think out loud.
 Make mistakes. Model how to correct
them.
 Can be interactive (white boards)
 Include your high frequency
words.
Class Books
 K-2 can all make them.
 Second Grade can donate them to a
Kindergarten class for the Kindergarten
class to read.
 Modify the process for your particular
grade.
How to make class books
1. Start with a predictable sentence that
has a missing word.
I see a ____________.
How to make class books
2. Allow each child to fill in the blank with
a word or words of their choice.
I see a brown dog.
How to make class books
3. (Optional) Cut up the words in the
sentence. Let the children build the
sentence by putting the words back in
the correct order.
How to make class books
4. Allow each child to illustrate his or her
sentence. Add photographs of the
children.
How to make class books
5. Bind the pages to make a book.
How to make class books
6. Read the book with the class. Make
the book available for children to read.
Publish a Book
www.studentreasures.com
Emily Morgan’s second grade at Rush
Strong.
Take Home Writing
 Birthday bag! (with journal inside)
 I lost a tooth bag! (journal page inside)
 Souvenir Bit (aides comprehension, relates
reading to writing, written response to
literature)
4 Square Review
 What are each grade level’s
responsibilities?
4 Square Review
Kindergarten 4 Square = Picture Sorting
Kindergarten Students may be able to
copy a topic sentence and add labels to
the 4 Square.
4 Square Review
First Grade 4 Square = Sentences in
each square that form a paragraph.
The sentences are on topic. The last
sentence can be a feeling sentence.
4 Square Review
Second Grade 4 Square = Add to the
basic paragraph.
(4 Square +1 Detail)
(4 Square +1 Detail + Transition words)
What are the problems
with 4 square?
 One way to make our student’s 4
square writing pieces better is with the
6 + 1 traits.
What are the 6+1 Traits?
1.
2.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Voice
Word Choice
Conventions
Sentence Fluency
Organization
Ideas
Presentation
3.
5.
4.
6
Writer’s Workshop
1. Teacher models or does
mini lesson.
2. Students have time to
write drafts and publish
while teacher
conferences.
3. Author’s Chair/ Share
1. Four Blocks Website
.
Possible Mini Lessons
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Any grammar topic
Using similes
Using “Wow words” or “Sparkle Words”
Using “Hooks” to engage the reader
Varying sentence structure
Killing over-used words
How to write stories that persuade
How to write narrative stories
How to write non-fiction
How to edit a story
How to use a dictionary or thesaurus
How to use “inventive” spelling
How to stretch a sentence
How to write to a prompt
How to add transition words
Sentence Stretchers
• The toad ______through the mud..
• The ______ toad ________through the
_________mud.
• The _______ ________ toad __________
________ through the _________
_________ mud.
~ For more ideas, see Connie’s Write On Sentence
Stretchers. http://jcschools.net/write/stretching_files/frame.htm
Web Resources
Ed Helper
K-2 Anchor Papers
6 Trait Mini Lessons (1 and 2 Grade)
Prompts List (1 and 2 Grade included)
Holiday Sentence Stretching Powerpoint
Writing Bugs (Contains monthly prompt ideas)
Expository Writing Prompts (may need to be modified for 1
Transition Words List
Possible Mini Lessons
Editing/Publishing For 1st and 2nd Grade
st
st
nd
nd
st
and 2nd Grade)