PARAGRAPH
BOOT CAMP
A FIVE-WEEK WRITING UNIT USING
BRAIN BASED STRATEGIES THAT
FOCUSES ON THE BASIC STRUCTURE
OF A FIVE-SENTENCE PARAGRAPH
Katrina Dieck
Denise Rader
Huron Valley Schools
Today you will learn...
 A unit plan for Paragraph Boot Camp.
 How the novelty of an Army Boot Camp
increases student achievement.
 The brain-based strategies that make
Paragraph Boot Camp effective. *
 The benefits of co-teaching a writing unit.
 How to improve your and your students’
attitudes towards writing.
Pre-Assessment
Write a Paragraph.
WHAT?!?!
Day 1
Novelty! *
 Wear Camouflage
 Youtube Video *
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dZlmYXF4CU
 Terms




Private
Drill Sergeant
Platoon
“Yes, Drill Sergeant!”
 Sit in Rows
 Special Writing Materials & Notebook *
 Posted Learning Goal * (What Makes a Sentence)
Day 2
Subjects & Predicates
 Whistle and Badges
 Defined terms
 Identified sentence parts
 Whole Group *
 Individually
 Fixed Sentence Fragments
 As a Platoon (Small Group) *
 Fragments from their pre-assessment! *
Time to
MAKE IT MINE!
Days 3 & 4
Run-on Sentences
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nP6Ck7uAOc
 Discussion *
 http://www.quia.com/pop/35933.html
 Fix sentences in groups from pre-assessment
Day 5
Identify a Paragraph
 “Noticings”
 Brainstorm *
 Indent
Day 6
Recipe for a Good Paragraph
 Comparison to a Hamburger *
 Visual Drawing *
 Manipulative *
 Novelty
 Model Paragraph
Time to
MAKE IT MINE!
Days 7 - 9
Parts of a Paragraph
 Colored Papers & Recording Sheets
 Small Group
 Whole Group Discussion
 Fix by Adding the Missing Part
 Independently
 Meet with like color
 Choose one to share
 New Paragraphs, New Group
 Hold up what was missing *
Day 10
Student Reflection
“This is embarrassing!”
 Checklist
 Mid-assessment
 Checklist in Notebook
Days 11 & 12
Opening/Topic Sentences
 Mini Lesson
 Cut and Glue Worksheet
 Share Whole Group
 Salute if Agree *
 Teacher Modeling *
 Developing an Opening Sentence
 Partner Work
 Developing an Opening Sentence based on Topic
Day 13
Building a Paragraph from a
Topic Sentence
 Using the topic word in the opening sentence
 Independently write a paragraph from one of
yesterday’s opening sentences
 Teacher scored with checklist
 Ending/Closing Sentences
Time to
MAKE IT MINE!
Day 14
Good to Great!
 Students Score with Checklist
 Compare to Teacher Checklist
 Mini Lesson
 Detail sentences begin with different words!
 Sentences do not begin with and, because, or then!
 Fix Paragraphs
 Homework – Write a Paragraph!
Days 15-17
Strengths & Weaknesses
 Gallery Walk *
 Individual Feedback
 Getting Smarter!
 In Notebooks
 Write Again!
 Partner Feedback
 Group Paragraph *
Day 18
Post-Assessment
 Reread Group Paragraph
 Individual Chance to Shine!
Day 19
Graduation!
 Final Project
 Camouflage Paper
 Picture of Private
 Before (Pre-Assessment)
 After (Post-Assessment)
 Walk and Admire
 Cake!
Follow-Up
 Score Sheet
 Determine Growth
 Student Survey
 Bare Books
 Practice Skills
 Post-Post Assessment
 Determine Retention
Time to
MAKE IT MINE!
Did you learn...
 A unit plan for Paragraph Boot Camp?
 How the novelty of an Army Boot Camp
increases student achievement?
 The brain-based strategies that make
Paragraph Boot Camp effective? *
 The benefits of co-teaching a writing unit?
 How to improve your and your students’
attitudes towards writing?
Questions?
Katrina Dieck
dieckk@huronvalley.k12.mi.us
Denise Rader
raderd@huronvalley.k12.mi.us