Now that your students are familiar with how to craft a plot for Narrative writing, let's start writing!  Woo Woo!  I explain to my cherubs that all of the characters do not have to be introduced right away. However, I encourage students to introduce at least the main character in the introduction.  In the body of the paper, students can bring in more characters.  They will also be working on character traits, etc.  Upper elementary students have a habit of wanting to tell a whole story leading up to the story.  I tell them the best way to avoid that is to start off the story with the problem so their story can be developed from there.  Think of CSI.  The crime is presented at the beginning of the show.  Then the story unfolds.  This is the same with narrative writing.  In the introduction, the characters, setting, and basic plot including the problem should be included.  This gives the rest of the essay to expound upon the characters, setting, and plot.  If you don't have the following posters, simply draw a 3 car coaster and talk about the importance of including these 3 items in the introduction.


 I tell the students to glue down the top edge of the roller coaster square to create a flap.  Then, paste the chart under the flap.  I always encourage them to write first!  Then they may color, cut, and paste.

Writing Mini Lesson #15- Plot

Now that you learned how to use the graphic organizer in mini lesson #14, let's move onto PLOT and get ready to start planning our own story.  I like to use Cinderella to teach plot.  I read the story to my class and have a student use a toy car to roll up and down the roller coaster poster on my smart board.  If you don't have a smart board or the poster, simply draw a roller coaster on your board to show a visual for plot.  I help the student along by showing that the author does a fabulous job increasing the suspense again and again throughout the story (getting to the ball, dancing, clock strikes midnight, running away, losing her shoe).  Then the climax of the story would be when the prince is placing the shoe on her foot.  The students are so stinkin cute because they get excited along with me when we reach the top of the coaster even though they've heard the story a million times.  We even hold our hands up in the air like we are on the coaster as we read the rest of the story.  Cute, huh?  Anything to get them excited about learning!

Rock and Write!  Rockin Resources is well known for our writing products.  Pam always liked to write and teach writing.  She has used numerous writing programs over her 26 years of teaching, but was never satisfied.  This led her to create her own writing program to use with her class.  Although she felt it was very effective, her thoughts turned into reality when her state scores came in and 98% of her class scored exemplary in writing!  Her principal asked her what she used for writing and she was hesitant to explain that she wasn't using the adopted writing program from the district.  That is when she realized it would benefit not just her class and her colleagues' classes, but why not put it in the hands of as many other teachers who are looking for an all-inclusive program that will rock test scores!  We offer year-long bundles for Grades 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.  We also have a 3-6 product in case you teach several grade levels!  It includes all the skills needed for grades 3-6.  Although it is Common Core aligned, it is not labeled with the CCSS.  This also helps those teachers who aren't teaching the CCSS but would like the awesome program!


Interactive Writing Notebooks- These can be used for notebooks or just instruction.  There are practice sheets to go with most of the lessons as well.  SECOND GRADE HAS BEEN ADDED!

We provide step-by-step plans, lessons, and creative ways to teach with or without interactive notebooks.  Your writing scores are guaranteed to skyrocket!

Product Description:  Our Interactive Writing Notebooks have been BEST SELLERS ON TPT! - They have hyperlinks to easily maneuver through the large  400 + document and mentor text for all the mini lessons!

This year-long Interactive Writing Notebook was designed to follow through the WRITING PROCESS and model lessons for Narrative Writing, Opinion Writing, and Informative Writing.  It covers ALL of the Writing Common Core Standards and many Language Standards. 

What is different about my product than other interactive writing notebooks?
There are teachable slides that can be used on the smart board or printed for posters, as well as slides already done for you to model good writing with your students, and student printables to go along with each mini lesson.  

In addition to the multitude of lessons, you will find independent practice, model writing, assessments, student resources, graphic organizers, tracking charts, forms, rubrics, dictionaries, labels, homework assignments, student resources etc etc.  All of these items come with directions and suggestions and are laid out in the ideal order to teach and be successful.

Table of Contents for Interactive Writing Notebook

Getting Ready
Preparations
Setting Up Notebooks
Student Resources
Million Dollar Dictionary
Mini Lesson Instructions
Decorating notebook
Portfolio Labels
Portfolio Message to Parents
Quick Notebook Check Rubric
Tracking Progress Form
Presentation Cards
Writing Workshop Rules

Developing ideas
(Lesson plans, instruction posters 
and notebook printables)

Paragraph Writing Lessons
(Lesson Plans, Instruction Posters, Notebook 
printables, and Independent printable for each)
A. Subject and Predicates
B. Fragments
C. Complete Sentences
D. Run-ons
E. Topic Sentences
F. Relevant Details
G. Clincher
H. Assessment
I. Hamburger Model

Writing Process
(Lesson plans, Posters and notebook printables)

Narrative Writing
(A sample is provided to model and follow through the writing process)
A. Lesson Plans
B. Narrative Elements
C. Narrative Writing CCSS Checklist
D. Prewriting- Brainstorming
E. Task, Audience, Purpose
F. Prewriting- Graphic Organizers
G. Introduction (Character, Setting, Plot)
H. Body (Power of 3, Suspense, Climax)
I. Character Traits
J. Dialogue
K. Conclusions
L. Rough Draft
M. Writing Goal Form
N. DARE to revise (Delete, Add, Rearrange, Exchange)
(more lessons on rockin beginnings, transition words, Million  
Dollar Words using money CLIPS (Colorful Adjectives, Lively  
Figurative Language, Ideal Adverbs, Powerful Verbs, Sizzling 
Sense Words) including bulletin board posters, trashcan 
words, sentence variety, jammin conclusion, crafty title) 
O. CUPS  
(lessons on capitalization, usage, complete 
sentences, punctuation, spelling), ASSESSMENT
P. Peer Reflection and form
Q. Final Copy
R. Samples of final copy paper
S. Rubric
T. Reflection Form
U. Homework/Classwork Printables

Opinion Writing
(A sample is provided to model and follow through the writing process)
A. Lesson Plans
B. Opinion Elements
C. Opinion Writing CCSS Checklist
D. Prewriting- Brainstorming
E. Prewriting- Graphic Organizer
F. Task, Audience, Purpose
G. Strengthen Opinions
H. Introduction
I. Body (Power of 3, facts and details)
J. Conclusions
K. Rough Draft
L. Writing Goal Form
M. Revisions (lessons on rockin beginnings,
supporting details, transition words, 
sentence variety, jammin conclusions, craft 
title)
N. CUPS (Revisit capitals, usage, punctuation, spelling)
O. Peer Reflection
P. Final Copy (keyboarding)
Q. Rubric
R. Reflection Form
S. Homework/Classwork Printables

Informative Writing
(A sample is provided to model and follow through the writing process)
A. Lesson Plans
B. Informative Elements
C. Informative Writing CCSS Checklist
D. Assignment
E. Prewriting- Brainstorming
F. Prewriting- Graphic Organizer
G. Task, Audience, Purpose
H. Organization
I. Plagiarism, Taking Notes
and Citing Sources with forms
J. Introduction
K. Body (Power of 3, vocabulary)
L. Conclusions
M. Rough Draft
N. Writing Goal Form 
O Revisions (lessons on rockin beginnings,
supporting details, transition words, 
sentence variety, jammin conclusions, craft 
title)
P. CUPS (Revisit capitals, usage, punctuation, spelling)
Q. Graphics/Headings/Captions
R. Peer Reflection
S- Final Copy and Template
T- Glossary/Source/Table of Contents
U- Rubric
V. Reflection
W. Homework/Classwork Printables
More Practice/ Choice Assignment/Homework

Look no further! It is all here! If you are a new teacher, this resource is perfect. It is a STEP by STEP, user friendly Interactive Writing Notebook with Instructions on how to teach the skills!

CCSS:  
W.1, W.1.a, W.1.b, W.1.c, W.1.d, 
W.2, W.2.a, W.2.b, W.2.c, W.2.d
W.3, W.3.a, W.3.b, W.3.c, W.3.d, W.3.e, 
W.4, W.5, W.6, W.7, W.8, W.9, W.10
L.1. a, L.1.b, L.1.c, L.1.d, L.1.e, L.1.f, L.1.g
L.2.a, L.2.b, L.2.c. L.2.d
L.3.a


THERE ARE MANY OTHER WRITING PRODUCTS IN OUR STORE!  YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED IN OUR WRITING GURU!  

Test Prep Tips and Strategies

I've been fortunate to be a part of two upper elementary groups of amazingly talented teachers.  I've written a post on each site to go along with Test Prep.

You will find several posts on Test Prep with Upper Grade Memoirs.  My post is called Test Prep Ideas- Rockin the Test.

Previously in Writing Mini Lesson #13, your students set goals for their writing.  Now that the prompt has been introduced and students brainstormed ideas for the prompt, it is time to look at Graphic Organizers that fit well for your expectations.  The one I chose for fourth grade knowing that I want them to create a 5-paragraph essay is directly below.  It sets up the essay perfectly including introduction, topic sentences, details and conclusion.  I find it to be very effective.