Lesson 4: Wrap-up
The last section of the course will be a short overview of a few more writing tips and tools that you can use to help your students become better writers.
Brainstorming and organizers
Brainstorming
One of the most important skills you can teach your students is to brainstorm before beginning any writing. Brainstorming can be done in many ways, but the purpose is always to have students get their ideas out and somewhat organized. Lists, webs, story maps, graphic organizers, simple outlines, or even pictures or diagrams are all effective ways for students to start to get in touch with their ideas.
You might want to demonstrate brainstorming on the chalkboard or on an easel with chart paper. Group brainstorming can be very powerful, and can lead to more detailed individual brainstorming.
Whatever type of writing you are having your students do, the first step should always be some form of brainstorming.
Graphic Organizers
The graphic organizer is one of the most effect ways for students to brainstorm. A graphic organizer is a visual way for students to organize their thoughts. One of the most basic is the web. Students don't even need a "formal" organizer for this - just have them draw a circle in the middle of the paper and write in it the main thing that they are planning to write about. From there, related ideas are drawn in smaller circles that are connected to the main one. Ideas about those sub topics are drawn in smaller circles around the sub topic circles and all are linked into a web of ideas. See page 10 in the recommended resource Graphic Organizers for an example, or take a look at the Brainstorming Web here: http://www.graphic.org/brainst.html
Another great resource is the Graphic Organizers page: http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank... It gives examples of many different kinds of organizers and their possible uses.
The Index of Graphic Organizers: http://www.graphic.org/goindex.html shows examples of various organizers categorized by the type of writing you want your students to do.
Others are presented here, at another Graphic Organizers page: http://www.smcps.k12.md.us/mbms/writing/...
Graphic organizers are also great for use in subject area studies for organizing and presenting content information.
