Lesson Title: So Much Depends Upon...

(Click on the book cover or the lesson title to access the entire lesson on-line at WritingFix)

Mentor Text: Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
Focus Trait: Voice
Support Trait: Word Choice

Lesson Summary: Inspired by both William Carlos Williams and the main character in Sharon Creech's Love That Dog, the writer will create four original 16-word poems that capture interesting images.  The writer will then choose a favorite 16-word poem and ask, "Why would so much depend upon that image to someone else?"  The writer can then create a short story about an original character who might have written the 16-word poem.

Lesson Title: The J. Peterman Experience

(Click on the picture or the lesson title to access the entire lesson on-line at WritingFix)

Mentor Text: The J. Peterman Clothing Catalogue
Focus Trait: Voice
Support Trait: Word Choice

Lesson Summary:The J. Peterman Clothing Catalogue is famous for its well-written descriptions of the clothes and accessories they sell.  Each item is given its own unique history through crafted writing descriptions, often involving stories and memories that are associated with what's for sale.  After studying this famous catalogue’s wonderful descriptions and story-telling for its clothing items or accessories, students will impersonate the voice of the catalogue for an item they would like to sell.

Lesson Title: A Scientific Mishap

(Click on the book cover or the lesson title to access the entire lesson on-line at WritingFix)

Mentor Text: Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey
Focus Trait: Organization
Support Trait: Idea Development

Lesson Summary: After enjoying the clever title and humorous writing style of Dav Pilkey's Dogzilla, students will imagine what type of scientific lab mishap created Pilkey's title character. Then, they will brainstorm other interesting creatures that might be created during scientific lab accidents. Using this lesson's graphic organizer, students will create a three-part story that tells the story of a scientific mishap that leads to the creation of a new creature.

Lesson Title: Nash-ing the Animals

(Click on the book cover or the lesson title to access the entire lesson on-line at WritingFix)

Mentor Text: Several poems by Ogden Nash
Focus Trait: Word Choice
Support Trait: Idea Development

Lesson Summary: Everyone loves the poetry of Ogden Nash!  His silly style and word play entertain people of all ages.  For this mini-lesson, students will discuss some of Mr. Nash’s poetry on animals and write their own short poem(s), imitating his style, in their writer’s notebooks. 

Lesson Title: One Minute in Time

(Click on the book cover or the lesson title to access the entire lesson on-line at WritingFix)

Mentor Text: 10:15 on a Saturday Night by The Cure
Focus Trait: Idea Development
Support Trait: Word Choice

Lesson Summary: After updating my I-pod with some of my favorites 80’s hits, I realized that The Cure’s song “10:15 on a Saturday Night” might inspire some great poetry from my students.  This song explains what happens in one slowed-down minute as the singer is waiting for an important phone call, while also utilizing some catchy onomatopoeia to emphasize the seconds ticking by.  Students will choose their own moment in time to slow down and use onomatopoeia to emphasize the passing of time as they write their own free-verse poems.

Lesson Title: The Sibling Report

(Click on the book cover or the lesson title to access the entire lesson on-line at WritingFix)

Mentor Text: Tub-boo-boo by Margie Palatini
Focus Trait: Organization
Support Trait: Voice

Lesson Summary: After sharing Margie Palatini's charming "bad-situation-that-only-gets-worse tale", Tub-boo-boo, writers will plan a story about a humorous household accident that gets worse before it gets better.  Borrowing Palatini's exciting idea from her book, students will narrate the story as if they are a sibling of the accident victim who is reporting on the situation from the front lawn.   The voice of the narrator, though not a real news reporter, must sound like one.

Lesson Title: Color My World Grey and Blue

(Click on the book cover or the lesson title to access the entire lesson on-line at WritingFix)

Mentor Text: Grey Street by the Dave Matthews Band
Focus Trait: Idea Development
Support Trait: Word Choice

Lesson Summary: After listening to the song “Grey Street” by the Dave Matthews Band, as well as the song “Blue is a Mood” by Blu Cantrell, students will explore the lyrics and discover what role color can play when combined with a particular setting. Once they are armed with this information, students will choose their own color and setting on which to write their own poem or song.

Lesson Title: You Can't Ask for That Poetry

(Click on the book cover or the lesson title to access the entire lesson on-line at WritingFix)

Mentor Text: Love Song by Sarah Bareilles and Valentine for Ernest Mann by Naomi Shihab Nye
Focus Trait: Idea Development
Support Trait: Word Choice

Lesson Summary: After listening to the song “Love Song” by Sarah Bareilles, as well as the poem “Valentine for Ernest Mann” by Naomi Shihab Nye, students will discuss how both the poem and the song address topics that someone shouldn't be allowed to "ask for." After brainstorming other items that someone shouldn't ever be allowed to ask for, they will compose an original poem that explains their thinking.

Great news! I teach three trait-inspired inservices every year in Northern Nevada. Most of the materials from those classes materials can be freely accessed online! Click here to see the page.

Be sure to check out the page of resources I have been helping to build for Nevada students preparing to take the state writing test. Click here to visit the page.

March 2009: Improving Memoir and Narrative Writing with 4th-8th Grade Writers.

September 2009: Formative Writing Traits Data that Improves Instruction

Find out when this class is being offered by visiting the NNWP's Spring Inservice Page.

I just finished The Hunger Games and my students are devouring it. They recommended that I read Skeleton Creek, and so far I am very impressed with it.

I love the Magnetic Poetry site. See all my web favorites by going to my blue page.

Trust me, the NNWP's Writing Lesson of the Month Network is the best free thing you can sign up for on the Internet! Join here.

In Spring 2009, I posted two new iPod lessons and presented them at Rob Stone's iPods Across the Curriculum inservice. Visit my purple page to access all of my on-line lessons.

My Little Red Riding Hooks one-page resource has been featured in the NNWP's Going Deep with 6-Trait Language Workbook, their Secondary Writing Guide, and on the WritingFix website.

Come get your own copy at my pink resource page.