Based on the writing program of Judith and Evan Gould

Where is the writing in Reading Street? Everywhere!

Writing on Demand•Quick write•Concept Map—Written Response•Build Writing Fluency•Distributed Practice

Daily Mini Lessons•Variety of products/genres•Key Features•Modeled examples (TE and SE)•Quick write for fluency

Research and Inquiry•Connects to Question of the Week•Has a product every week (balance)

Customized Writing•Big projects•Connect to S.S./Science•Be selective

What does research say?

Recommendation Strong Evidence

Moderate Evidence

Minimal Evidence

1. Provide daily time for students to write.

2. Teach students to use the writing process for a variety of purposes. 2a. Teach students the writing process. 2b. Teach students to write for a variety of purpose.

3. Teach students to become fluency with handwriting, spelling, sentence construction, typing and word processing.

4. Create an engaged community of writers.

What is Four Square Writing? Four-square writing is a

method of teaching basic

writing skills that is

applicable across grade

levels and curriculum areas. It can be applied for the narrative, descriptive,

expository, and persuasive

forms of writing.

What is Four Square Writing? Cont…

Prewriting and organizational skills are taught through the use of a graphic organizer.

This visual and kinesthetic aid is employed to focus writing, to provide details, and to enhance word choice.

The visual organizers help students to conceptualize, understand, and structure a piece of written discourse successfully.

Writing Prompts

Writing Situation:  Everyone has a fond memory of a special birthday.

Think about a birthday that stood out among all the others.

Directions for Writing:  Write a paragraph/ essay telling about your favorite birthday.

Prepare the graphic organizer.

Now fold your paper into 4 squares.

I will never forget my sixth birthday.

Fold the paper into four squares. Begin with one well written topic sentence placed in a box in the center. This will become the topic sentence.

Topic Sentence

I will never forget my sixth birthday.

Add three supporting sentences (one in each box). The fourth box should be a feeling sentence that sums up the other three. All sentences should support the main topic in the center.

My grandmother threw me a surprise party.

My parents gave me a wonderful gift.

My friends and I went to the zoo.

It was the best birthday ever.

I will never forget my sixth birthday.

Add a detail in each box to tell more about the supporting sentence.

My grandmother threw me a surprise party.

My parents gave me a wonderful gift.

My friends and I went to the zoo.

It was the best birthday ever.

•She baked my favorite chocolate fudge cake.

•They surprised me with a golden retriever puppy.

•We rode the elephants.

From the graphic organizer to the lined paper……….. I will never forget my sixth birthday. My grandmother threw me a surprise party. She baked my favorite chocolate fudge cake. My parents gave me a wonderful gift. They surprised me with a golden retriever puppy. My friends and I went to the zoo. We rode the elephants. It was the best birthday ever.

I will never forget my sixth birthday.

Now add three details in each box to tell more about the supporting sentence.

My grandmother threw me a surprise party.

My parents gave me a wonderful gift.

My friends and I went to the zoo.

It was the best birthday ever.

•favorite cake

•tons of presents

•exciting games

•golden retriever

•named Goldie

•best friend

•elephant ride

•walked for miles

•rode train

Again from the graphic organizer to the lined paper……….. I will never forget my sixth birthday. My

grandmother threw me a surprise party. She baked my favorite chocolate fudge cake. I got tons of presents. We had such fun playing exciting games. My parents gave me a wonderful gift. They surprised me with a golden retriever puppy. I named her Goldie. She is my best friend today.My friends and I went to the zoo. We rode the elephants. The zoo was so large we walked for miles. Finally we gave up and rode the train. It was the best birthday ever.

I will never forget my sixth birthday.

My grandmother threw me a surprise party.

My parents gave me a wonderful gift.

My friends and I went to the zoo.

It was the best birthday ever.

•favorite cake

•tons of presents

•exciting games

•golden retriever

•named Goldie

•best friend

•elephant ride

•walked for miles

•rode train

Early in the day, After lunch,

Later, Indeed,

Adding a transition word to each box will help the text to flow.

I will never forget my sixth birthday.

Early in the day, my grandmother threw me a surprise party. She baked my favorite chocolate fudge cake. I got tons of presents. We had such fun playing exciting games.

After lunch, my parents gave me a wonderful gift. They surprised me with a golden retriever puppy. I named her Goldie. She is my best friend today.

Later, my friends and I went to the zoo. We rode the elephants. The zoo was so large we walked for miles. Finally we gave up and rode the train.

Indeed, It was the best birthday ever.

4 Square + 3 +T = 5 Paragraphs

Improving the first paragraph (introductory).

First Paragraph (Introduction)

Topic Sentence Center of 4 Square

Use a hook Prepares reader Ties all squares

together

Getting a year older may be bad

for some, but I will never forget my sixth birthday. The attention that I received from friends and family made me feel warm inside. It was a very special day for me. On to the

essay…...

Getting a year older may be bad for some, but I will never forget my sixth birthday. The attention that I received from friends and family made me feel warm inside. It was a very special day for me.

Early in the day, my grandmother threw me a surprise party. She baked my favorite chocolate fudge cake. I got tons of presents. We had such fun playing exciting games.

After lunch, my parents gave me a wonderful gift. They surprised me with a golden retriever puppy. I named her Goldie. She is my best friend today.

Later, my friends and I went to the zoo. We rode the elephants. The zoo was so large we walked for miles. Finally we gave up and rode the train.

Indeed, It was the best birthday ever.

Improving the Final Paragraph (summary)

Wrap-up Sentence with a Transition

Personal/Feeling Sentence, Question or Exclamation(closing with a punch!)

Getting a year older may be bad for some, but I will never forget my sixth birthday. The attention that I received from friends and family made me feel warm inside. It was a very special day for me.

Early in the day, my grandmother threw me a surprise party. She baked my favorite chocolate fudge cake. I got tons of presents. We had such fun playing exciting games.

After lunch, my parents gave me a wonderful gift. They surprised me with a golden retriever puppy. I named her Goldie. She is my best friend today.

Later, my friends and I went to the zoo. We rode the elephants. The zoo was so large we walked for miles. Finally we gave up and rode the train.

Indeed, it was the best birthday ever. The wonderful surprises from my family and friends will stay with me forever.

Now let’s try it! Fold your paper Box 1: Topic Sentence: There

are some great reasons to use the four square in writing instruction.

Box 2-4: Write 3 reasons as to why it is great to use

Box 5: Write a feeling sentence

Viola!

Your Task

Alone, in partners, or as grade level Look at the next writing piece (mini-lesson

product, research and inquiry, or customized writing section)

Outline how you would use the four square to plan with students writing their paragraph

Example: 5th GradeResearch and Inquiry: Unit 3.1Keywords: Questions:

Visuals Type of AdvertisementPurpose-persuade/inform, etc.Newspaper/T.V. Commercial/Radio Ad

Inventions/Inventors

Things to Consider…

Utah Core Standards state… Conduct short research projects Use technology, including the internet, to produce

and publish writing Gather information from multiple print and digital

sources, assess credibility, and avoid plagiarism

Rubrics!

Writing Rubrics and Anchor Papers

Database of Award Winning Children’s Literature—Example Texts