Four Square The Personal Writing Coach for Grades 7-9

Written by Judith S. Gouldand Mary F. BurkeIllustrated by Ron Wheeler

Thirteen themed units provideexercise and guidance to make

student writing stronger!

Students prewrite through art, word association, questioning, and poetry.

ETLC10448

Teaching & Learning Company

Provided four squares help students organize their writing.

The writing coach leads students through the writing process.

Four SquareA Companion to the Four Square Writing MethodA Companion to the Four Square Writing Method

The Personal Writing CoachGrades

7-9for

Students complete a variety of fun writing tasks.

Julie

Typewritten Text

i

Four SquareThe Personal Writing Coach

for Grades 7-9

Writing and Learning Across the Curriculum

Written by Judith S. Gould & Mary F. BurkeIllustrated by Ron Wheeler

Teaching & Learning Companya Lorenz company

P.O. Box 802Dayton, OH 45401-0802

www.LorenzEducationalPress.com

TLC10448 2

Cover photos by Digital Vision

Copyright © 2005, Teaching & Learning Company

ISBN 78-1-5731-0448-7

Teaching & Learning Companya Lorenz companyP.O. Box 802Dayton, OH 45401-0802www.LorenzEducationalPress.com

The purchase of this book entitles teachers to make copies for use in their individual classrooms only. This book, or any part of it, may not be reproduced in any form for any other purposes without prior written permission from the Teaching & Learning Company. It is strictly prohibited to reproduce any part of this book for an entire school or school district, or for com-mercial resale.

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

This book belongs to

____________________________________________________________

ISBN 978-0-7877-8619-9

Julie

Text Box

Julie

Typewritten Text

978-1-4291-1283-3

TLC10448 3

Table of Contents Section 1: When I Was Little . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Section 2: What I Now Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Section 3: What I Can Do Now . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Section 4: What I Wish I Could Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Section 5: Changes in My Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Section 6: Changes in My Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Section 7: Adults on My Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Section 8: Earning Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Section 9: Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73Section 10: The Cool Factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81Section 11: Parents: Necessary or Just Embarrassing? . . . . . . . . . . . 89Section 12: Ten Years from Now . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Section 13: Personal Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

TLC10448 4

Dear Teacher or Parent,A teacher’s biggest challenge is time . Between mandatory testing and the test preparation that goes with it and the few resources schools still have, there is precious little time for real instruction . Students with learn-ing and behavioral disabilities bring with them additional challenges to the teaching day . Within any given day in school, there are also interruptions in the flow of instruction that provoke even the most saintly of our profes-sion to near insanity .

Homeschool parent-teachers, we also understand your needs and concerns . Juggling domestic responsibilities and instructional duties is a daunting task . The Personal Writing Coach helps streamline instruction so even novice homeschooling parents will find it accessible and easy to use .

Our point is that we know all kinds of teachers and their struggles . The 13 themed units in The Personal Writing Coach will work with experienced writing students giving them many opportunities to play with language . The Personal Writing Coach will also help your reluctant writers by encouraging them into the process step by step, starting with artwork and progressing gradually to organized pieces of writing .

The process begins with drawing . Meshing the visual with the verbal is a natural first step in writing . It’s especially good for reluctant writers who become anxious when it’s time to write . Getting them to draw makes the physical action of putting pencil to paper less fearful because it is an already familiar activity .

Listing words in the Word Stream is the next logical progression after the artwork . Even though many children have complete thoughts derived from their artwork, jotting down words is less fearful than having to write full sentences . Some students may not need this activity, but chances are your reluctant writer will .

Repetition with basic and personal vocabulary will give the reluctant writer slow and steady experience with words . For the experienced writer, it provides opportunities to play with words by building on established language skills .

The poetry page is our personal favorite . A variety of poetic forms are included throughout The Personal Writing Coach. These help students create a piece of written work using their own words without having to worry about rhyming or meter patterns . These forms are not cast in stone . Teachers are encouraged to change the forms in ways that suit their lessons or add extra craft elements to the writing .

While the coach does not focus on mechanics (spelling, punctuation, grammar) in the activities, writers surely can choose to publish any of the drafts generated in the book in the form of a final, corrected copy .

The four square is a tool to help students who have never used a graphic organizer . We recommend that teach-ers model the four square and its connection to the actual writing which can be the final piece or just a rough draft . We’ve included an example on pages vi and vii to help you with your modeling .

This book contains 13 themed units, designed to meet the interests and abilities of your young writers . Each unit brings the prewriting through art, word association, questioning, form poetry, planning and finally composi-tion of prose . Taking the themes through these same steps can help to build writer confidence and fluency .

Sincerely,

Judith S . GouldMary F . Burke

TLC10448 5

Dear Writer,This book is your personal coach for writing . Your writing coach, like a sporting coach, is there to give advice and guide you . For each theme in this book, your coach has put together exercises to make your writing stronger . Use the coach to help your thinking and planning . Of course, the writing is up to you . Use your style and make the writing your own .

You can do these themes in any order, but you may find it easier to use the order your coach has pro-vided . You may choose to make final, corrected, gorgeous copies of your writing or you may choose to leave it as a practice or scrimmage . Gear up with trusty pencils, erasers, markers and other sporting equipment and get ready to play!

Sincerely,

Judith S . GouldMary F . Burke

TLC10448 6

Four Square

Overcame hardshipsPoor background

rural Alabama orphan/foster homes

Married/divorced with kid young/no skills

Worked and night school twice a week grad-uated with honors temp jobs

Great personalityNever pities herself

doesn’t make excuses has high standards for behavior

Sense of humor can laugh at bad luck never laughs at others

Spam® pizza

CleverFlea Market Queen

furniture/dresser used paint and old fabric resold chair

Goodwill shopper sense of style uses color refashions jewelry

Taught me to be frugal helped me save money room makeover

Choose one or write your own:Anyone who can overcome crisis after crisis, has a great character and is wiser

than a roomful of philosophers deserves my undying admiration.

ORIt’s not every day that you meet someone with this kind of charac-ter. I feel fortunate that we have adopted “Aunt Sally” to be part of our family.

Choose one beginning or make up your own:Some of my friends think adults are always the bad guys. That’s not necessarily true. I know one particular adult, ______________, who is the subject of my admiration.

ORWho do you admire? Is it an athlete? An entertainer? A doctor? Everyone has someone they admire. For me, it’s my mother’s best friend, someone I call Aunt Sally.

TLC10448 7

Some of my friends think adults are always the bad guys. That’s not necessarily true. I know one particular adult, my Aunt Sally, who is the subject of my genuine admiration. First of all, my Aunt Sally is not really my aunt, but my mother’s best friend for the past fifteen years. She came from a poor background in rural Alabama. Orphaned at the age of nine, she spent most of her life being bounced from one foster home to the next. She married young and had a child before she was nineteen. Then her husband left her soon after that. She had no family, no job and no skills. Other people would have given up, but not Sally. She found herself a job, some proper day care for her daughter and went to night school twice a week for seven years until she got her degree in business technology. She graduated with honors. Even though she had a degree, she still had difficulty finding a decent job in a sluggish economy. Again, she didn’t give up. She worked a dozen temp jobs before finding the right company with the right salary. That’s what I admire most about her. No matter what life throws at her, she never gives up. Another thing I adore about Sally is her great personality. She never pities herself or makes excuses for herself. She has never once complained about her life or her bad luck in all the years I’ve known her. She has high standards and expectations for herself. She has often said to me, “There is no road so smooth that it has no rough spots,” for she knows chal-lenges are a part of life and part of growing. But she’s not just a serious gal. Sally also has a terrific sense of humor. With so much bad luck, she is an expert of laughing through the bad times. Once when money was tight, she lived on nothing but Spam® and created her own version of Spam® pizza. She even wrote to the people at the local pizzeria offering them the recipe, but they never replied. Lastly, Sally is one clever gal. At our house she is known as the Flea Market Queen. We have often said that she furnished her entire apartment with less than twenty-five dol-lars and a can of paint. That’s close to the truth. Many of the pieces in her apartment were purchased for ten dollars or less. She brought them back to her place and with a little sandpaper and some paint, made them into something chic and fashionable. She once bought a chair for two dollars, worked her magic on it, then sold it to an acquaintance for twenty dollars. Working with that creative vision is also how she shops for clothes. Goodwill is her favorite place to shop because she uses her sense of style to pick out just the right pieces to go with the things she has. She remakes jewelry–earrings and pins. She has even taught me to be thrifty. Last spring when I wanted to redecorate my room, she went with me to flea markets and garage sales to pick out a few new pieces of furniture and to get some fabric for curtains and pillows. The final result was so amazing. Now all my friends want to hang out in my room. I couldn’t have done it without Sally’s help. It’s not every day that you meet someone with this kind of character. I feel fortu-nate that we have adopted “Aunt Sally” to be part of our family.

That four square now becomes this piece of writing.

TLC10448 8

Four Square

TLC10448 9

Things in your life may seem as if they are staying the same, but it is likely that they have

changed a lot lately. Think about your early childhood. What memories are vivid to you? You will be thinking and writing about early childhood

memories.

Section 1:

When I Was Little

TLC10448 10

Name ________________________________

Before you start writing, you have pictures in your head that come first . Let’s start with those pictures! Get busy with your markers or colored pencils . Think about your writing while you are sketching .

Sketch what you remember of your first bedroom .

Sketch your favorite early childhood activity .

Sketch your best early childhood friend .

Art to Start

TLC10448 11

Name ________________________________

It’s important to have words, and lots of them, streaming in front of you before you start to write . Then you can pick them out when you need them . Let’s start the stream by listing some words that are already in your head . Don’t worry about spelling . You can fix that later .

Verbs (action words) for the things you liked doing as a young child

Nouns (people, places, things) related to your everyday life as a young child

The places you visited as a young child

Huddle TimeIf you’re getting stuck or see that you are using the same kind of words, try using a thesaurus to help you pump up your word list . The personal writing coach gives a thumbs up to using a thesaurus whenever you write .

Word Stream

Words to describe your first bedroom

TLC10448 12

Name ________________________________

Your coach would like you to think about your topic by answering these questions . Think of it as interviewing yourself!

1 . What is the very first memory you have? ___________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2 . Do you remember the first place you called home? What details can you recall? _____________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . Do you remember anything about a sitter or daycare? What do you remember? _____________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . Did you take any trips as a young child? Where? What do you remember about your trips?

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . What memories do you have of an early childhood cold or illness? ________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6 . What early childhood memories do you have about your extended family? __________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7 . What is your earliest memory of a holiday or special occasion? __________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

8 . What do you remember about your daily routine as a young child? ________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

9 . What was your favorite toy or activity as a young child? _______________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

10 . Did you have a favorite book? Movie? Television program? What were they? _______________

___________________________________________________________________________

Questions and Answers

TLC10448 13

Name ________________________________

PoetryYour coach will help you put your words together to form some poetry . Don’t worry, just follow the form and it will be easy and fun .

How ___________________ (feeling) I must have been

_______________ _______________ _______________ (three things you did)

My ____________________ (favorite toy or game) by my side

At ____________________ or ____________________ (places you went)

Or safe in my ____________________ (describing word or words) room

Those were the days

Here is an example:

How content I must have beenBlowing bubbles, finger painting or playing with my Weebles™At Grandma Ida’s or Aunt Shirley’s houseOr safe in my cool white roomThose were the days

Now you try . Just follow the form .

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 14

Name ________________________________

Four SquareThis will help organize your thoughts for writing to tell a story about a time when you were younger . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

The interesting thing that happened:

___________________________________

Details that tell more about this:

1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________

Try to describe how you must have felt at the time .

Things got even more interesting when . . .

__________________________________

Details that tell more about this

1 . __________________________________

2 . ___________________________________

3 . __________________________________

What did you see and hear during this?

How things went back to normal:

__________________________________


1 .__________________________________

2 .__________________________________

3 .__________________________________

How did you feel when it was all over? Did this change things for you? How?

Choose an ending (or use your own):

1 . That was a strange time .

2 . It seems like yesterday .

3 . It almost seems like that was another lifetime .

Choose a beginning (or use your own): 1 . I remember it well . 2 . I hardly remember it at all . 3 . All those years agoNow add a bit about where and when

________________________________

TLC10448 15

The phrases and words from your four square will now form sentences for your writing, page 16 .

Start with the information in the middle box . Indent that first line on your paper and start writing using the ideas from that box .

When you are done with the middle box, go to the top, left box . Use the ideas and words from that box to form sentences that you will use in your writing . Don’t forget to indent when you write these ideas down, because it’s a new main idea that forms this new paragraph .

Next go to the top, right box . Use the ideas and words from that box to form sentences that you will use in your writing . Now you’re writing about a new idea, so remember to indent . Make sure you add lots of details and interesting words to your sentences to give your writing pizzazz .

As soon as you’re done with the top, right box, you will go to the bottom, left box . Use the ideas and words from that box to form sentences that you will use in your writing . New ideas mean another indention for this new paragraph . Make sure your writing sounds like you . Put your personality into it .

The last box is your ending . Even though it’s not much writing, it still needs an indention because it’s a new idea . You’re telling the reader good-bye . Of course, we don’t say good-bye, but we try to leave the reader with one last thought or feeling about the topic . Look at your box . What phrases did you write? This will help you with your ending .

A Word from Your Coach

TLC10448 16

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 17

Learning happens every day, whether you know it or not. Even when school is out you can learn things by living in and observing the world around you.

For this theme, you will be thinking and writing about some of the things you

know and understand.

Section 2:

What I Now Know

TLC10448 18

Name ________________________________

Art to StartBefore you start writing, you have pictures in your head that come first . Let’s start with those pictures! Get busy with your markers or colored pencils . Think about your writing while you are sketching .

Sketch something that you think is common to almost all people .

Think and sketch the most important historical moment you have learned about .

Sketch something that you think is different about almost all people .

Sketch the most important thing that you have ever witnessed .

TLC10448 19

Name ________________________________

Word Stream

Words to describe the school subject you know best


Words that tell about the outside-of-school subject you know best

You are an expert at this, and you know all of these words

Words that tell about what you know from history or an event during your life


TLC10448 20

Name ________________________________

Questions and AnswersYour coach would like you to think about your topic by answering these questions . Think of it as interviewing yourself!

1 . What is the school subject that you know the most about? Why do you know so much about this subject?

___________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2 . What outside-of-school subject do you know the most about? __________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . In what subject are you an expert or almost an expert? ________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . Is there something that you could teach a parent or other adult? What would it be? _________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . What do you know about the way people act with each other? How have you learned this?

___________________________________________________________________________

6 . What important things do you know about history? What makes them important? __________

___________________________________________________________________________

7 . What is the most important event that has taken place while you have been alive? Why is it

important? _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

8 . What do you think is the most important thing that you have learned in school? Outside of school?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 21

Name ________________________________


Here is the form:

In my head

I know ____________________ (tell about your expertise)

I believe ____________________ (tell about an event or moment in history) made a change

I learned ____________________ (tell about a school subject)

And I think I may __________________ (one thing that you may do in your future)

This can be used for your favorite TV programs, movies and computer games, too .

Here is an example:

In my headI know strikes and splits and what makes a 300-point gameI believe the birth of the United States of America in 1776 made a changeI learned grammar and spelling and penmanshipAnd I think I may write to tell people all about these things


_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 22

Name ________________________________

Four SquareThis will help organize your thoughts for writing to explain why you are wise . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

One thing you know a lot about:

__________________________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________

Give a specific example or short personal story that proves you know so much about this .

____________________

____________________


___________________________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . ___________________________________

3 . __________________________________


____________________

____________________


___________________________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . ___________________________________

3 . __________________________________


___________________________________

Choose an ending (or use your own): ____________________

1 . Not bad for a kid?

2 . A lot of information lives in this head . 3 . Living and learning may not happen only

in school .

Choose a beginning (or use your own): 1 . I may only be _____ (age), but I know a

thing or two . 2 . You don’t have to be a straight A

student to know a lot . 3 . I know a lot about many things .

TLC10448 23







The last box is your ending . Even though it’s not much writing, it still needs an indention because it’s a new idea . You’re

telling the reader good-bye . Of course, we don’t say good-bye, but we try to leave the

reader with one last thought or feeling about the topic . Look at your box . What phrases did you write? This

will help you with your ending .

TLC10448 24

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 25

Reading, multiplication, surfing the internet or even tying your shoes.

These seemingly simple things were impossible for you just a few short years ago. In this theme you will be writing and thinking about all of the

things that you can do.

Section 3:

What I Can Do Now

TLC10448 26

Name ________________________________


Sketch something that you can do outdoors .

Sketch something you learned to do, that you can do now without even thinking about it .

Sketch something that you can do better than anyone else in your family .

Sketch the hardest thing that you ever learned how to do .

Art to Start

TLC10448

Name ________________________________

Word Stream

Words to describe the thing you do the very best


Words that tell about a sport or physical activity that you do well

Words that tell the hardest thing that you ever learned to do


Words to describe the things you do every day that may not have been possible just five years ago

27

TLC10448 28

Name ________________________________


1 . Is there something that was hard for you to learn in school, but now you know how to do it? What

is it? How did you finally learn to do it? ____________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2 . Do you excel at a sport or athletic activity? Which one? _______________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . Can you think of a chore or task that you do exceptionally well around the house? ___________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . Think about your typical day . List some of the things that you do now that you couldn’t do just five

years ago . ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . What is the hardest thing that you ever learned how to do? ____________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6 . Can you think of something that a parent or family member taught you to do? When did they teach

you? _______________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7 . Is there something that you have taught someone else to do? ________________

_______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________

___________________________________________

TLC10448 29

Name ________________________________


Here is the form:

It used to be hard(One thing you do)(How you do it)(How you learned)(Now it is easy)

(Repeat as many times as needed)


_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Here is an example:

It used to be hardWriting in cursiveWith my favorite ball pointHours of looping and copying and practicingNow it is easy

It used to be hardTying my shoelacesTwo loops round and overMom showed me the wayNow it is easy

TLC10448 30

Name ________________________________

Four SquareThis will help organize your thoughts for writing to explain how you became an expert at a particular thing . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

How do you do it:

___________________________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . ___________________________________

3 . __________________________________

Give a specific example or short personal story that proves you do it so well .

How you learned to do this:

___________________________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . ___________________________________

3 . __________________________________

Give a specific example or short personal story about learning about this .

When you do it now . . .

_________________

_________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________

Give a specific example or short personal story about doing this thing .


________________

1 . These days, I’m practically an expert at

________________________________ .

2 . Now I do it so well . 3 . Maybe it was tough to learn, but I can do it

now!

Choose a beginning (or use your own): 1 . It is hard to believe that I once couldn’t do

this . 2 . Now I know it like the back of my hand .

Name what you do ______________________

TLC10448 31








TLC10448 32

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 33

This age can seem like such an in-between time. While you are certainly not a baby

or even a little kid, you probably don’t have many of the privileges of an older teen or a young adult. What things do you wish you

could do? In this theme you will be thinking and writing about things you look

forward to doing in the future.

Section 4:

What I Wish I Could Do

TLC10448 34

Name ________________________________


Sketch something that adults do that you cannot wait to do yourself .

Sketch something you have seen older teens do that you wish you could do .

Sketch something that you ought to be allowed to do now .

Sketch something you look forward to doing in the next two years .

TLC10448 35

Name ________________________________

Word StreamIt’s important to have words, and lots of them, streaming in front of you before you start to write . Then you can pick them out when you need them . Let’s start the stream by listing some words that are already in your head . Don’t worry about spelling . You can fix that later .

Words that tell about something you look forward to doing in your teen years

Words that tell about something you look forward to doing in the next year or two

Words that tell about something you think you should be able to do now


Words to describe the thing you will have to wait until adulthood to do, but you wish you could do now

TLC10448 36

Name ________________________________


1 . Is there something that adults do that you wish you could do? What is it? Why can’t you do it

now? ______________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2 . What kinds of things do you look forward to being able to do as an older teen? ______________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . What is something you look forward to doing within the next two years? Why can’t you do it now?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . What is one thing that you think you ought to be able to do now? ________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 37

Name ________________________________


Here is the form:

Wishing wanting(Thing you want to do)(Words about the thing you want to) (When you think you will be able to do it)

Here is an example:

Wishing wantingMy own telephoneCalling my friends and talking in privateIn the comfort of my own roomFor my fifteenth birthday


_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 38

Name ________________________________

Four SquareThis will help organize your thoughts for writing to explain why you should be allowed a particular privi-lege . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

One reason you should be allowed to do it now (the third most important):

__________________________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . ___________________________________

3 . __________________________________

Give a specific example or short personal story .

One reason you should be allowed to do it now (the second most important):

___________________________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . ___________________________________

3 . __________________________________


One reason you should be allowed to do it now (the most important):

________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________



________________ 1 . (Reason 1, reason 2 and reason 3) . It is clear

that I am ready to

_________________________________ .

2 . The case is clear . I am ready . So what are we waiting for?

Choose a beginning (or use your own):

1 . I think I am ready to __________________ .

2 . No longer a baby, not yet an adult, I am ready

to _______________________ .

TLC10448








39








39

TLC10448 40

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 41

Maybe you have the same friends that you had five years ago, or maybe you have

different friends now. Chances are that your friends have made some changes of

their own. How are your friends different? Do you have some new friends?

In this theme you will be writing and thinking about the changes in your friends.

Section 5:

Changes in My Friends

TLC10448 42

Name ________________________________


Sketch something that you used to do with your friends .

How did your friend look when you first met?

Sketch something that you now like to do with your friends .

Sketch the way that friend looks now .

Art to Start

TLC10448

Name ________________________________


Words that tell about something you do or talk about now

Words to describe how a particular friend looked when you first became friends

Words that tell how your friend looks now


Words to describe the thing you liked to do (or talk about) with a friend when you were younger

43

TLC10448 44

Name ________________________________


1 . Where did you usually see your friends when you first became friendly? ___________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2 . Where do you see them now? What is different? _____________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . What are some of the things that your friend liked to do when you first met? _______________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . What things does your friend like to do now? What is the same? What is different? _________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . Think about the way your friend looked when you first met (dress, hairstyle) . How has that

changed since you met? ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6 . When together, friends often talk about the future . Can you remember the plans and goals you

shared with your friend back when you first met? How are they different now? _____________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7 . Sometimes friends change and we aren’t alike anymore . Can you think of a friend who changed this

way? Who? What happened? ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 45

Name ________________________________


Here is the form:

The name of your friendWhen and where you metHow the friend lookedWhat you used to do togetherToday’s dateHow your friend looksWhat you like doing nowHow you feel about that friend

Here is an example:

Moving in across the street, July 1998So cute in her pink dress with her long braided hairWe went on the swings and splashed in the sprinklerAugust 2004Tall and thin, with shoulder-length hairWe talk on the phone and send instant messagesI’m so sad that she moved away

Now try . Just follow the form .

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 46

Name ________________________________

Four SquareThis will help organize your thoughts for writing to tell about a time you noticed a change in your friend . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

The thing that made you notice that your friend had changed:

___________________________________

What did you see? _______________________

What did you hear? ______________________

How did you feel? ________________________

Details that tell more about this: ___________

What did you do?

____________________________________

What did you see? _______________________

What did you hear? ______________________

How did you feel? ________________________


___________________

___________________

What did your friend do when you reacted this way?

__________________

What did you see? _______________________

What did you hear? ______________________

How did you feel? ________________________


____________________________________

____________________________________

How did you get along after this?

Did it hurt or help your friendship?

Do you still talk about it today?

Setting: Where and when you noticed your friend had changed . ___________________

Who was there? ______________________

Where were you? _____________________

When was it? ________________________

What were you doing? _________________

TLC10448 47







The last box is your ending . Even though it’s not much writing, it still needs an indention because it’s a new

idea . You’re telling the reader good-bye . Of course, we don’t say good-bye, but we try to leave the reader with one last thought or

feeling about the topic . Look at your box . What phrases did you write? This will

help you with your ending .

TLC10448 48

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 49

Do you remember your first room? Do you have your own room now, or do you share with a brother or sister? Now that you

are older, what things have changed in your bedroom? In this theme, you will be thinking

and writing about the way that your room has changed.

Section 6:

Changes in My Room

TLC10448 50

Name ________________________________


Sketch something from your earliest memory of your room .

Sketch how your room looks now .

Sketch the way your room looked when you were a preschooler .

Sketch your dream room .

TLC10448 51

Name ________________________________

Word Stream

Words to describe your first room


Words that tell about your room when you were a preschooler

Words to describe how your room looks today

Words that tell how your room reflects your personality


TLC10448 52

Name ________________________________


1 . What do you remember about your very first room? If you have a hard time remembering, it is okay

to ask for help . _______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2 . What do you remember about your room when you were a preschooler? ___________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . What is the best part about your room now? ________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . How would you change your room, if you could? _______________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . How much “say” do you have when it comes to the way your room looks? ___________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6 . Who is allowed in your room? Who is not? __________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7 . Sometimes a person’s room is a reflection of his or her personality . In what ways is that true for

you? __________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

TLC10448 53

Name ________________________________


A nickname when you were littleIn his/her _______________ roomCity and StateSurrounded by _______________How things have changedName or new nicknameIn his/her _______________ roomSurrounded by _______________City and State

Now you try .

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Here is an example:

Punkin’In her primary-colored roomSeaford, New YorkSurrounded by crayons and teddy bearsGrowing upPrincessIn her sky-blue roomSurrounded by Beanie Boppers and hip-hop musicJacksonville, Florida

TLC10448 54

Name ________________________________

This will help organize your thoughts for writing to describe how your room has changed over the years . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

One word that describes your first room:

___________________________________

Details that tell why:

1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________

Elaborate about one specific part of that room, preferably one that your room would never have today .

One word that describes your current room is

___________________________________

Details that tell why:

1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________

Elaborate about one specific reason why your room is that way .

One reason why you think you should be allowed to go there:

_________________

Give some details that explain this reason, or use examples .

1 . __________________________________

2 . ___________________________________

3 . __________________________________

Add a specific tidbit to prove it .

How you might change your room in the future is

________________ .Details

1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________


1 . My room and I have come a long way . 2 . My room is pretty special to me .

Choose a beginning (or use your own): 1 . My room sure has changed over the years .

2 . I can’t believe what my room once looked like .

3 . Boy, do things look different around here now .

Four Square

TLC10448 55


The phrases and words from your four square will now form sentences for your

writing, page 56 .






TLC10448 56

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 57

You have many people who are important to you. Some are

friends your age and some are adults.Think of the adults that

you admire, trust and love. Okay, let’s get ready to write!

Section 7:

Adults on My Side

TLC10448 58

Name ________________________________


Draw four adults you feel you can talk to, who listen to you, who make you laugh or who you feel give good advice . Think of adults who are family, friends, teachers or acquaintances .

TLC10448

Name ________________________________


Choose two adults who are on your side and collect words to go with them .

Adult #1 ________________________


Think of three words that describe this person’s character.

_______________

_______________

_______________

Think of three verbs that remind you of this person.

_______________

_______________

_______________

Think of three nouns that you associate with this person.

_______________

_______________

_______________

Think of three words that tell how this person works.

_______________

_______________

_______________

Adult #2 ________________________

Think of three words that describe this person’s character.

_______________

_______________

_______________

Think of three verbs that remind you of this person.

_______________

_______________

_______________

Think of three nouns that you associate with this person.

_______________

_______________

_______________

Think of three words that tell how this person works.

_______________

_______________

_______________

59

TLC10448 60

Name ________________________________


Answer the following questions for each adult in the Word Stream section .

Adult #1: _____________________ 1 . Who is this person and what is his or her connection to you? ___________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2 . What does this person do for work or for a career? ___________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . What quality do does the person possess that you most admire? Why? __________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . How do you see that quality demonstrated in his or her everyday life? ____________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . How has knowing this person shaped or defined your life? ______________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Adult #2: _____________________ 1 . Who is this person and what is his or her connection to you? ___________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2 . What does this person do for work or for a career? ___________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . What quality does the person possess that you most admire? Why? _____________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . How do you see that quality demonstrated in his or her everyday life? ____________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . How has knowing this person shaped or defined your life? ______________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 61

Name ________________________________

PoetryPick out some of the words on your Word Stream page to complete this poem form . Feel free to use other words, too!

Person’s nameList three nouns associated with this personList three verbs associated with this personList three adjectives associated with this personCompare this person to an animalCompare this person to an element of weather or climateA feelings statement

Here is an example:

Aunt BettyChickens, a butter churn, a shawlBelching, cooking, naggingSoulful, kind, uniqueLike a rooster so loud every morningLike a hurricane that can roust you out of bedShe is country but she is cool.

Now you try .

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 62

Name ________________________________

Four SquareThis will help organize your thoughts for writing to explain why you admire a particular adult . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

Reason #1

____________________________________

Give an example that supports the reason you gave with lots of details . How did this example affect you?

Reason #2

______________________________________

Give an example that supports the reason you gave with lots of details . What did you learn from this particular situation?

Reason #3

___________________

___________________

Give an example that supports the reason you gave with lots of details . How did this example affect you?

Overall, having this person in my life means . . .

Choose a beginning (or use your own): 1 . Some kids think they can’t trust anyone

who is an adult . I don’t feel that way at all . ________________ is one person I truly admire .

2 . Can any adult be truly trusted? That’s a tough question, but I am lucky enough to be able to answer with a resounding yes . In my life, _________________ is one adult that deserves my respect .

TLC10448 63






As soon as you’re done with the top, right box, you will go to the bottom, left box . Use the ideas and words from that box to form sentences that you will use in your

writing . New ideas mean another indention for this new paragraph . Make sure your writing

sounds like you . Put your personality into it .

The last box is your ending . Even though it’s not much writing, it still needs an indention because it’s a new

idea . You’re telling the reader good-bye . Of course, we don’t say good-bye, but we try to leave the reader with one last thought or feeling about the topic . Look at your box . What phrases did you write? This will help you with your ending .

TLC10448 64

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 65

It seems like everyone has some but you. When you finally get some, it never stays

around for long! We’re talking money, cash, greenbacks, the big bad ka-ching!

Now, lets write about it!

Section 8:

Earning Money

TLC10448 66

Name ________________________________


Sketch three things you’d like to buy with your own money .

In this box sketch three ways you could earn money .

TLC10448 67

Name ________________________________

Word Stream

List things you would buy with your own money.



List possible jobs you could do to earn your own money.

List qualities you possess that will make you very employable.

TLC10448 68

Name ________________________________


1 . How do you plan to earn your own money? __________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2 . What are the things you plan to purchase with your own money? ________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . Why are these things important to you? ___________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . If you could design your dream job, what would it be? __________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . What qualities do you possess that would compel someone to hire you for a particular job?

___________________________________________________________________________

6 . Do you believe it is important to have your own money? Why? ___________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7 . What is your personal philosophy about money? Do you feel, as some do, that it is the root of all

evil? Do you believe you cannot be happy without it? Why or why not? ____________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

8 . In the general scheme of things, how important is money to you? ________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 69

Name ________________________________

PoetryAn acrostic poem uses the first letter of a topic written down the side of the paper to start each line of poetry . Use a phrase that describes how you feel about your own money beginning with each particular letter .

M ______________________________________________________________

Y _______________________________________________________________

O _______________________________________________________________

W ______________________________________________________________

N _______________________________________________________________

M ______________________________________________________________

O _______________________________________________________________

N _______________________________________________________________

E _______________________________________________________________

Y _______________________________________________________________

TLC10448 70

Name ________________________________

Four SquareThis will help organize your thoughts for writing to explain ways to earn your own money . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

Way #1 to earn money

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

____________________


______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

___________________

___________________


____________________

____________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

With this plan and my own special skills, I really believe . . .

___________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

Choose a beginning (or use your own): 1 . Everyone needs money and I’m no

exception! I’ve got a plan for some clever and crafty ways to earn my own money .

2 . Can a struggling teenager rise above overwhelming odds to earn his or her money? Yes it’s possible .

TLC10448 71








TLC10448 72

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 73

Responsibilities! Can’t live with them and can’t live without them! They’re part of our everyday life.

Maybe if we try writing about our responsibilities, we could

understand them a bit more. Ready? Here we go!

Section 9:

Responsibilities

TLC10448 74

Name ________________________________


Sketch a picture of yourself without any responsibilities .

Sketch a picture of yourself with all your responsibilities .

Sketch a picture of your least favorite responsibility .

Sketch a picture of your favorite responsibility .

Art to Start

TLC10448 75

Name ________________________________

Word Stream

List categories of responsibility you have now.



Think of as many adjectives as you can to describe those responsibilities.

List as many verbs as you can that characterize any of your responsibilities.

TLC10448 76

Name ________________________________


1 . What responsibilities do you currently have? ________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2 . What privileges are connected to those responsibilities?_______________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . What responsibility would you like to attempt? Why? _________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . What is one responsibility you wish you could give up? _________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . Are there days you feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities? ___________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6 . Do you have friends who have few responsibilities? Who are they? How do you feel about this part

of their lives? ________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7 . Do you have friends who have too many responsibilities? Who are they? How do you feel about this

part of their lives? ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

8 . Do you feel that you are a responsible person? Why or why not? _________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 77

Name ________________________________

PoetryUse your own words to fill in the form to complete the poem .

I am responsible for _____________________________________________

And I feel ______________________________________________________


And I want ____________________________________________________


And I can’t ____________________________________________________

I am responsible for ____________________________________________

And I wish _____________________________________________________

I am not responsible for _________________________________________

And I __________________________________________________________

Here is an example:

I am responsible for taking care of my bedroomAnd I feel like a prisoner in there sometimes.I am responsible for my gradesAnd I want to be done with school already.I am responsible for my actionsAnd I can’t always figure out what to do.I am responsible for the way I dressAnd I wish I didn’t have to wear hand-me downs.I am not responsible for the way my parents behaveAnd I wish I could be.

TLC10448 78

Name ________________________________

Four SquareThis will help organize your thoughts for writing to describe your responsibilities . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

Home Responsibilities

Describe them using examples and details .

1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________

4 . __________________________________

5 . __________________________________

School Responsibilities


1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________

4 . __________________________________

5 . __________________________________

Responsibilities to My Friends


1 .

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________

4 . __________________________________

5 . __________________________________

In my world, responsibilities are . . .

Choose a beginning (or use your own): 1 . Can one person perish from too many

responsibilities? It might happen to me . My world is full of pressing obligations with nowhere to hide .

2 . If responsibilities meant money, I’d be the richest person on the planet . My life is full of one obligation after another .

TLC10448 79








TLC10448 80

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 81

It doesn’t matter how old you are, everyone wants to be cool. When you’re

in school being cool is what is chased after, copied and crucial. The cool

factor is unique, but what is it really? Let’s find out by writing about it!

Section 10:

The Cool Factor

TLC10448 82

Name ________________________________


Sketch yourself as cool .

Sketch yourself and your friends doing something cool .

Sketch yourself as uncool .

Sketch the one thing that symbolizes cool to you right now .

Art to Start

TLC10448

Name ________________________________

Word Stream

List at least five cool things.



List five cool people you know.

List five cool places you’d like to go.

List five things that ARE NOT cool.

List five adjectives that are synonyms for the word cool.

83

TLC10448 84

Name ________________________________


1 . What is your definition of cool? __________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2 . Who is the coolest person you know? Why? _________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . What is the coolest thing you’ve ever done? What made it so cool? ______________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . What do you wear when you want to be cool? Why? ___________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . What do you say when you want to be cool? Why? ____________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6 . What is the coolest thing you can do to make yourself a true individual? Why? ______________

___________________________________________________________________________

7 . Does cool change? Who dictates this change? Why? _________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

8 . How do you think cool will change in the next six months? In the next year? In the next five years?

___________________________________________________________________________

9 . Is there such a thing as a cool adult? Who on Earth would be in this category? What makes them

cool? _______________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 85

Name ________________________________

PoetryIt’s time to write a poem! Remember poetry doesn’t have to be complicated nor does it have to rhyme . It should sound the way you sound and have your feelings and attitudes all over it .This poem form is easy—just fill in the blanks with your own words!

What is cool? Cool is _______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Cool is _______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Cool is _______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

Cool is not ___________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Cool is not ___________________________________________ _____________________________________________________Where do you stand?

Here is an example:

What is cool? Cool is hanging out with your friends without worrying about every word you say. Cool is laughing so hard you can’t catch your breath. Cool is when bad guys finish last.

Cool is not having your friends meet your little brother. Cool is not looking for change under the couch cushions.

Where do you stand?

TLC10448 86

Name ________________________________

Four SquareThis will help organize your thoughts for writing to explain how to be cool . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

The cool uniform—what you wear and how you wear it:

__________________________________

Details and examples should go in this box .

1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________

The cool mannerisms and actions—doing all the cool things:

___________________________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________

Hanging with cool people and/or copying the cool people:

_________________

_________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________

As you can see, being cool is . . .


1 . Everyone thinks they know what cool is but they’re wrong . Only I know what is truly cool .

2 . Coolness is a quality as fleeting as a whisper . Being truly cool takes practice and self-awareness . It’s not easy but it reaps great rewards .

TLC10448 87








TLC10448 88

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 89

Yes, we know you love them, those wacky, wooly and weird people who brought you

into this world and raised you. There are times though when your parents can make you want to run and hide so you can never

be found. What is that all about? To understand this notion, let’s write about

it! Ready? Here we go!

Section 11:

Parents: Necessary or Just Embarrassing?

TLC10448 90

Name ________________________________


Sketch a picture of your parents .

Sketch a picture of your parents at their most embarrassing .

Sketch a picture of your parents on their best behavior .

Sketch a picture of you reacting to this humiliation .

TLC10448 91

Name ________________________________

Word Stream

List things your parents do that do not embarrass you.


List things your parents do that embarrass you.

List action words that describe you when the embarrassment takes place.

List adjectives that describe your parents.


TLC10448 92

Name ________________________________


1 . Who are your parents? Tell the most important things you know about them . ______________

__________________________________________________________________________

2 . What are the most admirable traits they possess? Explain and give examples . _____________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . What are the most annoying traits they possess? Explain and give examples . ______________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . What is the most prominent misconception your parents have about you? Why do you suppose

that is? _____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . What is the most accurate notion your parents have about you? ________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6 . Have your parents ever behaved in an embarrassing manner? ___________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7 . Thinking of your parents as individuals, what do you think motivates their actions? __________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

8 . If you could change one thing about your parents, what would it be? Why? _________________

___________________________________________________________________________

9 . If they could change one thing about you, what do you think they would change? Why? ________

___________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 93

Name ________________________________

PoetryThis poem form takes the form of a letter . Like many of your poem forms it’s very easy! Just fill in the blanks with your own words and don’t forget to make it full of attitude and feeling .

Dear Mom and Dad,

I just want to say ______________________________________________

And furthermore, ________________________________________________

One day I hope to _______________________________________________

And with your help ______________________________________________

I wish you ______________________________________________________

And really stop __________________________________________________

But most of all, I really want you to ____________________________

Because I want to _______________________________________________

Love, ___________________________________________________________

Here is an example:

Dear Mom and Dad,I just want to say that sometimes you worry meAnd furthermore, I wish you wouldn’t kiss in front of my friendsOne day I hope to embarrass my kids the way you mortify meAnd with your help I will have plenty of practice observing you do just that.I wish you weren’t so in love And really stop calling each other “Puddin’ ” and “Schnookums”But most of all, I really want you to argue occasionallyBecause I want to know you’re really normal.Love, Me

TLC10448 94

Name ________________________________

Four SquareThis will help organize your thoughts for writing to explain how your parents embarrass you . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

Parents’ embarrassing behavior around the house:

__________________________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . ___________________________________

3 . __________________________________

Parents’ embarrassing behavior around your friends:

___________________________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . ___________________________________

3 . __________________________________

Parents’ embarrassing behavior in public:

________________


1 . __________________________________

2 . __________________________________

3 . __________________________________

All of this is true, and my only consolation is . . .


1 . If embarrassment was an Olympic sport, my parents would be gold medal winners . There is no end to their mind-boggling behavior .

2 . What is it that happens to parents that make us want to run and hide whenever they’re around? Their embarrassing behavior runs rampant all through my days!

TLC10448 95








TLC10448 96

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 97

Do you ever wonder about your future—not your life far in the future, but the near future, about 10 years from now? You’ll probably be out of school and then what? What will you be doing? What will your life

be like? Let’s explore this idea! Ready? Here we go!

Section 12:

Ten Years from Now

TLC10448 98

Name ________________________________


Sketch what you look like right now .

Sketch what you think you’ll be doing 10 years from now .

Sketch what you think you’ll look like in 10 years .

Sketch what you think you’ll be doing for fun 10 years from now .

TLC10448 99

Name ________________________________


List words that tell what you’ll be doing in 10 years.

List words that tell what kinds of responsibilities you’ll have in 10 years.


List words that tell what kinds of things you’ll be doing for fun in 10 years.

List words that describe what you’ll look like in 10 years.

TLC10448 100

Name ________________________________


1 . How old will you be in 10 years? __________________________________________________

2 . What do you think you’ll look like? Describe yourself . __________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . How do you think your appearance will have changed from how you look now? _______________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . What do you think you’ll be doing for work? Or will you still be in school? ___________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . What will your social life be like? __________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6 . What do you think your interests will be? ___________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7 . How do you think you’ll spend a typical day? ________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

8 . Do you think your beliefs will change? How? _________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

9 . What life lessons do you think you’ll have learned by then? ______________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

10 . What do you think will be the best thing about being that age? __________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 101

Name ________________________________

PoetryIt’s time to write some poetry . Once again, it’s in a form where all you have to do is fill in the blanks with your own words . Don’t forget to include your feelings and attitudes! It’s what makes an interesting poem!

Here is an example:

When I look in the mirrorI see a geeky kid,In ten years I think I’ll see a geeky adult.

Right now at this momentMy friends are all into computers.In ten years, my friendsWill be running computer companies.

So far in schoolI know things that aren’t important.In ten yearsI think I’ll know that maybe I shouldn’t have ignored so many teachers.

Right now I want to have lots of time for me.In ten yearsI’ll want time to become rich and famous.

Right now, what’s important To me is getting a car.In ten years, what will beImportant will be getting rid of that same old car.

When I look in the mirrorI see ________________________. In ten years I thinkI’ll see _______________________.

Right now at this moment My friends are _______________.In ten years, my friends Will be _______________________.

So far in schoolI know ______________________.In ten yearsI think I’ll know ___________.

Right now I want ___________.In ten yearsI’ll want ____________________.

Right now, what’s importantTo me is\ _____________________.In ten years, what will beImportant will be ___________.

TLC10448 102

Name ________________________________

Four SquareThis will help organize your thoughts for writing to describe what you think your life will be like in 10 years . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

In ten years, my job will be:

______________________________________

Details and examples go in this box . Don’t forget to include your reasoning for these details .

In ten years, my interests will be:

______________________________________

Details and examples go in this box . Don’t forget to include your reasoning for these details .

In ten years, my friends and my social life will be:

____________________

______________________________________Details and examples go in this box . Don’t forget to include your reasoning for these details .

In ten years my life will be:

___________________

___________________ ,

___________________

______________________________________

but most important things about me will remain the same .

Choose a beginning (or use your own): 1 . If I could time travel 10 years into the

future to see what my life would be like, I don’t think I’d be surprised . I have a good idea of what my future holds .

2 . I don’t need a crystal ball to show me my future in 10 years . I know myself well enough to be able to predict the details that will make up my life .

TLC10448 103








TLC10448 104

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 105

Everyone’s got it! We’re talking about personal style. It’s not just about what

you wear and what people see on the outside, but it’s also about who you are on the inside. There are no two personal

styles that are exactly alike because style is about confidence and a sense of curiosity. Let’s explore this by writing

about it. Ready? Here we go!

Section 13:

Personal Style

TLC10448 106

Name ________________________________


Sketch an example of how you express your personal style in the way you wear

your hair or use makeup or jewelry .

Sketch an example of how you express your personal style in your choice of music .

Sketch an example of how you express your personal style in another way .

Art to Start

Sketch an example of how you express your personal style in the way you dress .

TLC10448

Name ________________________________


Write five verbs that are examples of actions that are part of your personal behavior style.

Write five adjectives that are examples of things that are part of your personal style.


Write the names of five people who influence your personal style.

Write five nouns that are examples of things that are part of your personal fashion style.

107

TLC10448 108

Name ________________________________


1 . What do you think personal style is? ______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2 . Is personal style important? Why or why not? _______________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3 . What things or actions define your personal style? Tell how that came about . How did it begin?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4 . Have your created your own personal style or have you been influenced by someone else?

___________________________________________________________________________

5 . If you have created your own personal style, tell how that came about . How did it begin?

___________________________________________________________________________

6 . If your personal style has been influenced by other persons, tell about those changes .

___________________________________________________________________________

7 . Does your personal style change over time? If so, tell why . If not, also explain . ______________

___________________________________________________________________________

8 . What’s the best example of your personal style? How does this make you feel? _____________

___________________________________________________________________________

9 . What’s the best example of your personal behavior style? Is the way you act original or modeled

after someone else? Explain . ____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

TLC10448 109

Name ________________________________

PoetryUse some of the words in your Word Stream page to complete this poem form . Feel free to use other words and to change the form in a way that best suits you .

Here is an example:

Check out who I amCheck out my style,I’m a fan of Vintage hats with feathers,T-shirts with Alvin and the Chipmunks,Red high-top sneakers.And I loveE-mailing friends,Cooking brunch,Retro-punk dancing,Teaching my dog new tricks.But I wouldn’t beCaught dead wearingAnything polka-dot,Or anything hipOr doingThe chic new dances.That’s my style.What’s yours?

Check out who I amCheck out my style,I’m a fan of (list things)

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

And I love (list actions)

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

But I wouldn’t beCaught dead wearing

______________________________

______________________________

Or doing

______________________________

______________________________

That’s my style.

What’s yours?

TLC10448 110

Name ________________________________

Four SquareThis will help organize your thoughts for writing to describe your individual style . Think of it as a map for your words and ideas so they don’t get lost on the way from your head to the paper! In each of the squares, write words or phrases that go with the main idea of each box . Save your sentence writing for later .

Define style and tell its importance.Give details that go with this main idea and then give examples and explanations to support it .

Your personal fashion style and influences:Give details that go with this main idea and then give examples and explanations to support it .

Your personal behavior style and influences:Give details that go with this main idea and then give examples and explanations to support it .

Choose an ending:

As you can see, you’re never too young to have your own style!

OR

I feel that personal style is

_____________________________________ . It is unique to me .

OR

Write your own ending .


Everyone has style, but mine is different, Why? Because I’m one of a kind .

OR

What and who defines style? That’s easy, I do! When it comes to personal style, I’m the boss .

TLC10448 111








TLC10448 112

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Teaching & Learning Companya Lorenz company • P. O. Box 802 • Dayton, OH 45401-0802

www.LorenzEducationalPress.com

Four Square: The Total Writing Classroom

At last! A companion activity book to the immensely popular Four Square Writing Method. Chock-full of projects and ideas that are tailor-made to work with the Four Square Writing Method, this volume includes age-

appropriate activities designed to take advantage of the language-learning connection and help students use what they know to learn new things.

TLC10333 Grades 1-4TLC10334 Grades 5-9

Four Square: The Personal Writing Coach

This book in the popular Four Square series provides a personal coach for students to help them write. Included are 13 themed units designed to meet the interests and abilities of students. Each unit brings the prewriting through art, word association, questions, poetry, planning and composition of prose. The exercises will help students learn to be less fearful of writing assignments and actually make them fun! The topics are personal ones young writers will enjoy: themselves, their families and friends, their favorite places to go and things to do, etc.

TLC10446 Grades 1-3TLC10447 Grades 4-6TLC10448 Grades 7-9

Four Square: Writing in the Content Areas

When you give a writing assignment, do your students respond with, “I have nothing to write about”? Obviously, there are plenty of topics available. What your students need isn’t topics, but the skill of organizing and clarifying their thoughts around a topic and developing that content into sentences and then paragraphs. You’ll find all the help you and your students need about writing and learning across the curriculum in this book.

TLC10421 Grades 1-4TLC10422 Grades 5-9

The Four Square Series

Four Square: Writing Method

Teach writing skills using this innovative new approach that has been proven to work in classrooms just like yours. This step-by-step approach is built around a simple graphic organizer that first shows students how to collect ideas and then helps them use those ideas to create clear and polished prose. Also available is the revised and updated edition of the book that includes an enhanced CD filled with additional Four Square examples, activities, and writing exercises.

TLC10578 Early LearnerTLC10188 Grades 1-3TLC10189 Grades 4-6TLC10190 Grades 7-9

Enhanced CD Included:TLC10579 Grades 1-3TLC10580 Grades 4-6TLC10581 Grades 7-9

ISBN 978-0-7877-8619-9

Julie

Text Box

Julie

Typewritten Text

978-1-4291-1283-3

Documents

Four Square The Personal Writing Coach for Grades 7-9