Welcome to my blog index page featuring posts for upper elementary students who want to improve their writing skills. Teaching writing can be challenging, so I’ve compiled a range of posts to help you with your lessons.
My post categories include writing strategies, writing skills, capitalization and punctuation, narrative writing, teaching text structures with songs, teaching text structures, teaching persuasive techniques with commercials, and parts of speech. You’ll find ideas and free teaching materials to make your lessons more effective and engaging.
You can browse my posts by clicking on the images below or using the search bar on the right. You can also subscribe to my newsletter for updates on new posts and freebies. Whether you’re looking for tips on enhancing your students’ skills, making writing more fun and interactive, or integrating writing with other subjects, you’ll find something worthwhile on my blog.
I hope these posts will support your upper elementary students’ writing development and inspire them to become confident writers. Happy teaching!
Mar 11
Famous People Interviews is one of my students’ favorite writing activities. In this project, each student is assigned an important historical figure to research. After gathering information, the student prepares a timeline, summarizes a speech, and writes thoughtful interview questions. Then comes the fun part—students step into character and role-play their famous figure while classmates …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=7340
Oct 07
If you want to wake up your students and get them talking, try comparing themes in song lyrics. Music is a powerful tool, not just for teaching figurative language, but for helping students analyze structure, tone, and message. When students compare themes and messages in two songs, they begin to see how artists communicate ideas …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=4109
Aug 03
Are you looking for some activities to add to your comparing fictional texts lesson plans. This post contains a full mini lesson with printables that make it a print-and-go resource using some well-loved stories and video additions to make even the most reluctant reader take interest . Comparing Fictional Texts – The Idea In Chapter …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=5281
Mar 23
Name-calling is the final post in this series of persuasive techniques. It can include a large number of targets. Name-calling denounces values, laughs at opponents, or puts down ideas. Labels with a negative connotation such as tree-huggers are often used. Slanted language loaded with emotions makes the audience feel uneasy. Advertisements use name-calling when one …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=4162
Mar 09
In Part 2 of the series “Teaching the Persuasive Technique – Testimonial,” 2017 Super Bowl commercials are featured. Many stars came out to promote products. Actors, sports figures, and even Bill Nye the Science Guy promote products. With a 30-second spot costing $5 million, many companies went with big celebrities. Check out these materials for teaching …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=4158
Feb 23
Music has a way of telling stories, and many songs highlight challenges and the solutions that follow. In this post, we’ll explore songs your students can use to analyze conflict and resolution in song lyrics, making reading skills both fun and memorable. A special thank-you goes out to Nancy Davis’s middle school music class, whose …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=4146
Feb 16
Cause and effect is one of the trickier skills to teach, but songs make it stick. This post is part of my series on using music to analyze literature. While finding songs that clearly show cause-and-effect relationships took some digging, the results are worth it. From heartfelt ballads to humorous camp letters, these songs help …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=4105
