Feb 02
Teaching students to write strong narratives is an ongoing journey, much like convincing them that “said” isn’t the only verb in existence. Before students dive into crafting stories, they need a solid foundation in character traits, point of view, setting, theme, and plot development. Once they grasp these story elements, they’re ready to apply practical …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=306
Jan 26
Have you ever read a student’s narrative that was one giant paragraph, stretching across the entire page like it was trying to set a world record? For some students, paragraph breaks come naturally—for others, it’s like they never learned where the Enter key is. If you’ve ever wondered when to start a new paragraph in …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=2683
Jan 19
Let’s be honest—when we tell students to “show, don’t tell,” most of them look at us like we’ve just asked them to write a novel in ancient Greek. It’s one of those writing skills that sounds simple… until they try it. This post walks you through a ready-to-go mini-lesson that helps students understand what “showing” …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=285
Jan 05
Teaching narrative hooks is one of the most effective ways to help students strengthen their storytelling skills. Students love writing stories, but crafting a strong opening isn’t always easy. Many begin with “One day…” or “Hi, my name is…”—not exactly gripping starts. The good news? Students can learn clear patterns for writing powerful narrative hooks. …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=2665
Oct 06
If there’s one topic that instantly gets upper elementary students talking, it’s superheroes. Instead of battling their obsession (we all remember the Great Spider-Man Drawing Phase of September), why not harness it for learning? These superhero writing activities turn capes, villains, and secret identities into creative writing gold. I’ve pulled together five of my favorite …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=7640
Aug 25
Varying sentences is one of those sneaky skills students often overlook until their writing starts sounding like a robot stuck on repeat. While young writers often default to short and choppy or run-on sentences, mastering sentence variation is key to creating engaging writing. But don’t worry; I’ve got fun strategies (and some teacher-tested survival tips!) …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=2675
Aug 18
Let’s face it—terms like retell, recount, and summarize are tossed around in ELA standards like confetti, but their meanings can blur. If you’re an upper elementary teacher, you’ve likely scratched your head wondering, “Aren’t these all basically the same thing?” Short answer: not quite. Let’s unpack each term, explore the skills students need at different …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=2688
