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- Once a topic is
chosen use a variety of graphic organizers to help students clarify and
organize their thoughts.
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- Read one of the
organization picture books aloud to the class. Stop periodically
and ask students: "Why do you think the author began the book this way?"
"Where do you think the author will take us next?" "How will the
book end?" After the book is finished break the students up into
groups and have them create a story board mapping out the organization
of the book. Once each group is finished have them present their
story board.
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- Use five or six
sequence cards with pictures. Place them out of order and ask for
a volunteer to try to tell the story of the cards without changing the
order. Discuss the difficulty of the task and how it pertains to
writing. Put the cards in the correct order and have the students
write their own version of the story.
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- Read the story Alexander and the
Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
by Judith Viorst.
Discuss the book in terms of organization. (why did she organize
the book the way she did?, why is organization important to this book?,
would you change the organization of the book?) Map out the book
organization on the board or using a technological graphic organizer.
Use the organization of the book to create a book all their own.
Have student brainstorm a time when they had an Awesome, Fabulous,
Just Fine, Very Good Day and write and illustrate a book
accordingly.
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- Use some of the
organizational trade books or other books from your library with good
beginnings. Read the beginnings to the class. Have them
discuss the attributes of a good beginning versus a poor beginning.
Define a good story beginning. (the same can be done for
endings/conclusions) Have the students choose one of the
beginnings and finish writing the story from there.
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