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For K-5 Teachers!

This innovative resource presents three increasingly complex levels of mini-lessons for each of 20 carefully selected non-fiction titles. The reading/writing connection allows for demonstration that enhances your K-5 curriculum. The books serve as models for illustrating and mastering the six basic expository skills needed for lifelong communication and for state assessments: Description, Explanation, Leads and Endings, Cause and Effect, Comparing and Contrasting and Fact and Opinion. All mini-lessons provide practice in the levels of knowledge required for ongoing, as well as, deadline writing.

Literature Models To Teach Expository Writing
* Takes you step-by-step through a writing workshop session
* Provides a separate kindergarten, primary, and intermediate lesson for each modeled book
* Includes charts and graphs
* Adapts to the specific target-skill needs of your class
* Allows you to teach writing across the curriculum
* Lessons provide a framework for use with other non-fiction text
... Read more

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The bestselling guide to finding your voice, writing poetry, and getting published

Teach Yourself Writing Poetry is a user-friendly and comprehensive guide that will prove indispensable if you're seeking creative guidance, inspiration, and practical advice. Covering everything from mood, style, and tone to learning about poetry on the 'Net, this fully updated edition will help you find your voice. Containing straightforward advice on how to get published, the very latest on prizes, festivals, and performance poetry as well as plenty of useful examples and exercises to try out yourself, it is a thoroughly readable and engaging book.

Customer Reviews (1)

How to Write Poetry
I picked this book up from the library on a lark and started to read it through.I found the approach in the first few chapters very matter of fact and direct without getting involved with a lot of technicalities of writing.The process recommended observation and note taking as a fundamental, which made a lot of sense to me.I looked for the book on Amazon and purchased it.I am looking forward to using this book as a practical manual not just for poetry but for all writing. ... Read more

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What do Slinky toys, sign language, clipboards, golf pencils, and a house icon have in common? They all are a part of Peggy's writing and reading program. Group Writing teaches children how to write and then how to read what they ve written. This engaging and motivating book includes: full-color photographs with step-by-step instructions; effective strategies that address multiple learning styles; ready-to-use form for ongoing assessments; practical ways to differentiate instruction; plus much more! (Grades K-1) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

wonderful ideas
Peggy's books are better than a workshop or an ed. class. She is very thorough in explaining why, what and how. ... Read more

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Teach Yourself Travel Writing gives you the tools to parlay your passion for visiting faraway places into a lucrative career. It explores the markets for travel writing and schools you in the business fundamentals, from writing irresistible proposals to negotiating fees. The book also explains how to craft compelling travel pieces, including where to find great story ideas, describing locations, and conveying character traits.

Customer Reviews (6)

Strictly for the beginner
This book is very much about the mechanics of travel writing.
The author writes well, but if you are already writing this is probably not the book for you.
Strictly for someone starting out - and in that case, this would be an excellent guide.

Good basic journalism
The author offers good solid journalistic information, geared toward the travel writer. Who, what, where, when and why, "show don't tell", hooking the reader with a good lead and other writing conventions are covered with great care in this book.

Even though it's called "Teach yourself Travel Writing" don't expect writing exercises to be part of the format. It turns out that "Teach Yourself" is simply the series name of the publisher. But the author does cover photography basics, article types, research, travel protocol and more besides the general journalistic practices. There is even a chapter on guidebooks.

Although I bought a copy only a short time ago (11/2007) some of the material seems to date back to the 1990s.When was the last time you used a dot matrix printer? Laptops and pdas are not mentioned and digital cameras are hardly mentioned. However when it comes to basic writing techniques and standards and how to do research, this book is very good.A glossary of terms at the back is quite helpful.

p.s. I now realize that the reason there was obsolete material is because the book I bought (which is exactly the book shown in the picture with the same cover and same price) is actually the first edition, copyright 2001, 2003.If there is a 2nd edition (2006)Amazon is obviously not selling it!I don't know if that is the publishers fault or Amazon's fault but it's very annoying to get a book that is obviously outdated when there is a newer one available...somewhere. Perhaps in England!

Barbara Hudgins is the author of "Crafting the Travel Guidebook: How to Write, Publish & Sell Your Travel Book".

A good, short, nuts and bolts approach.
This was my first time reading about travel writing and it was a quick, easy read.Good practical suggestions.Geared more to travel fluff than to travel literature, but that's okay... we need to learn how to do it all.

Teach Yourself Travel Writing
I recently had the opportunity to take "Teach Yourself Travel Writing" on a trip.Although I have no intentions of being a travel writer myself, I thought perhaps I could get a few ideas
and capture the essence of my experience.I was not disappointed. "Development of an Article" was very informing.
I have since given this book to several of my traveling friends. It makes a nice "Bon Voyage" gift.

Practical tips for writing and traveling
I never considered writing about traveling until I read this book.I learned some practical tips while traveling: for example how to pack utilizing my suitcase in an efficient way and what to wear. The author suggests dressing in clothes that are appropriate according to the customs of the area, which helps myself and those I am interviewing feel more comfortable.This is a must read for anyone wanting to publish their travel writing and for the average traveler who just needs some tips to make their experience more enjoyable. ... Read more

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If you've ever said to your intermediate writers, "Write more about this topic!" you're not alone. Unelaborated writing is a top challenge for teachers and the number one reason students score poorly on writing assessments. But how do you teach students to show and not tell? What are the specific techniques all strong writers choose to produce clear, well-elaborated narrative and expository writing? Writing Whizardry gives you 70 self-contained elaboration mini-lessons each focusing on a specific Target Skill® elaboration technique. Each lesson pairs a writing sample that needs revision with a micro-mentor text example of polished writing saving you time and energy. Choose the lessons you need to reinforce particular skills, or use the book regularly as an important component of your writing workshop. Additional literature suggestions enable you to extend and reinforce the lessons, and the reproducibles and black-line masters give you flexible instructional options for different instructional settings. Writing Whizardry helps you: easily tailor writing workshops to meet writing deficiencies; save time with ready-to-go elaboration strategies; and cover virtually all the elaboration techniques writers use.
Whether you use Writing Whizardry in literacy stations, small-group, or whole-class settings, you will watch your students grow into enthusiastic writers who know exactly how to create clear, detailed, show-me writing. ... Read more

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Now in an updated second edition How to Teach Writing Across the Curriculum: Ages 8-14 provides a range of practical suggestions for teaching non-fiction writing skills and linking them to children’s learning across the curriculum. Emphasising creative approaches to teaching children’s writing in diverse and innovative ways, it provides:

• Information on the organisation and language features of the six main non-fiction text types (recount, report, instruction, explanation, persuasion and discussion)
• Suggestions for the use of cross-curricular learning as a basis for writing
• Planning frameworks for children to promote thinking skills
• Advice on developing children’s writing to help with organisational issues – paragraphing and layout, and the key language features
• Examples of non-fiction writing
• Suggestions for talk for learning and talk for writing (including links to 'Speaking Frames'; also published by Routledge)
• Information on the transition from primary to secondary school

With new hints and tips for teachers and suggestions for reflective practice as well as a wealth of photocopiable materials, How to Teach Writing Across the Curriculum: Ages 8-14 will equip teachers with all the skills needed to create enthusiastic non-fiction writers in their classroom.

Product Description
DownWRITE Funny teaches all kinds of good "stuff" about writing but in an unusual way - by appealing to young people's love of the ridiculous. The book leads students through a wide range of lessons and activities that will help them become better writers.Some of the subjects covered:

- avoiding sentence fragments
- avoiding run-on sentences
- using active voice
- writing for a purpose
- using transitions
- and much more
Warning:This is not an ordinary book.Ordinary books don't include winged baby hippopotami nesting in a tree or Frankenstein monsters at a self-help seminar. Ordinary books also don't appeal to young people the way this one does! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Fun and educational
I am a former teacher who now tutors students after school in writing.I used many of the lessons in this book.Even the 6th grade boys I tutor thought they were fun.This book teaches writing skills using silly stories and creative prompts.So different from the dry textbooks they're used to at school.

DownWRITE Funny is DownRIGHT Good
I have been teaching writing for ten years, and I am always looking for new ideas.Typically, any book about writing that I purchase might have one or two ideas that are appealing.This book is 100% usable.Since purchasing this book, I have purchased every title by this author, and I would give 5 stars to each one.Thank you Randy Larson! I only wish you would write some more.

excellent resource
This book is a sure fire way to spice up the classroom with some excitement.I have used this book in the 7th, 8th, and 9th grade classrooms.In all my classes, this book has been a success.Down Write Funny teaches important elements of writing.From similes, to run-on sentences, this fun resource always gets my students engaged in the writing process.I highly recommend this book.

Only for younger students
Pay attention to the grade ranges on this teaching resource because it is definitely aimed for younger middle school and elementary students. Its format, illustrations, and humor play well with younger kids but fall flat with high school students who find it demeaning.Unfortunately, our department ordered it from an English resource catalog that advertised it as being for middle and high school students.Uh-uh.

Thumbs up for Downwrite Funny
Great ideas! The format on each page is uncluttered and interesting for students to read. ... Read more

Product Description
Teaching writing just got easier and more effective because of these sturdy crates. In them, teachers will find everything they need to help students use the six traits-ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions-improve their writing. Each crate contains an array of materials designed to engage students and enrich their writing experiences, including: 6 high-interest picture books hand selected for each trait 6 teaching guides filled with step-by-step lessons, graphic organizers, a scoring guide, and extension activities. Sing-Along Trait Songs, a music CD containing lively, trait-specific songs to share with your students. Includes a bonus track on presentation.6 full-color 17 x 22 posters contain lyrics to the songs on the CD Color-coded stickers for organizing classroom libraries and teaching materials U sing Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits: K-2, 112-page resource containing 18 step-by-step lessons and 150annotations

of new and classic books, organized by trait

What's more, each crate comes with hanging folders one for each trait for easy, expandable storage for years to come.

First Grade Picture Books

Ideas: When I Am Old With You Organization: Red-Eyed Tree Frog

Voice: Dog Breath Word Choice: A Grand Old Tree Sentence Fluency: Whales Passing Conventions: Where Are You Going? For use with Grade 1. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Trait Crates
I am an office manager at an elementary school and we purchased these trait crates for our teachers to use with their classes.Our teachers absolutely love these trait crates and it has helped our students tremendously with learning their traits for effective writing.I would recommend these trait crates to anyone interested in helping their students to excel.

Traait Crate: Grade 1
This Trait Crate arrived on time and in great condition.I would not hesitate to purchase another item from this seller.

Lessons to love!
Using Trait Crate: Grade 1: Picture Books, Model Lessons, and More to Teach Writing With the 6 Traits certainly makes my life as a teacher easier and more enjoyable.More importantly, though, is the way the picture books and lessons engage first grade writers.The teaching guides, one for each trait, provide three detailed lessons that are easy to follow.As teachers, we know how hard it is to find time for all that we do.The Trait Crate lessons are all set to go, providing us with some of that valuable time.(These are also great lessons to leave for a sub and feel good about, without spending tons of time writing them out!)A high quality read-aloud, inspiring activities, modifications/extensions for activities, a CD of the Trait songs that gets everybody singing...it just doesn't get much better!As the Instructional Specialist in my school, I find the Trait Crates to be a valuable resource to use in classrooms.Best of all, the stories and activities inspire first grade students and leave them believing that they are writers! ... Read more

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Write that dream novel today!

Write a Novel and Get It Published covers everything from story arcs and themes to characterisation and language, and offers plenty of practical advice for when you face that dreaded writer's block. It also gives you practical writing exercises to refine your skills. Additionally, it guides you toward available creative writing courses and plenty of further reading resources. After the reading the book, you will have a solid framework that will give you the knowledge and confidence not only to write a novel, but to be published.

• One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.
• Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author’s many years of experience.
• Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress.
• Extra online articles at teachyourself.com to give you a richer understanding of how to write a novel.
• Author was an experienced creative writing instructor, in addition to being a successful novelist.
• Contains fully updated listings of writing courses and additional resources.

Topics include:
Introduction; Beginnings; Plot; The eight-point arc; Sub-plot and symbolism; Character; Dialogue; Viewpoint; Setting the scene; Style; Theme; Editing and shaping; The personality of the writer; Support; Marketing; Taking it further--reading, websites and courses

Product Description
15 Engaging Lessons That Help Your Students Write Happily Ever After
Teach the elements of good story writing using favorite picturebooks! 15 easy-to-do mini-lessons are included, along with strategies, activities, picturebook suggestions, writing conferences and management tips. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Helpful Resource for Primary Teachers
I actually bought this book for my daughter who is a 1st grade teacher, so I have not used the book personally. As a retired teacher looking through the book, I was impressed with the number of ideas given to use as a springboard for writing activities. I liked the fact that children's literature was used and that the activities were very language-based, started at an easy level (for example, recognizing action words heard in a story) then progressed to students generating their own examples. My daughter tells me that she has found this book very helpful and has shared ideas from it with her teaching co-horts.

One of the Best Resource Books Ever!
I am entering my tenth year as a teacher. I am currently teaching second grade, but I have also used the lessons with first graders. It could also be used up to fourth or fifth grade. This ranks among my top two resource books (the other being READING WITH MEANING, by Debbie Miller). It is an easy to read book that teaches writing skills in a sequential manner. Lessons are scripted, and teachers can follow them very closely. Each category gives a list of literature that helps teach the skills. These lessons will inspire your students to enjoy the process of writing. I highly recommend this book!! It will be used over and over again in your classroom for years to come!

A Teacher's Best Friend
As an educator of second grade children, I found this book extremely helpful and very practical in the teaching of young writers. The conversation style of the book helps the teacher in lesson planning as well as gives the teacher a clear picture of student understanding.This book helps even the veteran teacher better her writer's workshop activities.The samples of student writing are real and therefore perfect examples of the successes of the program.The step by step procedure to writer's workshop mini lessons helps the educator take the small steps necessary to teach young writers.I found the children's literature book lists (from which the author takes most of her lessons) exceptionally helpful.Overall, this book is easy to use and even easier to follow the suggested program. A terrific resource in the teaching of writing!! ... Read more

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Release your inner Shakespeare

Writing for the theater involves more than good dialog. Teach Yourself Writing a Play gives you all the information you need to craft a play for community theater, from plot, structure, and dialog to the principles of staging and stage directions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Teaching To Teach Myself
This was an excellent overview of the craft of playwrighting with examples from famous and successful plays.It hit all the basics and explained a few of the important nuances in developing a script that can be staged.Excellent beginner's guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

How to write publishable Science Fiction and Fantasy
As a beginning Science Fiction and Fantasy writer, I found this book severely dissappointing. It's not that it isn't a useful book, or that it's badly written; what I disliked, was that half the examples were telling you what you could and could not get away with rather than how to write high quality fiction and best captivate your readers. I went through the book constantly thinking "Gosh! I could write better than this guy, what does he think he's going on about?"

Despite that, there is still a lot that the beginning writer can learn from this book, and does give you a decent idea of what level you need to be at in order to get published. However, if you're looking to write at the best of your ability and come up with genuinely interesting plots, I suggest reading Orson Scott Card's book instead.

Sometimes difficult to read
Teach Yourself Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction is more focused on the philosophies of writing instead of the actual act of writing. It depends on what a person is looking for.

Mr. Stableford's own artistic science fiction/fantasy writing style seems to saturate the book, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just makes the book as a non-fiction a little bit difficult to follow sometimes.

I enjoyed his occasional touching on the subject of themes (or uses of certain themes) that have been over used in the history of Fantasy and Science Fiction. I also liked his discussions on how even though Fantasy and SF can take places in worlds very different from our own, there has to be some amount of reality or plausibility in them for a reader to understand and feel comfortable reading about it.

good for writing, so-so for sci fi
This is a good book if you're not very familiar with writing techniques in general, but if you've taken even one college course in writing, forget it. I was hoping for more specific science fiction writing techiques, and was a little disappointed not to find them. If that's what you want, try another book.

Dry, academic and strangely useful
This is a good book for the price. However, don't expect too much, especially if you're used to seeing practical examples in your how-to books. The advice contained in the book is solid, well-written and to the point, but I found that there was little content devoted to SF/F-specific subjects. Overall, the tone is very academic -- which may actually appeal to some readers -- but I find that a more hands-on or inspirational style that I've seen in other books is more helpful to me. If you are serious about writing and are well-versed in writing techniques you might benefit from this book in one fashion: It contains hidden gems (few and in between) about the approach to the story!

A worthy resource, though somewhat hard to read
I consider Stableford as among the lower profile hallmark names in the sci-fi/fantasy industry, but he's been around long enough to be an authority on the topic. I have read a few novels and a short story of his recently, but I read this book before all those. Stableford's advice is extensive and used a lot of examples to illustrate points about speculative fiction writing. However, his book falls short in presentation because it uses a lot of continuous text, which can be tiring and monotonous for those whose attention control needs an extra kick. There is a lot to learn from this book, but its presentation could be greatly improved by using a graphic manner. There certainly are some perspectives and points about science fiction and fantasy writing that can be garnered from Stableford, though, so I don't think I wasted my P279. If you can afford to get this, do so. ... Read more

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I recommend this book to all teachers who teach writing . . . the way you teach writing will change forever.
- Brian Cambourne, Wollongong University

Product Description
Teaching writing just got easier and more effective because of these sturdy crates. In them, teachers will find everything they need to help students use the six traits-ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions-improve their writing. Each crate contains an array of materials designed to engage students and enrich their writing experiences, including: 6 high-interest picture books hand selected for each trait 6 teaching guides filled with step-by-step lessons, graphic organizers, a scoring guide, and extension activities. Sing-along Trait Songs, a music CD containing lively, trait-specific songs to share with your students. Includes a bonus track on presentation. 6 full-color 17 x 22 posters contain lyrics to the songs on the CD Color-coded stickers for organizing classroom libraries and teaching materialsUsing Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits: K-2, 112-page resource containing 18 step-by-step lessons and 150annotations

of new and classic books, organized by trait. What's more, each crate comes with hanging folders one for each trait for easy, expandable storage for years to come.Kindergarten Picture Books

Ideas: My Chair Organization: I Am America Voice: When Sophie Gets Really, Really Angry Word Choice:Mama Zooms Sentence Fluency: Charlie Parker Played Be Bop

Conventions: No, David! For use with Grade K. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

terrific teaching tool
The Trait crates are a wonderful addition to your writing curriculum and the fact that it includes books and lessons makes it immediately useful.I have been teaching for 19 years and this is definately a must have!

Starting them out in the "write" way
A blessing for every Kindergarten teacher or Instructional Coach can be found in the K Trait Crate.
Owning this Crate is a way to introduce the traits to the youngest writers. Each trait has a well-chosen book to show the students how this trait can be used in literature and then the lesson plans guide them to using the traits in their own writings.
In my own schools, we are finding much success by using the Trait Crates with our young writers.The books are an important springboard into each of the lessons and allows the teacher to enhance each trait in other lessons.
Gives both the teacher and students room to grow as writers. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a book of lessons, some narrative and some not,about how to use real literature to teach the skills and elements ofwriting to elementary children.

In this book you will find suggestions for what to read to fifthgraders who are trying to improve what they have chosen to argue in anessay; to first graders who are thinking of using another descriptorbesides 'nice,' to anyone who wants to move the plot along; the listis endless.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This book is a gem!
I'm just beginning my career as an elementary school teacher. I've taught creative writing to both 6th and 3rd graders.My only gripe with Katie Johnson's book is not having found it sooner!Reading this book is like having a conversation with an experienced and trusted colleague.It's mentoring in a book.Ms. Johnson takes you by the hand and shows you step by step how to take the literature you are already using in your classrooms to teach creative writing.This book overflows with marvelous ideas you can begin using today.Whether you're trying to teach an eleven year-old how to write a good lead or help an 8 year-old move beyond such descriptors as "good" and "nice", this book will point the way.What I find most remarkable about this book is its comprehensive treatment of writing in the elementary grades.Most books seem to be geared toward one grade level or another, but not this one.This book contains engaging lesson ideas for every grade level, K-6.Reading this book is like sitting in the back of a classroom and watching a master teacher at work.It's a gift.Don't miss it.

Excellent resource for teaching
I am a classroom teacher of 5th and 6th grade students and I constantly struggle with how to help my students revise their writing and add rich detail to their writing.This book provides some excellent ways you can help students to improve their writing.There are many hands-on activities that allow the students to use drawing, acting, speaking, and other forms of expression.The activities can be used at all different grade levels.

The idea is to use books the students are currently reading to help them learn how to write and revise well.If you have struggled withcoming up with writing lessons that interest the students and get the point across, this is the book for you!The author provides examples of many different books you can use to teach the lessons, and she often includes specific excerpts right there in the book.This book is very user friendly.You will find it easy to read and you will feel ready to try some exercises in your classroom right away! ... Read more

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Think better, think faster

Teach Yourself Good Study Skills helps you read more effectively, think critically, write strong essays, create presentations, and take advantage of technology to increase efficiency. In addition, it provides exam-taking techniques and contains such extras as quizzes, checklists, and chapter summaries.

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Classroom-Tested Lessons with Reproducibles That Sharpen Key Writing Skills and Help Kids Write with Clarity and Confidence
Engaging mini-lessons and companion reproducible pages, all classroom-tested, take young writers through the steps of the writing process, including getting an ideas, and revising a story, while also targeting specific skills, such as punctuation, sentence structure, making characters believable, and developing a plot. The reproduicble pages feature skill-building activities, as well as writing tips and strategies students can collect and use as reference. ... Read more

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In Art Young and Toby Fulwiler's collection of essays, twenty-three teachers of writing describe their experiences teaching literature, revealing some remarkable ideas and results. ... Read more

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How to Teach Nonfiction Writing is divided into sevenparts. In addition to teacher directions and a myriad of reproduciblewriting forms, each section contains reproducible charts that describethe characteristics of each type of writing and give steps fo follow. ... Read more