Structured Practice to Build Core Writing Skills

TEACHER RESOURCE: OOK 

First rade

Name:

Structured Practice to Build Core Writing Skills

Patrick scored. Baseball helmets I think soccer

T he crowd are very hard. is the best
cheered! team sport.
TALE OF CONTENTS

AOUT THE ULDN WRTERS OOKS

Get to Know Building Writers....................................................................................................................... 1

Our Philosophy........................................................................................................................................... 2

A Look Inside: Introducing Writing Types....................................................................................................... 3

A Look Inside: Writing Activities................................................................................................................... 4

USN ULDN WRTERS N OUR CLASSROO

When to Use Building Writers...................................................................................................................... 5

Preparing Students for Writing..................................................................................................................... 5

Building Writers & Your Writing Curriculum................................................................................................... 6

Finding Time for Supplemental Practice.......................................................................................................... 6

Building Writers: A Different Approach......................................................................................................... 7

Writing on Double Lines............................................................................................................................... 7

The Six Traits of Building Writers.................................................................................................................. 8

Assessing with Building Writers.................................................................................................................... 9

CHECKLSTS AND TEPLATES

Narrative Checklists.................................................................................................................................. 10

Information Checklists................................................................................................................................ 11

Opinion/Argument Checklists.................................................................................................................... 12

Writing Templates................................................................................................................................13–15
et to Know

y Learning Without Tears

Building Writers activities provide age-appropriate and learn. Without proper practice and training, we wouldn’t
engaging writing practice for core writing skills. Each expect our students to run a marathon. The same is true
activity can be easily incorporated into a writing block as for achieving the rigorous, long-term writing standards
independent writing or as whole group practice to meet expected of students. Children require repeated practice
your students’ varying needs. with small chunks of essential writing skills and strategies
as they learn to compose strong sentences, paragraphs,
Building Writers provides carefully scaffolded and eventually more. Building Writers activities equip
opportunities for students to grow as independent writers. students with the crucial building blocks necessary for
Our activities have easily accessible and child friendly proficiency with your grade-level writing standards.
resources to ensure writers at all stages are supported.
The activities are intuitive and engaging with exercises Each workbook’s developmentally designed content
specifically designed to provide students with a framework gradually prepares students for independent writing with
to develop core writing skills. focus on narrative, information, and opinion/argument
writing types. In each section, students are introduced to
Our books were created with classroom teachers who the key elements of each writing type in a purposefully
understand the need for easily accessible and effective organized sequence. At the end of each section, writing
classroom resources. Our workbooks provide an templates, familiar from previous activities, are available
abundance of high quality writing activities all in one for further practice. These templates can be adapted in
place, saving teachers time and energy searching order to apply the learned writing skills in each section to
for supplemental materials. curriculum-specific content, student-chosen topics, or other
individualized subjects.
With many years of experience developing successful
and effective curricula, we understand how children

Patrick scored. Baseball helmets I think soccer

T he crowd are very hard. is the best
cheered! team sport.

narrative information opinion/argument

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Teacher Resource 1

OUR PHLOSOPH
Successful writing begins with a solid foundation of Drawing is an integral part of planning and preparing to
handwriting and writing mechanics. Building Writers write, especially in the early stages of literacy. The black
is a companion to your writing curriculum and is not and white pages in our workbooks are clean and clear
intended as a replacement for handwriting. Students must with simple illustrations that invite children to color and
learn letter, word, and sentence skills from handwriting draw. Students are encouraged to communicate through
instruction in order to effectively apply those skills to their both illustrations and writing as they develop their ability
writing with automaticity. to plan, express, and clarify their ideas.

Writing is the most frequently used mode through which Building Writers structured practice centers around
students are expected to communicate and demonstrate grade-level specific commonly used words and phrases,
their understanding of learned concepts1. Building Writers key vocabulary, and core strategies and skills. Children
is an easily accessible resource for practicing and refining practice these skills through a variety of cross-curricular
core writing skills to support students as they become content within each main writing genre: narrative,
effective communicators. information, and opinion/argument. Our step-by-step
models and carefully structured pages gradually release
An early writing foundation begins with forming good independence to students while boosting their confidence
habits. We teach strong writing habits through modeling, as writers.
repetition, and exposure to robust examples. Building
Writers provides the framework for learning essential Building Writers reinforces practice of previously taught
writing habits through repeated practice and mastery of writing skills, and is not intended as a replacement for
core skills employed by strong writers. writing instruction, but rather as a tool to support your
writing block. Familiar writing templates are provided
in every Building Writers book and as reproducibles for
continued practice. By supporting students with additional
practice of essential writing skills, we are building the next
generation of confident and competent communicators.

Our goal is to
build the next
generation of confident
communicators!

1
“Drawing to support writing development in English language learners.” Language and Education 27, no. 3 (2012): 261–77.
doi:10.1080/09500782.2012.704047.

2 Building Writers B: Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears

A LOOK NSDE: NTRODUCN WRTN T PES
Each writing section begins with a multi-page introduction. Section introductions should be used when they best align
with your writing curriculum, and can be revisited when necessary for reteaching and review. Below is an example of a
narrative writing introduction.

Na rr
ative

INT RODUCT ION PAGE

Patrick scored.
T he crowd
cheered!
An introduction page indicates which writing type will follow: narrative, information,
or opinion. This is a great place to encourage students to color the large, line-drawn
illustrations, or jot down their own ideas for writing topics.

1stGrade-WC_12.8.17-CJ.indd 6 12/8/17 10:39 AM

NARRATVE WRTN
Narrative writing tells a story in order. Read the story.

Beginning:
WRIT ING SAMP LE & C HECKLIST
It was time for Ellie’s
big day. Next in the section introductions are a grade-level appropriate writing sample and a
Middle:

T he elephant painter came.

writing checklist.
End:

W hen he finished, Ellie

looked bright and beautiful! We recommend teachers:
Narrative Writing Checklist

I wrote a story in order.

1. Ask students to follow along while you read the writing example.
I wrote details.

© 2018 Learning Without Tears

I wrote an ending.

Building Writers B: Narrative Writing 7 2. Read each item on the writing checklist, and explain that each item on the checklist is
1stGrade-WC_12.8.17-CJ.indd 7 12/8/17 10:39 AM

an important part of good narrative writing.

3. Ask students to help determine if the story should get a check mark for each item on
the list. Ask for specific examples from the text such as:
“I know the story has details because it says Ellie looked bright
and beautiful.”
4. Engage students by having them draw a check mark inside the boxes in their own
books as the class identifies each item.

NARRATVE WRTN
Copy the story.

GUI DED P RACT ICE

On the next two pages of the introduction, students will practice writing a similar
Ellie looks for a drink.

narrative, copying each line and adding an illustration.

We recommend teachers:
Ellie finds a little pool. 1. Model writing on the double lines as students follow along on the
8 Building Writers B: Narrative Writing NARRATVE WRTN
© 2018 Learning Without Tears

Copy the story. Draw what happens at the end.

first sentence.
1stGrade-WC_12.8.17-CJ.indd 8 12/8/17 10:39 AM

2. Ask students to finish copying the remainder of the example, and follow the
instructions to illustrate.
3. Display or provide a copy of the writing checklist for students.
She drinks and splashes in 4. Guide students to use the writing checklist once more with the
the water. new narrative.
© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Narrative Writing 9

1stGrade-WC_12.8.17-CJ.indd 9 12/8/17 10:39 AM

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Teacher Resource 3

A LOOK NSDE: WRTN ACTVTES
Each page within Building Writers student books is carefully structured to provide students with the resources they need
to be successful, regardless of a student’s writing level. The format of our writing activities will quickly become familiar
and predictable, making Building Writers a readily available, no prep writing resource. Below is an example from an
information writing page of the key elements within our writing activities. We recommend explicitly teaching students how
to recognize and use each of these resources in order to produce their best writing.

P ENCIL ICONS AAZN ANALS

Write facts about each animal using the information below.
Point students to important
information and directions
on each page. - has a long spiral tusk
- lives in icy Arctic water
- nicknamed unicorn of
the sea

WORD BANKS narwhal

Give young writers easily A narwhal

located vocabulary and
spelling support.

MODELS - migrates to lay eggs

- is a blue, red, or silver
Provide a strong starting color

point for writing and - has gills

salmon
spelling support.
A salmon

DOUBLE LINES
Control children’s letter size,
spacing, and placement, and
promote legible writing. 40 Building Writers B: Information Writing © 2018 Learning Without Tears

1stGrade-WC_12.8.17-CJ.indd 40 12/8/17 10:39 AM

BLAC K & WHIT E LABELS

ILLUST RAT IONS
Invite students to color and draw and Serve as easily interpreted resources for
provide visual cues for activity-related students at a variety of writing levels.
content and vocabulary.

4 Building Writers B: Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears

USN BULDN WRTERS N OUR CLASSROO
WHEN TO USE BUILDING W RIT ERS We recommend scaffolding students to use each page’s
resources flexibly. We suggest making it clear to students
As a teacher, you know best when your students are
that they are not limited to the specific vocabulary on a
ready for a new challenge. Whether you begin with a
page, but can and should use it as a springboard for their
small group of students or introduce the workbook to the
own ideas. This flexibility allows each writing activity
whole class, we recommend beginning Building Writers
to be as structured or unstructured as your individual
with the writing type most familiar to your students. Each
students require.
book is organized with narrative writing first, followed by
information writing, and finally opinion/argument writing.
The writing types do not have to be completed in order,
and should be incorporated in your writing block when
each best corresponds with your writing curriculum. Each
writing type has a section introduction that can be used
as review and practice before you begin.

P REPARING ST UDENTS FOR WRIT ING

We recommend explicitly teaching students how to
recognize and use the key features of Building Writers
activities. These features, such as the pencil icon and
sentence models, are described on p. 4 of this teacher
resource. Students can use as many or as few of these
resources as needed. These resources are intended to
make the activities accessible to all students, regardless of
their differing writing levels.

Teach students how to include the resources on a page in

their writing through explicit modeling. For example, have
students follow along on the same page as you model,
looking at and thinking about the illustrations, their labels,
and other vocabulary on the page. Engage students to
think aloud with you about how these resources could
be used in their writing. Write any vocabulary, phrases,
or other ideas the class generates in the margins of the F lexible resources offer
page to reference when you write. Encourage students to
structure for those
do the same in their books. Model using the resources on
the page and the ideas listed from the class as you write. students who need it, and
Depending on your class’s level of writing independence, allow for creativity for those
you can ask students to copy and follow along as you
write, or have them write their own. who thrive with independence.

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Teacher Resource 5

USN BULDN WRTERS N OUR CLASSROO
BUILDING WRIT ERS & YOUR F INDING T IME FOR
WRIT ING CURRIC ULUM SUP P LEMENTAL P RACT ICE
Your existing writing curriculum provides the information Teachers’ time with students is highly valuable and
and techniques your students need to learn how to write. efficiency is essential. These writing activities were
Your curriculum should guide your students through the designed to be brief and target imperative foundational
writing process and provide a blueprint for achieving skills of writing. The time spent on these activities is an
your grade-level standards for writing. Building Writers investment to build a strong foundation for writing, which
is designed to support your students by reinforcing what in turn yields independent and more efficient writers.
your curriculum has already taught. Our writing activities Below are some ways to include Building Writers
serve as practice and review of the skills you teach, so we throughout your day:
suggest aligning the planning of Building Writers activities
with your existing writing curriculum. 1. Use Building Writers as a replacement for
one-off worksheets.
Depending on your students’ varying levels of readiness, 2. Have students complete a Building Writers activity for
you may decide to work on Building Writers activities morning work.
as a whole group, as teacher-led small groups, or as 3. Use Building Writers activities as a station during
independent small groups. Using Building Writers in small, Language Arts rotations.
ability-based groups allows for more flexibility in choosing 4. Complete Building Writers activities during writing
which activities to complete at what times, and how much conferences with students.
you support students as they complete them. 5. Model a specific technique or skill for students in a
Building Writers activity. Then, have students complete
the same activity on their own applying the technique
or skill you have modeled.
6. Implement relevant Building Writers activities into other
content areas such as science and social studies.

10_15 MINUT ES
of writing each
day helps build skills
and confidence!

6 Building Writers B: Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears

ASSESSN WTH ULDN WRTERS
BUI LDING WRIT ERS: WRIT ING ON
A DIF F ERENT AP P ROACH DOUBLE LINES
Building Writers can be adapted to meet the needs of all Our double lines control children’s letter size, spacing,
learners, including English language learners. Below are and placement. Using our double lines promotes legible
some teaching strategies to help prepare diverse learners writing that’s easily transferable to other styles of paper.
for writing: Watch our double lines animation and learn more at
• Preview the illustrations and topic in a class www.lwtears.com/programs/double-lines. Below are some
discussion before writing to activate tips for transferring between different types of lines:
prior knowledge • Use the same type of lines as frequently
• Brainstorm, predict, and list relevant vocabulary as possible
• Read a book related to the writing topic • Keep the size of the lines consistent
• Practice thinking aloud as you plan to write or • Model writing the same word on new lines next
while completing a writing activity to the line style students are most familiar with
• Help students practice using new styles of lines
Activities within Building Writers are easily adapted to by writing their name
increase challenge and rigor. Below are some suggestions
for extending writing activities:
• Challenge students to research writing topics This resource includes a variety of the same writing
and include new vocabulary and key information templates used in your grade-level student workbooks.
in their writing These templates provide extended practice and the
• Continue preparatory writing activities (such as opportunity for teachers to differentiate by personalizing
writing strong story hooks) in writing journals topics, instructions, and expectations. For more practice
• Review and revise writing with peers writing on double lines, we recommend using our writing
• Transform writing into a different media such as journals, which can be found at
a digital presentation shopping.lwtears.com/category/journals.

bag Uses intuitive double

lines for successful
writing outcomes.

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Teacher Resource 7

 AI TS OF
The six traits are proven components of good writing.
S I X T R
T HE Whether or not you explicitly teach the six traits, they
can be a valuable resource for breaking writing into
manageable tasks.

I DEAS VOIC E

Cross-curricular topics and engaging themes serve as a In each section of Building Writers, students practice
starting point and inspiration for students’ own ideas. matching their voice to the purpose of the piece they
Use the reproducible writing templates for practice with are writing.
more topics to fit your class’s interests and needs.

Check out how students write about wacky sports on Students practice storytelling with a variety of topics,

p. 55 of the student workbook. such as being a new student at school on p. 26.

ORGANI ZAT ION WORD CHOICE

Building Writers activities carefully scaffold students to Our activities provide content-rich and specific
organize their writing in a logical manner. First graders vocabulary to encourage intentional, meaningful word
practice organizing narratives into a logical sequence, choice. Students are supported with illustrations, labels,
and writing structured information pieces with an word banks, and models to expand their vocabulary and
introduction, facts, and conclusion. elicit strong responses.

See pp. 18-19 for an example of how first graders See p. 73 for an example of the resources provided

organize a simple narrative. to help students form and support

their opinions.

SENT ENCE F LUENCY CONV ENT IONS

First graders practice writing a variety of sentences and Students are supported with strong writing samples
develop an understanding of how they flow within each at the beginning of each section that model correct
writing section. capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and other genre-
specific conventions.

Check out p. 14 for an example of how students Book-wide modeling across the three main writing types.

practice composing different types of sentences.

8 Building Writers B: Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears

ASSESSN WTH ULDN WRTERS
Our checklists were created using common characteristics We suggest using Building Writers checklists:
of high writing expectations for each grade level, and • As rubrics to assess student work
are intended as a tool for both teachers and students. • For peer editing
Checklists for narrative, opinion, and information writing • For student self-assessment
are referenced in the section introductions of student • As a tool for teaching characteristics of
workbooks. Each checklist is also included in this resource, strong writing
so they can be reproduced for use alongside Building • To provide direction and structure during
Writers or other writing activities. pre-writing activities
• To aid teachers and students while setting
The writing checklists are purposefully placed at the writing goals
beginning of each section introduction in the student books
in order to give students early exposure to clear writing Building Writers activities allow for flexibility in student
expectations. We recommend explicitly modeling using responses. We understand that different students may
checklists with writing samples and providing repeated respond to the same prompt in diverse ways. For this
opportunities for students to practice using them with reason, teachers can expect a variety of responses in
teacher guidance. students’ work. We suggest ensuring students that there
are not “right” or “wrong” responses, and to encourage
Our writing checklists provide teachers and students with students to use their creativity, background knowledge,
a tool for assessing and improving, but there isn’t one tool and learned writing skills as they are able.
that can capture all aspects of writing development and
achievement. Writing fluency and speed, revision skills
and efficiency, and more cannot be assessed by a checklist
alone. We recommend using this tool alongside others to
continuously monitor your students’ writing growth.

Print our templates to give each student their own writing checklist!

Name: Name: Name:

Narrative Writing Checklist nformation Writing Checklist Opinion/Argument Writing Checklist

I wrote a story in order. I wrote a beginning sentence. I wrote an introduction that tells my opinion.

I wrote details. I wrote facts about my topic. I wrote reasons to support my opinion.

I wrote an ending. I wrote an ending sentence. I wrote a conclusion.

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers : Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers : Teacher Resource

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Teacher Resource 9

 Name: Name:
Narrative Writing Checklist Narrative Writing Checklist

I wrote a story in order. I wrote a story in order.

I wrote details. I wrote details.

I wrote an ending. I wrote an ending.

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Teacher Resource

Name: Name:
Narrative Writing Checklist Narrative Writing Checklist

I wrote a story in order. I wrote a story in order.

I wrote details. I wrote details.

I wrote an ending. I wrote an ending.

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Teacher Resource
 Name: Name:
nformation Writing Checklist nformation Writing Checklist

I wrote a beginning sentence. I wrote a beginning sentence.

I wrote facts about my topic. I wrote facts about my topic.

I wrote an ending sentence. I wrote an ending sentence.

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers : Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers : Teacher Resource

Name: Name:
nformation Writing Checklist nformation Writing Checklist

I wrote a beginning sentence. I wrote a beginning sentence.

I wrote facts about my topic. I wrote facts about my topic.

I wrote an ending sentence. I wrote an ending sentence.

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers : Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers : Teacher Resource
 Name: Name:
Opinion/Argument Writing Checklist Opinion/Argument Writing Checklist
I wrote an introduction that tells my opinion. I wrote an introduction that tells my opinion.

I wrote reasons to support my opinion. I wrote reasons to support my opinion.

I wrote a conclusion. I wrote a conclusion.

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers : Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers : Teacher Resource

Name: Name:
Opinion/Argument Writing Checklist Opinion/Argument Writing Checklist
I wrote an introduction that tells my opinion. I wrote an introduction that tells my opinion.

I wrote reasons to support my opinion. I wrote reasons to support my opinion.

I wrote a conclusion. I wrote a conclusion.

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers : Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers : Teacher Resource
TTLE/TOPC:

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Teacher Resource

TTLE/TOPC:

Building Writers B: Teacher Resource © 2018 Learning Without Tears

TTLE/TOPC:

© 2018 Learning Without Tears Building Writers B: Teacher Resource