Write About It Wednesday

Who loves teaching writing? I do! So does Halle from Across the Hall in 2nd Grade.

 So we've decided to team up for a weekly linky party - all about writing!


We'll share writing tips on the same topic -- and we hope you'll link up and share, too.

And to celebrate our very first Write About It Wednesday linky party, we're also hosting an awesome giveaway. Be sure to enter!

This week's Write About It Wednesday topic is: Stretching Sentences

My lesson is actually a daily sentence practice.  I like to pull this beauty out during my expository writing unit. It really helps my kiddos get into the habit of writing with more description.

Here's how it works:

This is a laminated poster board with sentence strips glued on.  There's five strips -- one for each day of the week. This little lesson takes about 7-10 minutes or less each day. It's a great mini-lesson for writing workshop or for a Daily 5 focus lesson!



On Monday, I write a simple sentence on the first strip using a white board marker.  That's the sentence we will stretch every day, all week.


First we talk about any details that we can add to the sentence to make it more specific or more interesting.  After our discussion, I edit the sentence and then rewrite it on the next strip.


On Tuesday, we repeat the process, only we use the second sentence instead!


Each day, we repeat this process.


Here's what the poster looks like on Friday.


My kiddos took this first sentence...


and stretched it into this!


On Friday, I erase the board and get ready to start the process again on Monday!


I use this lesson a couple of times whole group, and then intervene as needed.

I hope you can use this fun lesson -- and I hope that you're enjoying our first Write About It Wednesday!  Be sure to check out Across the Hall to see what great writing lesson they've written about today.


Oh! And don't forget to enter our giveaway for a chance to win some awesome prizes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We'd love to know what your great lessons about stretching sentences, too!

Link up to share!







17 comments

  1. Writing is one of my favorite things to teach. I really enjoy teaching bold beginnings.

    Aimee
    aimee@vanmiddlesworth.org
    Pencils, Books, and Dirty Looks

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  2. Just found your blog through this writing linky with Across the Hall in 2nd Grade. I love your writing idea - I like how you add/revise a little each day and how it is modeled for the students before they have to give it a try. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Looking From Third to Fourth

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  3. Love, love the poster idea. So clever. And, wow...your stretching sentences activity is so powerful. We love to see where they go after they leave us. We love teaching them to master a paragraph...That's when we know they've earned their 2nd grade wings. ;)

    Christy & Tammy
    Fluttering Through First Grade

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  4. I enjoy teaching writing with the Core much more than before when we followed "Write from the Beginning" and only taught narrative writing.
    susanlulu@yahoo.com

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  5. I would love if you would also link up with my Workshop Wednesday with this post- I think it fits in nicely, even if it isn't part of your Writer's Workshop- it could be!! :-P
    Jivey
    ideas by jivey


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  6. Wow, Wow, Wow! I love the idea of using a series of laminated sentence strips. Thanks for sharing. We use writers workshop and love it. Write now we are focusing on non-fiction writing and our firsties are doing great! :)

    Catherine
    The Brown-Bag Teacher

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  7. We love this idea! It seems like a great and quick routine to add in to our daily writer's workshop. We're taking this idea to our grade level team to share as well!

    :) Tamra and Sarah
    firstgradebuddies2.blogspot.com

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  8. I love this idea. Writing is the number one thing I want to be better at. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. This is a great idea! I am going to pin this so I can start it after our spring break!

    -Maria
    Everyone deServes to Learn

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  10. Love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing! We are currently overhauling our writing program and this will be so helpful to add! I really love teaching persuasive writing!

    œKaryn
    A is for Apple B is for Blog
    Kideducator@comcast.net

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  11. This year I have approached Writing in a totally different way. Definitely going out of my comfort zone but slowly finding my way back! Love your sentence stretching ideas!

    Christina :)
    Apples, Books, and Crayons
    applesbooksandcrayons@gmail.com

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  12. Such a great way to expand sentences! Definitely gonna try it! :)

    Aris Rossi

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  13. I love this idea! I am currently working on a degree in Early Childhood Education, and will have to remeber this! Thank you!

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  14. I've done the old standard sentence stretching worksheets, but never have I thought about doing it like this! I love it! I pinned it!
    Rachel
    the tattooed teacher

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  15. What a GREAT idea! I use Kelley Dolling's Wow vs. Blah Sentences pack and this is another way to teach it! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Looking forward to more linky fun!
    Growing Firsties

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  16. Love it! I'm going to remember this idea in case I get bumped up a grade level. Pinned too!

    Angelia
    Extra Special Teaching

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