Powerful Writing Structures

This timely book uses thinking structures to deepen student writing.

Powerful Writing Structures revolves around ‘brain pockets’ to help students become familiar with the qualities of different writing forms. They learn to access memory pockets for personal narrative writing, fact pockets for writing nonfiction and imagination pockets for story writing.

The thinking strategies in this practical resource focus on using structural aspects of writing forms to inspire and inform students learning to write. Detailed lesson plans revolve around anchor books and include sample student work from real classrooms, book lists and assessment rubrics. Based on extensive classroom testing, this comprehensive approach to developing a balanced year-long writing program includes tips for implementing weekly writing practice and for using different forms of writing in the content areas.

This valuable resource shows teachers how to set up an effective writing program that focuses on process rather than product. The book includes:

• lessons to introduce different forms of writing, including six types of nonfiction, personal narrative and story
• mini lessons on writing structure, language and writer’s craft, so that students can carry skills forward into writing practice
• book lists of the best children’s books to anchor, support and extend lessons
• student examples that illustrate how strategies work in real classrooms

From writing goals to writing joy, Powerful Writing Structures helps teachers guide students through the skills, the structures, the language and the beauty of effective writing.