How to Write in an Elementary Classroom

Create an outline before writing a report.

Writing is just one of the language arts. The others are listening, speaking and reading. After learning a certain number of vocabulary and spelling words along with basic sentence and paragraph structure, elementary students can try their hand at writing reports. Group students into writing workshops so they can discuss their ideas and polish the finished product with the input of others.

Instructions

1. Fill out a KWL chart: K for what you know about the topic; W for what you want to find out about the topic; and, after conducting research, L for what you learned about the topic. Read over your chart to get ideas about what you want to say in your report.

2. Think of a title for the report that addresses the main idea. For example, if you are writing about farm animals, title the piece "Animals On The Farm."

3. Research your topic by using sources, such as encyclopedia, magazines, videos, books and websites. Make sure to note your sources and check their reliability.

4. Arrange your material in a logical order. For "Animals On The Farm," list the animals in alphabetical order. Write notes about what you learned on index cards and summarize them on your KWL chart.

5. Create an outline for your report using the KWL chart and your notes. The report should have at least five paragraphs. The first paragraph is the introduction, with a topic sentence stating the main idea of the essay. The second, third and fourth paragraphs are the body, which contains the information, details and examples you found in your research. The last paragraph is the conclusion, which gives a summary of the essay and restates the main idea or thesis.

6. Write a first draft based on your outline and review it for grammar, spelling and clarity.

7. Redraft the essay, inputing the corrections you made after editing your first draft. This will be the final draft.

Tips & Warnings

• Find a partner with a similar topic and share your research sources. It can be fun to go to the library together.

• Include some kind of visual aid with your report for clarification, such as a chart, illustration or photograph.

References

• Writer's Workshop
• KWL Chart