1 The Night I Followed My Dog

Writers Workshop Daily Plan

1. Mini-Lesson Focus: Procedural Process Trait Conventions

ELACCW3: This standard is the same for third – fifth grades. Some of the elements contained with this standard are different by grade levels. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

The Night I Followed the Dog: Note to Teacher: This mentor text has been used in Readers Workshop to model point of view. There is also an additional Writers Workshop lesson, Transitions which helps students see the importance of using transition words when writing.

Have students create their completely fictional stories about a night they followed their ______(pets, siblings, parents). Where did they go? What did they see? What did they do? Point out that the events in the story could not really happen, and that these outrageous events make stories more interesting and fun. Encourage students to create outrageous events in their stories as well as using transitional words from the list (see below) to help the readers know when the events occurred.

2. Status of Class

3. Student Writing/Teacher Conferring

4. Author Share: Student Teacher

Have a few students share some of their more entertaining ideas!!

TRANSITION WORDS

-Just a few to get you started!-

Words that can be used to show location:

above around between inside outside

across behind by into over

against below down near throughout

along beneath in back of off to the right

among beside in front of on top of under

Words that can be used to show time:

about during until yesterday finally

after first meanwhile next soon

at second today then as soon as

before third tomorrow later when

Words that can be used to compare things (show similarities):

in the same way likewise as while

similarly like also

Words that can be used to contrast things (show difference):

on the other hand otherwise but although

even though however still yet

Words that can be used to emphasize a point:

again for this reason in fact so

Words that can be used to add information:

again for instance and as well

also besides next along with

another for example finally in addition

Words that can be used to conclude or summarize:

as a result finally in conclusion therefore

lastly in conclusion

Ideas / Clear and concise original ideas that captured and held the reader’s interest. Events were surprising and evoked emotion / Some original ideas. One or two shining moments with writer/ reader connection. Reader was able to understand and enjoy most of the story. / Ideas were uneventful but were clear and concise. Reader was able to understand the story. / Ideas were confusing and unrelated to topic. Understanding was a struggle for the reader.
Ideas / Ideas were enhanced through character development and events. / Characters were identifiable in the story. / Characters were present but were not developed. / The story lacked characters.
Organization / Ideas were arranged in an order that added to the readability of the story and made it easy to follow. / Ideas were organized and understandable for the most part. / Organization was acceptable but unclear at times. / Ideas were unclear and unorganized.
Transition / Transition words and phrases were used correctly to enhance meaning. / Transition words and phrases are present, but they did not always work well. / Transition words and phrases are rare and did not always work well. / Transition words and phrases are not present and/or were not used correctly.

Rubric for The Night I Followed My ______

Troup County Schools 2013

Reading Writing Connection