Welcome to Fifth Grade Writing

First of all, check our syllabus under Lessons Writing 5. This is updated weekly, and lets you know what we are doing in class. You will find links to student work there also.

Second, Congratulations on your fantastic WASL scores!

Third, organize yourself for writing class. Do you have one spiral binder which stays in class as your personal text book? If not, I have provided you with a pocket folder to which you can add paper and use as your notebook. In the notebook, you will take notes, practice writing, prewrite, and track your work. You will also receive at least two file folders to keep your writing and your important handouts. These also stay at school. Check out the homework page on the right for your general homework assignments. The class syllabus will also indicate any daily homework assigned to you. Bring pens and pencils to class, and lots of paper.

Fourth, remember that writing is thinking. That's why it is not as easy as some people think. Writing is not "talk written down," although if you can talk, you can write. When we write, we must remember that the people we are writing to, our "audience," are not standing beside us so we can explain our ideas. Instead, we must write clearly and in detail so the reader can undersand exactly what we mean in our writing. That's why we revise our writing, because the first draft is usually our thinking; our second and third drafts add the details our readers need to truly understand what we meant to say.

Finally, writers write about what they know, so when you write, think carefully and brainstorm all you know about the topic before you begin writing. If you choose your own topic, choose something you already know much about. Writers often do research so they understand what they are writing about. That's why part of your writng will be based on research of topics you want to learn about--or you become interested from the prompts presented to you.

On this site check out the links at the top of the page: Six Traits, Writing Process, and World Wonders.