What is Step Up to Writing ?

STEP What is Step Up to Writing? Step Up To Writing is a collection of classroom-proven, multi-sensory strategies for information/expository writing. UP TO WRITING

What Does Step Up To Writing Do?1. guides students to write clear, concise, organized papers.2.teaches students to write great topic sentences and thesis statements and to connect ideas using transitions.3. helps students establish a sense of order and control over the information in a paper.4. requires students to support topics, to give examples and explanations, and to write a conclusion that stays on topic.5. Gives students guidance, support, and direction for becoming successful writers. STEP UP TO WRITING

STEP Who is Step Up for Writingfor?- General education in grades K – 12 - Special education in grades K - 12 - English Language Learner programs - Gifted &Talented programs UP TO WRITING

Direct, Explicit Instruction Guided Practice Opportunities for Independent Practice STEP Step Up to Writing Is about: UP TO WRITING

Multisensory Color Word Lists Informal Outlines Examples Small Steps STEP Step Up to Writing Is about: Tools UP TO WRITING

STEP Step Up to Writing Is about: the Writing Process UP Prewriting and Planning TO WRITING Drafting, Revising, and Editing Creating a Final Copy, Proofreading, and Sharing

STEP Step Up to Writing Is about: Promoting the Traits of Good Writing UP TO • Content • Organization • Style WRITING • Vocabulary • Sentence Structure • Conventions

Go! Write a topic sentence. Slow Down! Give a reason, detail, or fact. Use a transition. Stop! Explain. Give an example. Go Back! Remind the reader of your topic. STEP UP TO WRITING

Reasons/Details/Facts: Yellow means “slow down.” Introduce key concepts to support the topic sentence. Using Colors to Teach Organization STEP Topic Sentence: • Green means “go;” it asks the writer to decide:“What am I going to prove?”“What am I going to explain?”“What information will I share?” UP TO Explain: • Red means “stop and explain.” • Present evidence. • Provide explanation and examples. WRITING Conclusion: • Green means “go back to your topic.” • Restate the topic and the position. • Do not introduce new information. • Use synonyms and leave your reader with something to remember.

Spanish Explorers After Christopher Columbus’s voyages to the New World, many Spaniards came to this continent to explore. One Spanish explorer was Ponce de Leon. He traveled through present-day Florida to find the Fountain of Youth. A second explorer, Coronado, searched for the Seven Cities of Gold. He and his men traveled for three years. They did not find the cities of gold, but they did find the villages of the Pueblo who lived in the Southwest. They also saw the Grand Canyon. A third explorer was Hernando de Soto. De Soto traveled through Florida and then traveled west as far as the Mississippi River. He and his men were the first people from Spain to explore the Mississippi.These three men were only a few of the many people who explored the New World. 2-3 (2.2)

Narratives and Creative Writing 6.2

Step 1 Title Step 2 Quick Sketch Step 3 Quick Notes Step 4 Get the Story Rolling Step 5 Story Transitions Step 6 Smooth Stop Step 7 Revise, Edit, Proofread Quick Sketch Stories

Step 2 Quick sketch your plan for your story Step 3 Jot ideas, descriptions, and plans for your story ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Planning a Short Story Step 1 Title ______________________________________ 6-4–6.5 (6.7)

Step 4 Get the Story Rolling Provide a “where” “Near the park” “Last summer” Provide a” when” Other ways: • Provide an action verb • Introduce a character • Interesting comment • Dialogue

Step 5 Story Transitions Move the Story Along The next day When we arrived At dusk Immediately In between times Hours went by Some time later After we walked a mile In the afternoon 6-6–6-7 (6-13)

Step 6 Come to a Smooth Stop Don’t write “THE END.” Instead, finish with a strong sentence that will help your reader. • “Feel a feeling” ending • “Remember a character” ending • “Get your point” ending • “Think about the story” ending 6-9

One morning Each morning While they The Story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears Once upon a time there were three bears, Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear, who lived in a house in the woods. Each morning Mama Bear would make wonderful porridge. Papa Bear had a big bowl of porridge. Mama Bear had a medium-sized bowl. Baby Bear had a little bowl for his porridge. One morning Mama said the porridge was too hot to eat, so the bears decided to go for a walk and let the porridge cool off. While they were gone, a little girl by the name of Goldilocks came to the house. She knocked on the door and looked in the window, but no one was home. She tried the door and it opened. She went in and she saw the bowls of porridge on the table. Goldilocks was hungry, so she tasted the porridge in the big bowl. It was too hot. She tried the medium-sized bowl of porridge, and it was too cold. The porridge in the little bowl was just right, so she ate it all up. 6-8 (6.15)

Go to www.parkviewpylusd.org Select “Educational Links” Select “ Academic Skills” Select “All Grades Writing Instruction.” Lessons and Tutorials

Go to www.parkviewpylusd.org Select “Educational Links” Select “ Writing” Select “Step Up to Writing” Online practice

By Maureen E. Auman

What is Step Up to Writing ?