Empower MS students to think with Self-Reliance

Thea Holtan

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The THINKING AND WRITING PROCESS

Middle School English - Research Papers and Essays


Writing Curriculum	Teacher's Guides	Student Writer's Guide	Student's Video Tapes

EMPOWER YOUR STUDENTS TO THINK WITH SELF-RELIANCE.

RESEARCH PAPERS and ESSAYS - Simplified and Practical:: For you the goal is that students can independently produce papers in the basic expository structure so you can be free to help them focus on developing their composition skills. If your staff teaches Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 in elementary, your students will come to you ready to use Level 3. They will know the basic process of notes, categories, an outline, and a paper with an introductory paragraph, topic paragraphs with topic sentences, and a concluding paragraph. However, if your students are not familiar with this process, you will begin with non-optional steps in the Level 3 Teacher’s Guide: Teaching Research Papers and Expository Essays. Once inexperienced students get past their first time of taking notes, you’ll be thrilled with how quickly they grasp the flow of the strategies! After two or three experiences with all of the steps, you can lead most of them into independently following the Level 3 Writer’s Guide: Think, Organize, Write!

What do students do? First students take notes on cards, think about them, sort them, and organize them on a topic outline. Then they write an introductory paragraph, topic paragraphs in their outlined order, and a concluding paragraph. Finally, they edit, proofread, and publish their expository papers. After one or two experiences through this process, many students can be eased into the Level 3 Writer’s Guide. They will quickly become self-reliant, freeing you to mingle among them, observe them, help them individually, and help dependent students who need closer direction.

How can some strategies help you lead meaningful group discussions of students’ thinking? Some of the strategies throughout this process cause students to think about their notes. You can use these same strategies to ask your class open, focused questions. You will inspire thought-filled discussions that strengthen understandings of your assignments dealing with literature or with any of the sciences students study under other teachers. For help in planning and asking these simple questions, turn to the front pages of the Teacher’s Guide.

Check my website for freebies, sneak peeks, details, products, and order information. Share this with teachers. Order your Level 3 Teacher’s and Writer’s Guides. Empower your students with independence in taking notes, thinking with them, organizing them, and writing expository reports and essays. Your impact will serve them for many, many years.