WELCOME TO WEEKLY WRITING LESSONS!
When I teach my year round writing camps, I give the SAME writing lesson to students ages 5-11 at the SAME TIME. You, the parent, can do the same at home with your multi-aged children using these weekly writing lessons.
Here’s how it works!
First, each lesson will have 5 sections.
K-1st Graders should try to write 1 sentence for each section
2nd Graders should try to write 2 sentences for each section
3rd Graders should try to write 3 sentences for each section
4th Graders should try to write 4 sentences for each section
5th Graders should try to write 5 sentences for each section
Students can write with pen.
Second tell your children, “You get to write with a pen. Your first draft is your final draft. Don’t worry about mistakes. If you write something you don’t like, simply draw a line through it and keep going. Don’t make a big storm cloud over your mistake.”
Time:
Third, set 30-60 minutes aside for your child/children to complete the lesson.
Spelling:
Fourth, encourage your children to ask you how to spell words that they want to use.
It’s okay to tell them how to spell words, especially if they’re high frequency words.
Also, encourage them to write the sounds that they hear in big words or less common words. This might mean that they will misspell the word. That’s okay. Being able to hear separate sounds in words is a very important skill.
Capitalization and Punctuation:
Fifth, when conducting these weekly writing lessons, remind your children to start each sentence with a capital letter and to end each sentence with a period, exclamation point or question mark. Kindly remind your children in places that they forget these.
Writing:
Last, guide your children through each section so their story is organized and complete. They are free to write each section using their own words.
Location:
In the beginning, when you are first introducing these weekly writing lessons with your children, I suggest meeting at the kitchen table.
As time goes on, however, and your children grow increasingly confident in writing all 5 sections, allow them to go to separate and special spaces throughout the house.
WEEKLY WRITING LESSONS
Each Wednesday, I will add a new lesson below. If you ever have any questions, feel free to subscribe to my FREE newsletter (top right of this page). You’ll receive new ideas regularly and can communicate with me via email there. Keep your kids writing using these weekly writing lessons!
THEIR WEIRD NEIGHBORS
Kids improve their spelling and increase their vocabulary by writing a silly story using words that contain EI.
Lesson 26: THE CHIEF AND THE THIEF
Kids improve their spelling and increase their vocabulary by writing a silly story using words that contain IE.
Lesson 25: ALL ABOUT ME
Get to know your students using this All About Me writing prompt. It’s a great way to start of a school year and practice this model of guided writing.
A NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS
Lesson 24: Fairy Tale Character Siting
This lesson is a favorite among my students! Print and cut out a picture of a fairy tale character. Then, paste it onto a calendar picture of a famous landmark. Kids write a fictional news article about a fairy tale character siting.
Lesson 23: The Day I Lost My Tooth
Students recall and write about a time they lost a tooth.
Lesson 22: 7 Strawberry Writing Prompts
Check out these 7 strawberry writing prompts that are sure to get your kids chatting, laughing and writing!
Lesson 21: Dunkin’ Donuts Vs. Krispy Kreme
Students celebrate their hard writing work by comparing and contrasting donuts.
Lesson 20: A Pet Serval Tells Its Story
Serval’s finally speak and get you laughing! One serval tell’s of its time as a pet. Who knew how silly humans were?!
Lesson 19: Relational Conflict: Personal Narrative
This guided writing prompt helps students write out their own story about a conflict with a person, whether it be a classmate, neighbor, friend, cousin, sibling etc.
Lesson 18: Solar Seeds: Science Fiction
It’s getting hot in here! You eat sunflower seeds for a snack. All of a sudden, you start changing….things are melting….or growing….or heating up….or…
After writing, snack on sunflower seeds. Then, add a sunny border and glue a few seeds on. This adds color and charm to your writing!
Lesson 17: You’ve Got to Visit!
Students write to try and persuade their readers to visit a favorite place.
Lesson 16: Packing–A Humorous List Poem
Don’t miss this writing lesson that generates chuckles and laughs. Students write a list of things that they would (and wouldn’t) pack for a trip using rhyme and alliteration.
Lesson 15: One Magic Seed-Fairy Tale
Townspeople fight and feud over watermelons year after year. Who will eventually find the magic seed?
Add a super simple art accent to go along with the story!
Lesson 14: Concrete Poems
Children form an image using words and phrases. These poems contain free verse so children don’t need to worry about writing complete sentences or punctuation.
Lesson 13: Never Ending Syrup Sundae-Instructions
The syrup never ends! Children invent a machine and write an instructional manual about it.
Then, have them complete a super simple art accent to show off their machine:
Lesson 12: Father’s Day Friendly Letter
Guide your child in writing a detailed letter to their dad or grandpa!
Lesson 11: Let’s Get Building! Opinion Writing
Summer time is fast approaching. What better way for kids to spend it than hammering in some nails! Students choose a building project, complete it, then write their opinion about the process!
(P.S. From the writing instructor herself….if you can’t make time for the writing, do be sure and make time for the building. It’s so worth the time and effort to teach this hands on skill!)
These super simple building projects are great for ages 4-12 and create a sturdy product that can last them a lifetime! Click on one of the following building projects to find the instructions:
Lesson 10: The African Savanna: Descriptive
The African savanna intrigues and interests almost every student that I work with. There are so many animals in the savanna that kids love, such as lions, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes…As a result, there’s a lot for kids to write about in this descriptive writing prompt!
Have your child add an easy art accent to the border of their writing. Find African animal art accent ideas here!
Lesson 9: Any Animal Axilotl to Z: Non-Fiction
What’s an axolotl? I had no idea until my son told me about one. Talk with your kids. Find out what wonky animal they know of. Then, have them write facts about it to teach you more!
Lesson 8: Exhausted Electronics–Science Fiction
Our electronics are wiped out and want a vacation! This is a great lesson for practicing dialogue and writing Science Fiction
Lesson 7: Gumball Machine–Instructions
Lesson 6: Two Honey Bears: Non-Fiction
This is a great lesson that includes 3 short videos, a non-fiction writing prompt and a taste of honey!
Lesson 5: Diamante Poem: From Here to There
AND/OR
Since diamante poems are short and sweet, have each member of the family write one about him or herself.
Lesson 4: Grumpy Grass–Fictional News Article
Encourage your child to complete a Green Grass Art Accent around the border of his or her writing.
Lesson 3: Spring Time Friendly Letter
Encourage your child to complete an easy Easter Art Accent around the border of his or her writing. Use marker, glitter glue, glitter, stickers, white crayon and watercolor, whatever you have at home!
Lesson 2: Two Favorite Foods-Creative Story
Encourage your child to add an easy art accent around the border of his or her writing. Look what you can do with markers alone!
Lesson 1: My House During Quarantine
