Welcome to HIT—How I Teach….In this episode, I continue with more essay teaching for middle school/junior high—but with a “research slat” that helps this age group move from essay writing to report writing. And… you can use the Teacher’s Notebook over and over again to teach any three paragraph body (optional opening and closing paragraphs) that are three aspects of one thing!
My favorite way to get students writing essays is to teach them that the three paragraphs of the body that they will write are really three “mini essays.” Each one could stand alone. This makes the whole process way less intimidating.
In this HIT episode, I expound on that concept and much more:
- How to show students the amazing “three aspects” essay and how much easier it is to write essays when they come with that mindset
- How to use the three aspects essay for younger students by doing just one aspect for elementary or two for less experienced middle school writers
- How to use the three aspects essay for older students by increasing the number of sentences in each paragraph and by the addition of mandatory quotations
- How to use bookending stories for opening and closing paragraphs (start the story in the opening paragraph then finish the story in the closing paragraph)
- Using outlining space to clarify each paragraph’s topic—and even the transitions/topic sentences from one paragraph to another
- Extensive transition information including a length transition words and phrases box to use with your students
- Opening paragraph types based on the body of the essay
- And, of course, using the incredible samples in all Language Arts Lady/Write for a Month writing books and products to TEACH and excite students
I am in the middle of this particular elephant essay with twenty middle school and junior high students. Their excitement, confidence, and diligence tell it all—this is a winner. I am so thrilled!
Of course, just like every lesson in my one-month downloadable books and my one-semester Meaningful Composition books, this one also has the invaluable sample essay—and lessons for all of the skills needed to complete this project.
And for your convenience, How I Teach…. is available as a podcast (follow along in your TN sheets for that week) and a YouTube video (with Power Point containing the same as the TN)!
Note: This lesson came from Write On, Dumbo III, a month-long downloadable book!
Find everything you need here!
Weekly broadcast episodes with Teacher’s Notebook downloads (and links to listen or watch!) at the Language Arts Lady blog: https://languageartsladyblog.com/howiteach
Master (continually updated) Teacher’s Notebook downloadable booklet:https://languageartsladyblog.com/teachersnotebook
Free writing books and videos of me teaching your students for you for a couple of weeks! https://languageartsladyblog.com/5writingfreebies
All of my digital books: https://languageartsladystore.com
How I Teach YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC20OP_HNTUm8eBMNgMh06sQ
How I Teach Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-teach/id1552986393
