Several teachers contribute activities, games, and teaching ideas for writing instruction in the elementary grades. (SJL)

Elementary students can become good editors by using editing skills during the writing process. Teachers must present and repeat editing topics in minilessons, provide reminders of particular skills that were addressed, teach students to use editing resources, and expect students to develop proper usage gradually. (SM)

Three different types of student newspapers are offered as examples to help teachers develop a unit on school publications. Creative ideas help children learn interviewing techniques and writing and editing skills while exploring many aspects of journalism. (DF)

Describes how an elementary teacher developed a daily writer's workshop. Suggestions for finding time to write include reducing use of workbooks and skillsheets, looking for redundancy in curriculum programs, concentrating on writing for a shortened period of the school year, and creating time-saving instructional strategies. (SM)

Describes how elementary teachers can set up meaningful guidelines to enhance the productivity of writing workshops. Writing workshops accommodate the idiosyncratic nature of individual writing and learning processes. They provide a highly structured environment with clear rules and procedures. The article explains how to establish classroom…

Autobiographies are useful in teaching middle school reading and writing since middle school students tend to focus on topics about themselves and their place in the world. Autobiographies offer a powerful mechanism for self-reflection. This paper presents activities demonstrating how to use autobiography to motivate students to express their…

This article describes a method for writing instruction in which small groups of students meet to read and evaluate each other's writing. A five-day schedule for this "writing family" activity is outlined. (SJL)

Thinking about how published authors get their ideas for stories is one way for children to generate their own story ideas. The article discusses how elementary teachers can use storytelling, reading, examining picture books, and learning writing techniques to help their students select a topic. (SM)

Presents three drawing/writing activities for primary grades: telling picture stories, attaching words to picture stories, and (for older primary students), interpreting writing through art. (SM)

Presents ideas for tools useful for teaching writing in elementary school, such as carbon paper, stick-on flags, blank books, scissors, rulers, tape, stationery, postcards, card stands, clotheslines, and Polaroid cameras. Notes on materials dos and don'ts and special writing projects are included. (SM)

Describes the "kids2kids Writing Circle," a national electronic writing project inspired by an elementary teacher who interested his students in writing by sending their work to another class electronically. Information on necessary equipment, how to participate, and how to register with the electronic mail network is included. (SM)

Presents a writing mini-lesson for primary and intermediate elementary school students that encourages them to spend more time on verbs and less time on details in order to improve their overall writing. A sidebar provides a list of useful children's books. (SM)

Discusses techniques to use in helping children write more concisely. Minilesson techniques are presented that guide children in making effective writing revisions and deletions as well as explaining why these techniques are useful. (GLR)

Computerized word processing can be a valuable tool for writing instruction because the machines make it easier for students to properly revise and correct their work. Ways that teachers and students can use the machines are described, and problems, such as limited access to computer terminals and the necessity for students to type, are noted. (PP)

Authors of "For the Love of Writing" suggest projects that will teach pupils how to write letters that will get responses, thus stimulating interest. Techniques for writing complimentary letters, mystery letters, animal letters, book report letters, bottle and balloon messages, and sending electronic mail are discussed. (PP)