Literature-Based Mini-Lessons To Teach Writing (Grades 1-3) [Paperback]

Susan Lunsford (Author)

Book Description

Series: Scholastic Teaching Strategies | Publication Date: January 1, 1999

Using favorite picturebooks for her mini-lessons models, teacher Susan Lunsford shares 15 easy-to-do writing lessons. Mini-lessons include: Where do story ideas come from? Great First Lines, Exploring Settings, Painting Pictures with Words, Writing a Complete Story, and Great Endings. Her teacher-student dialogues make it all easy to replicate in your own classroom. Each mini-lessons includes follow-up strategies and activities and picturebook suggestions. Writing conference and management tips too! For use with Grades 1-3.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Susan Lunsford has been teaching in a multi-age classroom of first and second graders for nearly eight years. She is a teacher at Ferguson Township Elementary in State College, PA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Teaching Resources (Teaching (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590433725
• ISBN-13: 978-0590433723
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #566,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Teacher's Best Friend, March 28, 2001

By 

Susan Feldman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Literature-Based Mini-Lessons To Teach Writing (Grades 1-3) (Paperback)

As an educator of second grade children, I found this book extremely helpful and very practical in the teaching of young writers. The conversation style of the book helps the teacher in lesson planning as well as gives the teacher a clear picture of student understanding. This book helps even the veteran teacher better her writer's workshop activities. The samples of student writing are real and therefore perfect examples of the successes of the program. The step by step procedure to writer's workshop mini lessons helps the educator take the small steps necessary to teach young writers. I found the children's literature book lists (from which the author takes most of her lessons) exceptionally helpful. Overall, this book is easy to use and even easier to follow the suggested program. A terrific resource in the teaching of writing!!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Resource Books Ever!, October 1, 2006

By 

Kimberley Cook (Plano, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Literature-Based Mini-Lessons To Teach Writing (Grades 1-3) (Paperback)

I am entering my tenth year as a teacher. I am currently teaching second grade, but I have also used the lessons with first graders. It could also be used up to fourth or fifth grade. This ranks among my top two resource books (the other being READING WITH MEANING, by Debbie Miller). It is an easy to read book that teaches writing skills in a sequential manner. Lessons are scripted, and teachers can follow them very closely. Each category gives a list of literature that helps teach the skills. These lessons will inspire your students to enjoy the process of writing. I highly recommend this book!! It will be used over and over again in your classroom for years to come!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Resource for Primary Teachers, January 12, 2009

By 

Camellia (Atlanta, Ga.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Literature-Based Mini-Lessons To Teach Writing (Grades 1-3) (Paperback)

I actually bought this book for my daughter who is a 1st grade teacher, so I have not used the book personally. As a retired teacher looking through the book, I was impressed with the number of ideas given to use as a springboard for writing activities. I liked the fact that children's literature was used and that the activities were very language-based, started at an easy level (for example, recognizing action words heard in a story) then progressed to students generating their own examples. My daughter tells me that she has found this book very helpful and has shared ideas from it with her teaching co-horts.