24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An incredible book to teach children to write creatively!, August 6, 2001
This review is from: The Most Wonderful Writing Lessons Ever (Grades 2-4) (Paperback)
I used this book to teach 3rd and 4th graders in Watts how to write. This book has lesson plans that teach step by step. All kids have wonderful ideas but sometimes do not know how to express these ideas on paper. This book shows you how to teach them. It was incredible to read the stories my students wrote after learning the techniques in this book! All my students became amazing authors! They were so proud of their stories and I was so proud of them! Thank you for writing this amazing book!
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best!, September 22, 2003
This review is from: The Most Wonderful Writing Lessons Ever (Grades 2-4) (Paperback)
I have reviewed many books about how to teach children to write stories, and this one is by far the best! To begin with Mariconda is the only author I've read who distinguishes between character-problem-solution stories and what she calls "personal narratives." Personal narratives are more about an experience than a character, are usually heavily descriptive, and there is no "problem." The character-problem-solution mantra had always bothered me, because we all know that there are wonderful stories that are more "mood pieces" than solutions problems.
More importantly, the book consists of specific lessons on teaching the elements of story writing, in isolation. It can be done! Look at the Table of Contents to see exactly what is covered. These lessons are explained so well explained that you feel fully equipped to teach them, now!
Additionally, the author herself writes with "voice," unlike the usual dry, anonymous style of textbooks. When I leafed through the book and saw an entry that said something like, "getting students to elaborate with detail is the bane of most English teachers' existence," I bought it then and there. What we all need is to hear about teachers' experiences, not just "programs" that seem to spring from nowhere.
Lastly, her approach works! When this program was implemented at the school she taught at, the percentage of students passing the state writing assessment rose from 47% to 92% in four years. That is amazing! I am planning on using this book for my high school students as well as elementary and middle school!
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Most Wonderful Writing Lessons Ever..., June 28, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: The Most Wonderful Writing Lessons Ever (Grades 2-4) (Paperback)
Finally! A comprehensive approach to teaching writing. It takes the teacher lesson-by-lesson to help a child improve with their creative writing. I used the approach for only the last 2 months of school and my students' scores improved dramatically. I am buying a copy for my grade-mate across the hall. She'll love it!
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