50 Writing Lessons That Work!: Motivating Prompts and Easy Activities That Develop the Essentials of Strong Writing (Grades 4-8) [Paperback]

Carol Rawlings Miller (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

If you want to teach writing skills without taking the joy out of writing, this teacher-written resource is for you. You'll find easy, ready-to-use activities and thought-provoking prompts that will help your students become inventive and flexible writers. Includes creative and expository writing skills such as organizing ideas, writing focused paragraphs, making transitions, using strong adjective and action verbs, writing dialogue, revising, and much, much more. Developing these skills will help students do better on strandardized tests and approach writing with excitement. Includes engaging reproducibles and a wealth of student samples. For use with Grades 4-8.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Teaching Resources (Teaching (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590522124
• ISBN-13: 978-0590522120
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

98 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars interesting activities that stimulate good writing, October 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 50 Writing Lessons That Work!: Motivating Prompts and Easy Activities That Develop the Essentials of Strong Writing (Grades 4-8) (Paperback)

As a teacher of high-school students with learning disabilities I was very happy to find Ms. Rawlings book. Nothing is more difficult in writing than thinking of an idea and getting started. I found that my students would simply stare into space when asked to write, desperately trying to think of something to write about. Now I use the story starters as fun, creative ways to get the kids going. For the first time many of them want to write because the story starters are so compelling they want to start the story and see where it takes them. I also enjoy the sensible teaching tips from a seasoned pro in the classroom. Thank you Ms. Rawlings Miller!

63 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too short, and better books exist, February 18, 2007

By 

B. Hanson (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 50 Writing Lessons That Work!: Motivating Prompts and Easy Activities That Develop the Essentials of Strong Writing (Grades 4-8) (Paperback)

I was disappointed to discover this book is more like 50 activities, not 50 lessons. I realized only after I ordered this book that it is a slim 64 pages. Each "lesson" is like an idea for a student writing assignment, although many of them are not particularly inspired. I tried to use this book with middle school students, but many of them complained that the assignments were cliche and forced them to write on prompts they had heard before (like write an autobiography, describe someone's personality in a paragraph, write about something that annoys you, write about the weather today, etc.). I felt that half of these prompts were things that as a teacher, I could easily come up with on my own. The other half are fine and good, but brief. For my purposes, this book could be condensed to a two-page list of creative writing / essay topics.

At 9.99 for 64 pages, you are better off spending 19.99 on a 300 page book that will last beyond a few weeks, and do more than list off writing prompts.

This book could be useful if you are teaching 4th-5th grade students, and like to have the structure of a book to guide you through getting the class excited about a single writing prompt. If you're a more creative type (and not a by-the-line, I read a cookbook for every detail type), you're better off giving yourself an hour to brainstorm a bunch of writing prompts, typing them up, and using your own ideas.

93 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book your children will love!, September 30, 1999

By 

"paumanock" - See all my reviews

This review is from: 50 Writing Lessons That Work!: Motivating Prompts and Easy Activities That Develop the Essentials of Strong Writing (Grades 4-8) (Paperback)

My son LOVES this book! With the new Harry Potter books, my son (a 10-year-old who normally hates to read and write) has taken an interest in trying to write his own books. As a non-writer I did not know where to start, but Ms. Miller's book is informative and most of all FUN! She demystifies writing so that it is enjoyable and understandable. I would suggest anyone with schoolage children try this book so writing will not be such a scarey thing for their kids. I read it and learned lots -- I wish I had it when I was growing up!