Brighten Up Boring Beginnings and Other Quick Writing Lessons (Grades 4 and up) (Paperback)

~ Laura Robb (Author) "to teach students how to revise paragraphs in which three to four sentences start with same word..." (more)
Key Phrases: Brainstorm List, After Examples, Revision Tips (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

10 to 15-Minute Mini-Lessons and Reproducible Activities That Sharpen Students' Writing Skills
One-page mini lessons—perfect for chart paper or overhead lessons—and companion reproducible writing activities, zero in on improving key writing skills. Covers sentence combining, improving leads, using strong verbs, getting rid of clutter, and more.

About the Author

Laura Robb is the Director of Language Arts and Curriculum Coordinator of Powhatan School in Virginia. She conducts ongoing staff development workshops and coaches teachers in grades K-9 in Frederick County, Winchester and Harrisonburg City Schools. Laura also travels across the United States giving seminars for teachers on reading, writing, and thinking across the curriculum. She is the author of Reading Strategies That Work published by Scholastic Teaching Resources, Whole Language, Whole Learners published by William Morrow and has collected two anthologies of poetry: Snuffles and Snouts (Dial) illustrated by Steven Kellogg and Music and Drum (Philomel), illustrated by Deborah Lill. She is currently a regular columnist for Instructor magazine, contributing a column called "The Reading Clinic."

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Professional Books; 1st edition (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439073510
• ISBN-13: 978-0439073516
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,105 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book looks to have possibilities, January 1, 2001

By	Steven H. Shapero (Columbia, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

As a 4th grade teacher, I've been looking for a book with exercises that will help my students with their writing - something with short, easy to digest information, and something that will allow them to write just a paragraph (as opposed to 1-2 pages). I think this book looks to be the ticket. I've not used it yet, but the components are all there. There are 18 lessons, each containing tips for the teacher, 2 paragraph rewrite challenges, and a "before" and "after" example, which I really like. The "before" shows what students typically write before employing the recommendations of the tips, and the "after" example shows how the example could be written when using the tips. Some of the lessons include: repairing run-on sentences, giving specific information, beginning with unusual facts, and using active verbs.

4.0 out of 5 stars begin at the beginning, September 21, 2008

By	Deborah L. Shepherd "queen of writing" (terre haute, indiana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a rather dry book but is packed with information and ideas. As a writing teacher for lower elementary grades, I found I used the ideas but made modifications to the lesson suggestions. This would be a good resource book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Writing Resource, September 18, 2008

By	B. Keating (Norton, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have used this for tutoring as well as within my classroom. It is an excellent resource to utilize to aid in writing instruction. Students are motivated to write and assisted in formulating their writing. Good discussion of transitions and process.