Helping Struggling Writers Plan Without a Graphic Organizer
Tell me if you’ve seen this before:
You’re working on personal narratives.
Your student has chosen an idea.
They can tell you all about it.
They give you some details – some relevant, some not.
Then you say, “Let’s start planning our piece.”
Maybe you give them a graphic organizer.
Maybe you don’t.
Either way, nothing happens.
They just stare.
All those ideas they had? Gone, when they are faced by their nemesis: the blank page.
They’re just stuck!
So how do you get them unstuck?
This easy, hands-on strategy is perfect for helping kids plan and get their ideas on paper, in a logical order.
All you need is a pencil and sticky notes! (You can try it, too – just follow along with the video and get planning!)
Need some help to get started? Check out this free download for tools to help you teach writing in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade!
- The Framework of Writer’s Workshop
- Components of Writer’s Workshop
- Minilesson Planner
- Steps in the Writing Process
- Guide: Guiding Students Through the Writing Process
- Think Aloud Sentence Starters
- Writing Process Folders: directions & printables
- Conference Log
- Personal Editing Checklist
- Revision Strategy Card: Find a Place