Page 89 - ABCTE Study Guide_Neat

Word maps are used to show relationships between words. You begin creating a word map by writing a
word in a central circle. Next, ask students to brainstorm words that are related to the first focus word. As
the students come with appropriate words, write them around the focus word and link them with lines.
Related words could include:

• Words with similar meanings
• Words that share the same topic or theme
• Words that express alternate meanings of the focus word

Word maps encourage writers to make connections between new words and words they already know. By
mapping relationships between words, students are able to expand their vocabulary, which, in turn,
assists in the development of their writing skills.

Steps to guided writing:

• Pick a topic to write about
• Create a word map and have the student write about the chosen topic using the words from the map
• Encourage inventive spelling

Inventive spelling is the practice of allowing beginning readers and writers to write any way they want.
This promotes the idea that the act of writing is more important than correctness of form and spelling.
Eventually, the student will learn to use the correct form. Inventive spelling allows student writers to write
independently before they are able to spell and encourages creative writing as a means of self-
expression.

Fluency

Fluency should be one of the goals stressed at the beginning of each writing lesson. Fluency refers to the
transfer of the flow of speech to the written word. A significant part of developing writing skills depends on
the ability to visualize spoken words, phrases, and sentences as they are heard and write them in their
entirety, as opposed to writing them syllable by syllable.

Steps to follow in a fluency writing activity:
• Verbally express a sentence, repeating it if necessary
• When the students have learned the sentence, have them write it without stopping

Fluency in writing guidelines:
• Begin by speaking single words, then move on to phrases and whole sentences
• Encourage students to write what you’ve said in its entirety without stopping to correct mistakes
• Encourage students to write quickly, but legibly
• Work on problem words only after a sentence has been written

Review

There are many ways to teach writing skills to students. Young writers benefit from well-developed fine
motor skills, while older writers benefit from well-planned writing activities such as

• Keeping a dialogue journal

• Participating in conference writing

• Practicing guided writing