Character Development: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Writing and Literary Analysis Skills in Grades 4 to 8

(Paperback)

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Description

The Let Them Write Series is a classroom-tested, teacher-friendly resource for Language Arts teachers of grades 4 through 8. The program is organized in nine sections, each presenting a buffet of from five to nine 1- or 2-week modules. Each classroom-ready module consists of a series of comprehensive, easy-to-follow lesson plans complete with reproducible handouts and cross-curricular extensions, together creating a proven successful template for the teaching of writing and literary analysis skills. Character Development focuses on the creation of fully-realized, multidimensional protagonists and antagonists. Students practice first-drafting, editing, polishing, and sharing original paragraphs, scenes, and stories featuring the characters they have brought to life. The text can be implemented in the classroom alone or in tandem with the two other titles in the Let Them Write Series SETTING AND DESCRIPTION and PLOT BUILDING. Also of interest for classroom teachers is the Literacy: Made for All Series WORDSMITHING: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Nonfiction Writing and Analysis Skills in the High School Grades ENJOYING LITERATURE: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Fiction and Poetry Analysis Skills in the High School Grades STORY CRAFTING: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Fiction Writing in the High School Grades

Reviews

As a novice to teaching English, having taught only Science for twenty years, I found the Let Them Write/ Let Them Read program was easy to follow and easy to implement. This is a structured program for the teacher and built for the individual levels of ability of the students. My students enthusiasm for writing and reading, and their blossoming literary skills, resulted in their achieving the highest English language standard for the school. Every student advanced significantly in grade level during the instructional time frame. Every student was successful every day in this program. -- Adde Walker, science teacher, intermediate division chair and board liaison (Toronto District School Board Ontario, Canada)
As a writer and teacher of creative writing at a university level, I know how challenging it is to break down the elements of good prose into language that is easily understood. The first step in 'teaching' creative writing is demystifying the process, dispelling fears that 'my writing sucks', while emphasizing the importance of narrative drive. Let Them Write provides building blocks that even the most creative- writing resistant teacher can deliver to students. To all those doubting their ability to inspire young people to write, grab hold of a copy of Let Them Write, follow the carefully orchestrated guidelines, sit back and let your students amaze you. -- Cordelia Strube, award-winning Canadian author and professor of English, Ryerson University (Toronto)

Author Bio

Arlene F. Marks holds degrees in Modern Languages and Education from the University of Toronto and has twenty years of experience teaching high school English, Literacy and Writer's Craft at all levels from Pre-Advanced Placement to Remedial. Arlene is the author of From First Word to Last (2013, Legacy Books Press) and the LITERACY: MADE FOR ALL series (2014, R & L Education). She welcomes visitors to her web site, www.thewritersnest.ca. Bette J. Walker holds degrees in English and Education from York University (Toronto) and has thirty years experience teaching in Junior (grades 3 to 6) and Intermediate (grades 7 and 8) classrooms. She also spent three years as a Language Arts Consultant with the York Region District School Board (Ontario, Canada). Bette is the author of Adolescent Literacy (York Region DSB), THE DRAMA PROCESS series (with Frank Smith, Summit Educational Services), and Teaching Excellence 101 (Edupress).