How to Discuss a Book Toss one question at a time out to the group. Select a number of questions, write each on an index card, and pass them out. Use a prompt (prop) related to the story. Pick out a specific passage from the book—a description, an idea, a […]
8 Tips for Improving Your Writing Style Be direct in your writing. Good writing is clear and concise. Choose your words wisely. Short sentences are more powerful than long sentences. Write short paragraphs. Always use the active voice. Review and edit your work. Use a natural, conversational tone. Read famous […]
General Strategies for Reading Comprehension Using Prior Knowledge/Previewing. Predicting. Identifying the Main Idea and Summarization. Questioning. Making Inferences. Visualizing. Story Maps. Retelling. What is the most effective strategy of reading? Here are nine effective reading strategies for quick comprehension: Read With a Purpose. The first strategy that I’d suggest employing […]
Here are a few examples of questions that active readers will ask before reading: What do you think this book will be about? Is this story fiction or nonfiction? How do you know? What does the title tell me about this book? What are good questions to ask about a […]
7 Comprehension Questions After Reading a Book What can you say about the theme of the story? What do you think is the author’s position regarding the issue presented in the story? Which character in the story do you think you can connect with and why? What serves to motivate […]
General Book Club Questions What is the significance of the title? Would you have given the book a different title? What were the main themes of the book? What did you think of the writing style and content structure of the book? How important was the time period or the […]
Stuck for Ideas Share Ideas before writing. Students orally share ideas before writing (with a peer, as a whole group, or even record ideas using a technology device) – This gets their creative juices flowing. Collaboratively write. Use sentence starters. Writing Warm-up. Pre-writing. What are the 5 strategies for writing? […]
6 Characteristics Every Great Writer Has in Common Attention to Detail. Great writers are observers, always taking mental notes and noting subtle changes around them. Discipline. Clarity. Strong Vocabulary. Open to Changes. Passion for Reading. Strive for These Qualities. What are three qualities of good writing? But no writer can […]
Education Northwest developed the 6+1 Trait Writing Model of Instruction & Assessment to help educators provide clear, consistent, and evidence-based feedback on student writing. Who developed the six traits of writing? My writing and my teaching have never been the same since. I imagine that Vicki’s work with the Six […]
The Six Traits of writing are Voice, Ideas, Presentation, Conventions, Organization, Word Choice, and Sentence Fluency. What are the strategies of writing? 5 strategies for writing simply but authoritatively Use simpler words and phrases. Minimize the number of negatives in a sentence. Write shorter sentences, but avoid choppiness. Use important […]
After you freewrite for the first time, identify a key thought or idea in your writing, and begin to freewrite again, with that idea as your starting point. You will loop one 5-10 minute freewriting after another, so you have a sequence of freewritings, each more specific than the last. […]
Technically, there are two options for submission: online or by mail. Note the use of “or”; colleges don’t want teachers to mix and match. In other words, schools don’t want a single teacher to submit her ranking form online and then send her letter by mail. How do you submit […]
The acceptance rate at Purdue is 59.8%. For every 100 applicants, 60 are admitted. This means the school is moderately selective. The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they’re more flexible than other schools. Can I get into Purdue with a 3.8 GPA? […]
Dear [First and Last Name], It’s my absolute pleasure to recommend [Name] for [position] with [Company]. [Name] and I [relationship] at [Company] for [length of time]. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with [Name], and came to know [him/her/them] as a truly valuable asset to our team. How do I […]
Ways to Expand (& Improve) an Essay. Expand individual paragraphs. Ask how and why questions. Add (more) concrete examples and evidence. Expand the introduction and/or conclusion. Add a sentence or two at the end of each paragraph summarizing (and/or refuting) the. Write new paragraphs. How do you write an elaborate? […]