Effective, engaging strategies that will boost your confidence in teaching writing

Writing from Scratch is a positive, encouraging book full of practical techniques for elementary teachers and students to get the most out of their writing time. Award-winning author Shannon Anderson presents specific, skill-based lessons through a running theme of baking and cooking. Each lesson, or "recipe," will help you serve up effective instruction on writing topics like idea generation, figurative language, plotting, and structure. This book is designed not just to develop student writing, but to develop students as writers. The experiences and guidance in Writing From Scratch will inspire you to plan a year-long curriculum-or jump in mid-year-for writing instruction that will make a difference for students today, and into the future.

• Get practical ideas for incorporating writing lessons into your elementary classroom
• Build writing exercises into content lessons, for added writing instruction
• Inspire students to get excited about writing and explore their identities as writers
• Gain the confidence you need to plan a full writing curriculum

Teachers in K-5 settings, as well as principals and education leaders, will benefit from this hands-on writing instruction guide. Perfect for solo use or as a guide for professional development, Writing From Scratch will have you cooking up fantastic writing lessons in no time!

WHET YOUR STUDENTS' APPETITE FOR WRITING WITH FUN "RECIPES" AND EASY-TO-USE TECHNIQUES

There comes a point in every teacher's career when we realize that ready-made lesson plans and one-size-fits-all activities aren't sparking students' passion for writing. Just as homemade cookies are better than store-bought, writing lessons that are tailored to students' particular needs and interests are always going to be more engaging. Writing from Scratch: Lesson Plans to Boost Your Classroom Writing Instruction is a "cookbook" for crafting writing lessons that will not only get students writing, but help transform them into writers.

Great writing instruction doesn't have to be difficult. In this book, award-winning educator Shannon Anderson shares simple ideas for incorporating writing into any elementary classroom. "Cooking demonstrations" give you step-by-step instructions and examples for using each technique. Flip through to the topics that interest you most and teach students how to:

• Brainstorm writing topics
• Add details and dialogue
• Create settings and characters
• Write letters, diaries, poems, how-tos, and more
• Use devices like metaphor and hyperbole
• Incorporate humor and emotion
• Edit and revise their work

You'll also discover fun creative writing exercises, planning tips, and guidance on setting young writers up for success. Writing from Scratch is a great supplement for elementary teachers ready to cook up great writing lessons.