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    Blog Post

    Support Students Through Trying Times

    Social-Emotional Intelligence: 
    Limbic System
    Cortex
    SEL
    Stress
    Mindfulness
    Self-Care
    Social-Emotional Learning

    Blog Post

    Teach Revision with Writing Models

    English Language Arts: 
    Revising
    Reading
    Writing Process

    Blog Post

    Empower Students with Choice

    English Language Arts: 
    Writing to Learn
    21st Century Skills: 
    Writing

    Blog Post

    Thinking with Brain and Body

    Social-Emotional Intelligence: 
    Mindfulness
    SEL
    Social-Emotional Learning

    Blog Post

    Teach “Out There” Thinking

    21st Century Skills: 
    Visual Literacy
    Audio-Visual Project
    Creative Thinking
    Creating

    Blog Post

    ELA and SEL: Partners in Learning

    English Language Arts: 
    Writing
    Social-Emotional Intelligence: 
    SEL
    Social-Emotional Learning
    Emotion

    Blog Post

    Youth in Crisis: Address Pervasive Sadness

    Social-Emotional Intelligence: 
    Sadness
    Social-Emotional Learning
    Emotion
    Anger
    Fear
    Brain and Nervous System

    Blog Post

    Listen with Empathy

    Social-Emotional Intelligence: 
    Empathy
    Conflict Resolution
    Social-Emotional Learning
    Socialization
    Team Building

    Blog Post

    Don’t Leave Grammar to AI

    English Language Arts: 
    Grammar
    Sentence
    Punctuation
    Capitalization
    Usage

    Student Writing Model

    Caught in the Net

    Kim’s essay uses narration and definition to focus on Internet addiction. This essay predates Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Skype, and smart phones. How has our definition of Internet addiction changed?

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    Definition
    Theme: 
    Technology
    Health

    Student Writing Model

    Internet Plagiarism

    Dan writes a problem-solution essay that focuses on one of the great temptations of the digital age: stealing intellectual property via the Internet. The essay begins by explaining the problem in detail and then shifts to recommending a set of solutions.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Persuasive Writing
    Form: 
    Problem-Solution
    Theme: 
    Education
    Technology
    Rules
    Rights

    Student Writing Model

    It’s a Boy!

    This model recounts an embarrassing public experience that provided the writer with new insight into teen pregnancy, single parenthood, and social stigmas. The voice of the piece shows the writer's personality and easily connects with readers. Many vivid details make the experience come to life.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Family
    Education
    Community

    Student Writing Model

    The Climb

    Amy, the author of this personal narrative, effectively uses voice to convey the fear she feels as she ascends a path to an area above a 100-ft. waterfall. Her expert choice of words helps to paint a beautiful picture of her surroundings.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Exercise
    Recreation
    Travel
    Goals
    Sports

    Student Writing Model

    Adam’s Train of Ghosts

    In this vintage essay, Abigail expresses her thoughts and feelings about the songwriter and lead singer of the band the Counting Crows, who are still making music a quarter century on. She analyzes the themes in Adam Duritz’s songs from the '90's and offers her interpretation of symbolism present in them.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Response to Literature
    Form: 
    Music Review
    Theme: 
    Music
    Art
    Imagination
    Entertainment
    Personality

    Student Writing Model

    My Interpretation of The Joy Luck Club

    Amy Tan’s book The Joy Luck Club explores the relationships between four Chinese American daughters and their often-misunderstood, more traditional Chinese mothers. By sharing quotations from the book, Fawn, the author of this literary analysis, intends to show how, as they grew up, the daughters came to understand, respect, and appreciate their mothers more.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Response to Literature
    Form: 
    Literary Analysis
    Theme: 
    Books
    Literature
    Culture
    Life

    Student Writing Model

    Rosa Parks

    This historical profile presents accurate information about a famous person and is written in an active, lively manner. Alita, the writer, immersed herself in the life of Rosa Parks until she could “feel” the person and events. She found ways to communicate these feelings to readers.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Research Writing
    Form: 
    Research Report
    Theme: 
    Community
    Goals
    History
    Freedom

    Student Writing Model

    The Killer Bean

    This report is timely, revealing, and engaging; it flows smoothly with effective transitions between paragraphs. The author has clearly gained a thorough understanding of the subject.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Research Writing
    Form: 
    Research Report
    Theme: 
    Health
    Law
    Environment
    Science

    Student Writing Model

    The Sled Run

    This author brings excitement to her story when she paints a picture of her friend sprawled like a spider.

    Level: 
    Grade 3
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Friends
    Play
    Life
    Fun
    Recreation
    Sports
    Exercise

    Student Writing Model

    The Funny Dance

    The writer’s descriptions in this narrative make it a vivid and memorable story.

    Level: 
    Grade 3
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Family
    Animals
    Love
    Home

    Student Writing Model

    Dear Ms. Nathan

    The author’s personal voice comes through loud and clear in this friendly letter submitted by third-grader Andrea.

    Level: 
    Grade 3
    Mode: 
    Business Writing
    Form: 
    Email
    Theme: 
    Friends
    Life

    Student Writing Model

    Plastic, Paper, or Cloth?

    This short persuasive paragraph is based on a model that third-grader Rachel submitted. She begins her writing in a way that makes the reader want to keep reading. The reader wants to find out what decision she is talking about.

    Level: 
    Grade 3
    Mode: 
    Persuasive Writing
    Form: 
    Persuasive Paragraph
    Theme: 
    Environment
    Science

    Student Writing Model

    How to Make Boiled Eggs

    This model of “How-To” writing is based on a model submitted by Dagmary. She has decided to list the steps in her recipe instead of putting them in paragraph form.

    Level: 
    Grade 3
    Mode: 
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    How-To
    Theme: 
    Food

    Student Writing Model

    Cheetahs

    The beginning paragraph of this writer's report invites the reader to keep going. The details show that she knows a lot about cheetahs.

    Level: 
    Grade 3
    Mode: 
    Research Writing
    Form: 
    Report
    Theme: 
    Animals
    Science
    Nature

    Student Writing Model

    Fire

    Joey, the third-grade writer of this poem, uses personification when he says the smoke can “run up the chimney” and the “ashes dodge.”

    Level: 
    Grade 3
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Poem
    Theme: 
    Life
    Family

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