(Re)designing Narrative Writing Units for Grades 5-12

Teaching writing is a powerful and effective means for learning across all grade levels and disciplines. This user-friendly resource provides practical recommendations, strategies, and assessments for designing units of study that center on both narrative nonfiction and creative writing. Throughout the book, readers can complete exercises that equip them to create a comprehensive narrative unit of instruction that is ready to pilot. It also provides narrative activities, assessments, sample tasks, rubrics, checklists, writing sample resources, and more for fifth grade to high school.

Learn how to design and maintain a unit that improves students' narrative writing skills:

Learn a sequential approach to building a narrative writing unit.
Review how to structure a narrative.
Reflect on past teaching approaches and revise for future narrative writing lesson plans.
Download free templates, checklists, rubrics, and narrative writing activities useful for designing a narrative writing plan and guiding lessons.
Access professional and student resources in print and online for understanding and teaching narrative writing.



Contents:

Introduction

Chapter 1: Building a Narrative Unit Map

Chapter 2: Formulating a Pre- and Culminating Assessment and Establishing Criteria for Success

Chapter 3: Enhancing Setting with Imagery Using Gradual Release of Responsibility

Chapter 4: Designing Lessons

Chapter 5: Studying an Author's Craft by Analyzing Text

Epilogue

Resource A: Narrative and Descriptive Characteristics and Associated Genres

Resource B: Elements of Literature

Resource C: Literacy Devices and Figurative Language