Before we have students write using a particular writing form (e.g., narrative, essay), we work with them to read and analyse that particular writing form. Before they engage in writing, we want students to understand the different elements of that text and the purpose of it. For instance, an essay is used to convince someone of a particular point of view while a novel is designed to entertain the reader. Our grade 3/4 and 4/5 class are working on writing reports. Now they are at the stage of analysing what a report is and what needs to be included in a report.
Right now our grade 4/5 class is using a resource that breaks down the elements of a report.
1. With the teacher, students read the example of a report. In this case, they read a report about Space
Telescopes.
2. They read the same text, but this time they looked at the structure of a report (e.g., General Statements, Description, Evaluation/Conclusion
3. They looked at how different language is used in a report (e.g., nouns, adjectives, verbs...)
I can't wait to see them use what they have learned to create their own report.
