Using a Writer’s Notebook Grades 5-6

Standards-based lessons support the traits of good writing: ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation. The common thread that runs through the lessons is the use of a personalized Writer’s Notebook. The author encourages each student to create and maintain a Writer’s Notebook – a collection of cherished memories, stimulating conversations, thought-provoking ideas, colorful phrases, and helpful tips. Because the Writer’s Notebook is never graded, it is a safe place for a student to experiment in the art of writing – testing new words, phrases, and styles. It becomes a personal reference book to enhance a student’s writings.