Organizing Your Writing: 5 Day Camp for Elementary Students

In this 5 day camp, students will get a chance to pre and post plan their writing. They will work in small groups to give constructive feedback, and they will also get a chance to share their work with the class. 

Students are expected to know how to write because the focus of the class is not to teach writing, but to teach students how to organize what they have already written, and to instruct on how to create a story based on the information provided to them. 

Each day, students will focus on a topic and receive ample time to apply the new skill to their writing. 

Each day will look something like this:

1. Student check in: What was the highlight of your day?
2. Five minute writing -a topic is usually provided.
3. Mini-lesson
4. Time to apply the lesson
5. Class wrap up and lesson review
6. Homework

Course Breakday per week:

Day 1: Graphic Organizers Part 1. 
On this day, we will look at around 4 graphic organizers that can be used for writing. Some of the graphic organizers will have topics assigned, others will be blank so the students can fill in the missing spaces based on their previously written products. 

Day 2: Graphic Organizers Part 2.
In this class, we will look at around 4 graphic organizers that can be used for writing. Some of the graphic organizers will have topics assigned, others will be blank so the students can fill in the missing spaces based on their previously written products. 

Day 3: 4 Square Writing Method Part 1. 
On this day, students will explore how to write using the four square method. They will be asked to insert information based on their previously created writing., and they will also be asked extract information and turn it into a story. 

Day 4: 4 Square Writing Method Part 2.
In this class, students will explore how to extract information and turn it into a story. They will create at least 3 writing pieces. They will get a chance to share their work. 

Day 5: Outlines
During the last day of camp, students will be taught a simple version of outlining their work and will later review what was accomplished between days 1 and 5.