Writing the RACES Way - Reading, Writing, Citing Text Evidence, and Summarizing!

Do you have a reluctant writer? Jumpstart your child's writing with the RACES strategy, a proven method that enhances writing skills and critical thinking. Want to give the class a try? Use code LEARNIPFJG3 for $3off

Teaching students how to RESTATE THE QUESTION, PROVIDE THOROUGH ANSWERS, CITE TEXT EVIDENCE EXPLAIN THEIR REASONING, AND SUMMARIZE KEY POINTS, not only boosts writing confidence but also provides them a framework for more advanced writing.  

If your child is not familiar with this writing process, we would suggest our 5-week RACE Writing Strategy Course first. This course teaches each step of the process over 5 weeks whereas this class is geared to provide additional ongoing practice and may move a little too quickly for students who have not had exposure to the process. 

Here’s why teaching the RACES Writing Strategy is essential:

BUILDS CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS: The RACE strategy encourages students to explain their reasoning and back up their answers with evidence, fostering critical thinking.

PREPARES STUDENTS FOR STANDARDIZED TESTS: By learning to write well-structured responses, students are better equipped for essay questions and standardized test requirements.

USED ACROSS ALL SUBJECTS: The RACE strategy applies to any subject area and supports a variety of writing tasks, from short responses and paragraphs to longer essays.

When students enroll in the class they will receive a RACES worksheet that they will use each week. Each class begins with "chatting with the students", we like to get to know our students. Then we dive right into the lesson. 

In each class, we will read an engaging fiction or non-fiction story. Afterward, we work together to construct our responses using the RACES writing formula. We complete each step before moving on to the next until we have our complete response or paragraph. 

We believe "PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS", therefore after each class, students will receive an optional practice. We do not grade these but provide the answer for you to work on with your child. 

We also believe in parent communication. It is important for us to share our observations and suggestions and we encourage you to contact us as well. WE ARE YOUR LEARNING PARTNERS!

If your student is not familiar with the RACE strategy, we suggest our RACE course first. This class spends more time breaking down each aspect of the RACE formula. One addition in this class, we add one additional step - the "S" of RACES which is summarizing. 

We look forward to seeing your child in our classroom soon. 

Common Core State Standards 

R.L 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 - Cite evidence to support an analysis of the text
CCSS R.I. 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

In the book, Pathways to the Common Core, Calkins et al., (2012) state that, “The ability to convey knowledge is becoming just as important as knowledge itself” 

Happy Learning!