by Bruce Cabell
Teacher/Author/Creator
Show… Don't Tell Strategies- Writing Tip #3
Writing Tip #2 was to prepare your children for writing. I defined each writing genre and their components. I listed mentor texts as well as materials you could use for a genre center. Last, I introduced a strategy to use for a story's beginning.
Now, Writing Tip #3 will focus on the "middle" part of a narrative. Below, is a short introduction followed by two strategies. Also, I included poems and organizers to utilize when teaching.
First, writing a narrative was a favorite of mine. I'd show my students how to plan, organize, and compose a story from beginning to end. In addition, I would explain how to capture the reader's attention. Many times, I pointed out the parts in a book where the author held my interest. For example, I would say, "Listen to how the author described the setting (read text again). Her words (adjectives/sensory words) are painting a beautiful picture for me." To show my students how important it was to paint a picture with colorful words, I would read through my narrative draft and revise my telling details into showing details. Simple but effective!
For children to experience a high level of success, please teach the following lessons.
Lesson 1: Show… Don't Tell Strategy
Explain the difference between a Telling Detail and a Showing Detail.
Telling Details are general details. They don't give you a lot of information.
Showing Details are specific details. They give you additional information. Furthermore, showing details answer your readers' questions. It's the evidence.
Create a chart and model the following examples.
Example: (Telling Detail): I bought a house.
(Readers' Questions): What kind of house did you buy? Where did you buy it?
(Showing Detail): I bought an enormous, red and gray beach house in Newport, Rhode Island.
Example: (Telling Detail): My dog likes to run outside.
(Readers' Questions): What kind of dog is it? Where does your dog like to run?
(Showing Detail): My Golden Retriever likes to sprint in the cool blue water at Jones Beach.
Continue to model if needed. Then, during independent writing, give your children telling details and have them revise into showing details. PLEASE REFER TO THE SHOW… DON'T TELL ORGANIZERS IN PDF FORMAT. Review independent work when done.
Show... Don't Tell Example.pdf
Show... Don't Tell Organizer.pdf
Show… Don't Tell Poem
by Bruce Cabell
There's a special strategy
I know I have to teach
So let me share it now
As you listen to my speech.
(Child's Name)
I don't want you to fail
So let me show you how
To add your story's details.
The details that you write
Should Show… not just Tell
Showing is the details
Your readers like as well.
Plus details are the answers
To questions readers think
Details are specific
And a story's missing link.
Did you like my speech?
I hope you're proud of me
And please do not forget
The Show… Don't Tell Strategy.
Lesson 2: Adjective-Adjective-Noun Strategy
Before your children begin to show action within the middle of a narrative, explicit teaching needs to be modeled to prepare them for this huge task. Writing strategies need to be introduced to support organization, word choice, and specific details. In addition, you want your children to compose stories that are interesting and capture their reader's attention. To achieve this goal, it's imperative that children use a variety of adjectives to describe nouns. Children need to learn that adjectives tell you more about a person, place, thing, or idea so create a list for children to use.
Adjectives can tell color, size, shape, feelings, sound, texture, odor, and taste.
A Short List of Adjectives:
bright
colorful
dark
deep
flat
gigantic
hollow
icy
narrow
noisy
purple
quick
quiet
rough
round
short
smooth
sweet
tiny
wide
wooden
When you've completed a list of adjectives, introduce the Adjective-Adjective-Noun Strategy to support the Show… Don't Tell Strategy. Use this strategy and organizer to model. Have your children try it for independent writing! I've done some examples for you so PLEASE REFER TO THE ADJECTIVE-ADJECTIVE-NOUN ORGANIZERS IN PDF FORMAT. Review independent work when done.
Adjective-Adjective-Noun Example.pdf
Adjective-Adjective-Noun Organizer.pdf
Note: Using more than three adjectives in sequence to describe one noun would sound a little awkward. When using multiple adjectives in a sequence, you must be aware of the correct adjective order. The proper order is listed below.
Determiners – a, an, the, my, your, several, etc.
Observations – lovely, boring, stimulating, etc.
Size – tiny, small, huge, etc.
Shape – round, square, rectangular, etc.
Age – old, new, ancient, etc.
Color – red, blue, green, etc.
Origin – British, American, Mexican, etc.
Material – gold, copper, silk, etc.
Adjectives
by Bruce Cabell
Adjectives… Adjectives
Haven't you heard?
Adjectives… Adjectives
Are describing words.
Adjectives… Adjectives
Are all around
Adjectives… Adjectives
Describe all nouns.
Adjectives… Adjectives
Are used in writing
Adjectives… Adjectives
Make writing exciting.
Adjectives… Adjectives
Are number one
Adjectives… Adjectives
My chant is done.
Bruce Cabell is a teacher, author, and creator. He was a classroom teacher for over 27 years. He taught kindergarten, first, and third grade in Connecticut. Bruce has mentored numerous young teachers as well as modeled many writing strategies and skills for classroom teachers. His passion for writing has resulted in his first unique creation, Writing Organizer Fold-Outs for grades 2-5. Visit Creative Teaching Press at www.creativeteaching.com to view these wonderful all-in-one resource writing tools.
Additionally, visit Bruce's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/justsimplywrite. PLEASE help his page reach 1000 "Likes."
Teacher/Author/Creator
Show… Don't Tell Strategies- Writing Tip #3
Writing Tip #2 was to prepare your children for writing. I defined each writing genre and their components. I listed mentor texts as well as materials you could use for a genre center. Last, I introduced a strategy to use for a story's beginning.
Now, Writing Tip #3 will focus on the "middle" part of a narrative. Below, is a short introduction followed by two strategies. Also, I included poems and organizers to utilize when teaching.
First, writing a narrative was a favorite of mine. I'd show my students how to plan, organize, and compose a story from beginning to end. In addition, I would explain how to capture the reader's attention. Many times, I pointed out the parts in a book where the author held my interest. For example, I would say, "Listen to how the author described the setting (read text again). Her words (adjectives/sensory words) are painting a beautiful picture for me." To show my students how important it was to paint a picture with colorful words, I would read through my narrative draft and revise my telling details into showing details. Simple but effective!
For children to experience a high level of success, please teach the following lessons.
Lesson 1: Show… Don't Tell Strategy
Explain the difference between a Telling Detail and a Showing Detail.
Telling Details are general details. They don't give you a lot of information.
Showing Details are specific details. They give you additional information. Furthermore, showing details answer your readers' questions. It's the evidence.
Create a chart and model the following examples.
Example: (Telling Detail): I bought a house.
(Readers' Questions): What kind of house did you buy? Where did you buy it?
(Showing Detail): I bought an enormous, red and gray beach house in Newport, Rhode Island.
Example: (Telling Detail): My dog likes to run outside.
(Readers' Questions): What kind of dog is it? Where does your dog like to run?
(Showing Detail): My Golden Retriever likes to sprint in the cool blue water at Jones Beach.
Continue to model if needed. Then, during independent writing, give your children telling details and have them revise into showing details. PLEASE REFER TO THE SHOW… DON'T TELL ORGANIZERS IN PDF FORMAT. Review independent work when done.
Show... Don't Tell Example.pdf
Show... Don't Tell Organizer.pdf
Show… Don't Tell Poem
by Bruce Cabell
There's a special strategy
I know I have to teach
So let me share it now
As you listen to my speech.
(Child's Name)
I don't want you to fail
So let me show you how
To add your story's details.
The details that you write
Should Show… not just Tell
Showing is the details
Your readers like as well.
Plus details are the answers
To questions readers think
Details are specific
And a story's missing link.
Did you like my speech?
I hope you're proud of me
And please do not forget
The Show… Don't Tell Strategy.
Lesson 2: Adjective-Adjective-Noun Strategy
Before your children begin to show action within the middle of a narrative, explicit teaching needs to be modeled to prepare them for this huge task. Writing strategies need to be introduced to support organization, word choice, and specific details. In addition, you want your children to compose stories that are interesting and capture their reader's attention. To achieve this goal, it's imperative that children use a variety of adjectives to describe nouns. Children need to learn that adjectives tell you more about a person, place, thing, or idea so create a list for children to use.
Adjectives can tell color, size, shape, feelings, sound, texture, odor, and taste.
A Short List of Adjectives:
bright
colorful
dark
deep
flat
gigantic
hollow
icy
narrow
noisy
purple
quick
quiet
rough
round
short
smooth
sweet
tiny
wide
wooden
When you've completed a list of adjectives, introduce the Adjective-Adjective-Noun Strategy to support the Show… Don't Tell Strategy. Use this strategy and organizer to model. Have your children try it for independent writing! I've done some examples for you so PLEASE REFER TO THE ADJECTIVE-ADJECTIVE-NOUN ORGANIZERS IN PDF FORMAT. Review independent work when done.
Adjective-Adjective-Noun Example.pdf
Adjective-Adjective-Noun Organizer.pdf
Note: Using more than three adjectives in sequence to describe one noun would sound a little awkward. When using multiple adjectives in a sequence, you must be aware of the correct adjective order. The proper order is listed below.
Determiners – a, an, the, my, your, several, etc.
Observations – lovely, boring, stimulating, etc.
Size – tiny, small, huge, etc.
Shape – round, square, rectangular, etc.
Age – old, new, ancient, etc.
Color – red, blue, green, etc.
Origin – British, American, Mexican, etc.
Material – gold, copper, silk, etc.
Adjectives
by Bruce Cabell
Adjectives… Adjectives
Haven't you heard?
Adjectives… Adjectives
Are describing words.
Adjectives… Adjectives
Are all around
Adjectives… Adjectives
Describe all nouns.
Adjectives… Adjectives
Are used in writing
Adjectives… Adjectives
Make writing exciting.
Adjectives… Adjectives
Are number one
Adjectives… Adjectives
My chant is done.
Bruce Cabell is a teacher, author, and creator. He was a classroom teacher for over 27 years. He taught kindergarten, first, and third grade in Connecticut. Bruce has mentored numerous young teachers as well as modeled many writing strategies and skills for classroom teachers. His passion for writing has resulted in his first unique creation, Writing Organizer Fold-Outs for grades 2-5. Visit Creative Teaching Press at www.creativeteaching.com to view these wonderful all-in-one resource writing tools.
Additionally, visit Bruce's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/justsimplywrite. PLEASE help his page reach 1000 "Likes."
