Instruct pupils on how to construct a story or other type of writing. Give specific information regarding introductions, bodies and conclusions. Also, for short story writing, talk about setting, plot, conflict and rising action. There is much to cover so organize your lesson plans in advance.
Explain the difference between telling and showing. Urge students to paint pictures in their readers' heads. Give your students practice exercises in which they reveal character traits and allow scenes to unfold. Find examples of a writer "telling" a story and then revising it so that the story is "shown."
Provide interesting prompts to get them started. Often, the hardest part of writing for students is deciding what to write about. Give your students fun scenarios to work with, such as: "Emily Buttertree discovers hamsters do not like mayonnaise" or "Why I had to hide under the bed when the man next door came to my house." Help kids understand that creating is enjoyable and they will look forward to making up their own story starters.
Focus on one aspect of writing at a time. For instance, you might spend an entire week on character development, another on persuasive essay writing and another on information gathering.
Give students plenty of opportunities for practice. Make writing a prominent feature of every subject, not just the language arts. Learn to incorporate writing into science projects and even math problems.
Develop a rubric, to which they can refer as they create and re-create their writings. Include provisos, such as: "Attention- Grabbing Introduction." "Clarity." "Grammar and Punctuation."
Teach revision skills to your fourth graders. Give feedback that specifically addresses what needs to be done. Students should revisit their work at least twice before finalizing. Teachers.net Gazette recommends children read their work aloud. This will help them "hear" what needs improvement.