Your Fifth-Grader and Writing
In Your Child's Classroom
Writing throughout the year
This year, your fifth-grader learns different writing techniques such as using introductions, transitions and conclusions in his writing. He learns to create a mood such as suspense, use dialogue to advance plot and figurative language, such as similes and metaphors. He practices creative writing focusing on plot development and resolution, character development, using descriptive language and dialogue. He learns expository writing, which is writing to inform, focusing on summaries and interpretations of reading material, essays, current events and journal writing. The teacher may use poetry to illustrate how literary devices are used and ask students to model the writing techniques poets use.
Wendy Miller, our teacher consultant and North Carolina's 2006 Teacher of the Year, explains: "Fifth-graders read a variety of literature to learn to compare and implement different techniques in their own writing. Since fifth-graders expand and deepen concepts, skills and strategies learned at earlier grades, students must learn to write as a reader, asking questions as they write."
Fifth-graders do research projects on various topics throughout the year. Students are often asked to complete research reports on famous people or write essays comparing and contrasting historical events. Your child conducts research as a part of the writing process. She learns research skills including note taking, report writing, library usage, organization of material and bibliographical notations. She uses media and technology as resources for extended research and as tools for learning. She also learns the importance of citing sources.
Fifth-graders use different forms of writing for specific purposes such as to persuade, entertain and inform. Your child writes in a variety of styles across all subjects including narratives, poetry, essays, letters and fiction.
Using the writing process
In fifth grade your child continues to use what he learned in earlier grades about the writing process - prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing. He will further develop his proofreading and editing skills this year. He understands that writing is more than putting words on paper and that it is not just an end product but a process that involves many steps. Miller explains: "Fifth-graders understand the benefits of the writing process and use the process to organize their thoughts and ideas. Writing using a process leads to more thoughtful and accomplished work. By viewing writing as a multistage process, fifth-graders understand that the paper is the product and writing is the process."
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Prewriting
This is the first stage of the writing process in which the writer gathers information. Prewriting activities may include filling out a graphic organizer, such as a cluster map of his thoughts or a Venn diagram comparing two ideas, a drawing, free writing, or brainstorming. He understands that writing is not just an end product but a complex process of communication that involves many steps. During this stage, the writer should be thinking of who the writing is for or the target audience. The writer should be sure the writing and the audience is a good "fit." -
Drafting
The writer then develops her topic on paper or the computer. At this stage the focus is on the content of the writing and not the mechanics. She should be thinking of who she is writing the piece for. The writer begins to organize her thoughts and develop the structure of the paper. She begins to think about the "hook" that will engage the reader and develops a conclusion that ties everything together. -
Revising
Next the writer makes changes to the draft to improve the writing and make it clear. This may include additions or deletions, changes in the sentence structure or organization. At this stage it is helpful to have input from a peer or the teacher. -
Editing
In the editing stage the writer pays attention to mechanics such as spelling, punctuation, grammar and handwriting. It is helpful to have a peer or teacher edit the work. -
Publishing
The final draft is then shared with the desired audience such as classmates or parents. Miller explains: "Publishing is an important part of the writing process because it helps the writer interact with the reader through a finished document. Students understand that this is 'my writing at its best.' This helps the student transform her thinking from a writer to an author. It is important for students to share their work with others and reflect on their reactions in order to improve future writing."
