English Language Arts

In early 2014, Literacy Specialist Sheila Harper led a curriculum coffee for families. Her focus was the Empowering Writers approach to writing at Chickering. Below you can find several documents that she shared at the coffee.

To get a printable view of these four documents, visit our ELA folder.

Simplified Narrative Writing Diamond

Simplified Expository/Informative Pillar

Narrative Writing Diamond

ENTERTAINING BEGINNING - use

• An Action

• Dialogue

• A Thought or Question

• A Sound

ELABORATIVE DETAIL – elaborate on the:

• Story Critical Character

• Story Critical Setting

• Story Critical Object

• Word referents

SUSPENSE

• The Magic of 3 – a series of three sensory hints are provided to build tension

MAIN EVENT

• Action

• Thoughts/Feelings

• Dialogue/Exclamation

• Sound Effect

EXTENDED ENDING

• A Memory

• Feelings

• Wish or Hope

• Decision

• Defining Action (What did you do?)

Expository Pillar

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH

• Grabs the reader’s attention (lead) and tells what the entire piece will be about (topic sentence)

BODY of the PIECE

• A number of paragraphs each with a broad main idea sentence, followed by a variety of supporting details

CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH

• Creatively reiterate the main ideas and restate the thesis or topic sentence in a general way

The Dover Sherborn Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or homelessness.

Chickering Elementary School
29 Cross Street, Dover, MA 02030
Phone (508) 785-0480
Fax (508) 785-9748