Information Reports ~ Unit Intro

The state-approved writing curriculum "Step-Up-To-Writing" color codes each level of informational organization in an essay. With my students, I have found that a strict implementation of the entire "Step-Up-To-Writing" curriculum results in somewhat formulaic writing, but the basic ideas of this system are extremely helpful in supporting students' sense of organization.

To write a plan using this method, students color-code their ideas with the colors of the traffic light. The topic ideas in each paragraph are coded green. This stands for "Go for it - Introduce your topic with a strong topic sentence." (i.e. NOT " I'm going to write about...") Main ideas are identified with the color yellow. This stands for "Slow down - Give a main idea or detail about the topic." Examples, explanations and facts are associated with the color red. This stands for "Stop - Give the evidence that proves your point."

Upper elementary students should be very familiar with green-yellow-red and have internalized the meaning of these three colors. There are additional ways to use this color system. Webs can be easly colored with green circles branching out to yellow main ideas and then to red examples. Students can also learn to make outline plans using the familiar colors to emphasize the organization level of each indented line. (See example at the end of this unit's lesson ideas.) "Step-Up-To-Writing" has younger, beginning writers record their plans on colored strips of paper. Students can easily manipulate the strips (placing in order, re-ordering) on their desks. When students understand how to organize a clear essay, they can work without depending on color-coding.

Skim through the "Step-Up-To-Writing" teacher manual to find other helpful teaching tips. For solid examples of how students learn to write, turn to the masters such as Lucy Calkins, Katie Woodray, or Ralph Fletcher.