11/01
* indicates specific, positive endorsement from ESs.
* Draw Then Write, from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers (http://www.evan-moor.com), is designed "so that student draws picture then writes story text that tells 'who, what, when, where, why"; available from the publisher and various educational materials suppliers.
* Draw to Write Doodleloops series (by Good Apple, http://www.frankschaffer.com) is a "precursor to the writing process". Students begin with "a simple line drawing or shape" then use "their imaginations to expand on the image and create their own drawings". Students develop the project further by writing "descriptive words, phrases, sentences, and stories to accompany their drawings"; available from publisher and various educational materials suppliers.
* Draw Write Now, from Barker Creek Publishing (http://www.drawwritenow.com), develops a subject by drawing, writing and/or discussion, and coloring activities; from publisher and various educational materials suppliers.
* Think! Draw! Write!, from Fearon, "prompts creative writing by providing story topics and picture clues" -- children think about a topic, draw a picture, than write about it; from various educational materials vendors.
* Create! Press (http://www.createpress.com) has developed *Create-A-Story - The Creative Writing Game; (also carry workbook/journal, story element card sets, etc.); available from publisher, A Brighter Child, etc.
Amsco School Publications (http://www.amscopub.com) offers various options for middle school and up; Titles include Writing About Amusing Things (paragraph development), Fifteen Steps to Better Writing, Writing Logically, Writing the Research Paper, etc.; available from the publisher.
The Blast Off! series, from Buckle Down Publishing (http://www.buckledown.com), provides California state standards-based language arts workbooks which include vocabulary, reading, and writing skills building activities; for elementary and middle school levels; available from the publisher.
* Bonnie Terry's Secrets to Writing covers compare & contrast, essays, paragraph writing (through use of hamburger diagram), etc. -- very visual. This program helps students organize writing; available from publisher (http://www.bonnieterrylearning.com) and Lakeshore Learning.
Clear and Lively Writing, from Teacher Idea Press, is organized around the structure of the five-step writing process; for grades 6 - 10; available from various educational materials suppliers
Dandy Lion Press (http://www.dandylionbooks.com) publishes several popular books designed to help develop writing skills; selections include Beginning Writing Lab, Writing Lab, Advanced Writing Skills, Writing Through the Year, etc.; available from publisher and various educational materials suppliers.
* Easy Writing, from ISHA Enterprises (http://www.easygrammar.com), emphasizes the development of ability to write increasingly complex sentences through step-by-step instruction; for elementary - high school levels; available from publisher, Home Learner's Catalog, A Brighter Child, etc.
* Elements of Writing, by Kinneavy, is a resource that covers grammar and writing process; levels available for grades 6 - 12; available from Holt, Rinehart, & Winston (http://www.hrw.com); related on-line resources available at their website.
Educator's Publishing Services'/ EPS (http://www.epsbooks.com) offerings include Just Write (gr. 2 - 7), Report Writing (gr. 4 - 7), Composition 1, 2, & 3 (gr. 7 - 9), Writing With a Point (gr. 9 - 12), etc.
Fresno County Office of Education/ PASS (http://www.cyberhigh.fcoe.k12.ca.us) offers several high school level, independent study writing courses.
* Glencoe (http://www.Glencoe.com) offers several middle and high school level writing course materials including *Writer's Choice which provides instruction, teaching ideas, positive examples of student writing and good literature/ art, etc. -- found to be effective for independent study; (*special recognition of 10th grade level); related on-line resources available at their website.
* Great Source Books (http://www.greatsource.com/) offers the "Write Source" materials, a research-based series designed to develop students' learning, thinking, and composing skills. Titles include: The Writing Spot, Write One, All Write, *Write Source 2000, *Writers Inc., Write Away, Write on Track. Writers Express, School to Work, Write for College, *Daybook of Critical Reading and Writing (with Teacher's Guide), etc.; elementary through high school+ levels available.
* If You are Trying to Teach Kids to Write You've Gotta Have This Book, by Marjorie Frank, from Incentive Publications (http://www.incentivepublications.com); This helpful writing resource provides numerous writing activity ideas -- available from publisher, various bookstores, educational materials suppliers, etc.
* Lingui-Systems (http://www.linguisystems.com) offers materials designed for students with special speech and language-related needs, etc.
* Mad Libs & Kid Libs are a fun way to teach parts of speech; available from various educational material suppliers; some can also be found at various websites through internet search.
Models for Writing by Joanne F. Carlisle, from Academic Therapy Publications (http://www.academictherapy.com/), is a workbook writing program designed to present increasingly complex writing exercises/ projects -- from making lists to writing research reports; for grades 1 - 4; available from publisher.
* Prentice - Hall's (http://www.prenticehall.com) literature texts provide a good literature-based program to encourage writing; for middle and high school levels -- note: "old editions are great also!"
* The Wordsmith writing series is designed to help teach techniques of good writing. These progress from the basics to complex composition; available from Home Learner's Catalog, etc.; available titles include: Wordsmith Apprentice (grades 4 - 6); Wordsmith Creative Writing Course (grades 7 - 10); Wordsmith Craftsman (grades 10 and up).
* Write Direction, from Modern Curriculum Press (http://mcschool.com), teaches grammar, mechanics, spelling, and good usage; for grades 3 -5.
* Write Reflections, a 400+ page, standards-based, incremental writing curriculum for K - 5+ students can be used for several years; available from Melinda Michalec.
* Writers Craft provides writing and grammar instruction for grades 6 - 12; available from the publisher (McDougal-Littell), Follett, etc.
* Writer's Jungle from Brave Writer/ Julie Bogart (http://www.writingcompass.com) "helps to get creative juices flowing"; a resource for parents who are trying to teach their children to write.
Write! Write! Write! Ready to Use Writing Process Activities for Grades 4 - 8+ by Carol H. Behrman, from The Center for Applied Research in Education; is a comprehensive writing program for middle school level students; available from bookstores, educational materials suppliers, The Writing Company, etc.
*Writing By Doing: Learning to Write Effectively by Elaine Hughes & David A. Sohn, (NTC Publishing Group; ISBN: 0844259098); from various bookstores, Lakeshore Learning, etc.
* The Writing Company (http://writingco.com) is a great source for a wide variety of writing materials including: *"Stack the Deck Writing" program; The Research Paper Handbook (GoodYear); a writing series that includes * The Essay, *The Paragraph, etc. (workbooks that take student through steps of the writing process);
* Writing, from Saddleback's "English in Context" series, provides "one-step-at-a-time writing improvement … from "brainstorming ideas to writing a short research paper", note taking, social writing, creative writing, etc.; from Saddleback (http://www.sdlback.com), etc.
* Writing Down the Days: 365 Creative Journaling Ideas for Young People, from Free Spirit Press (http://www.freespirit.com), is a great journaling resource for middle and high school levels; from publisher and educational materials vendors.
* Writing Essays: Strategies for Success by Nell W. Meriwether (NTC and McGraw Hill publishers) is appropriate for high school level writing instruction; available from various bookstores.
Writing for 100 Days: A Student Centered Approach to Composition and Creative Writing by Gabriel Arquilevich (Fairview Publishing) includes 100 individual lessons, for middle and high school levels, that address composition, fiction, poetry, etc.; available from book stores, The Writing Company, etc.
* Writing for the Real World is a high school level writing resource; available from Lakeshore Learning, The Report Card, and other educational materials vendors.
Writing Smart by Marcia Lerner (Princeton Review, publisher) provides instruction in writing essays, research papers, professional letters, lab reports, reviews, project proposals, etc.; for grades 7 and up; available from The Writing Company, bookstores, educational materials suppliers, etc.
* The "Writing Strands" series, from National Writing Institute (http://www.writingstrands.com/), has ability level selections appropriate for K - 12 students. These "instruction and exercise" books are designed to provide "challenging writing projects for homeschoolers"; available from publisher, Home Learner's Catalog, A Brighter Child, etc.
* Zaner-Bloser (http://www.zaner-bloser.com) offers several writing resources including: *Writing to Inform, *Writing to Describe, *Writing to Persuade, etc.; *How to Write (a workbook series that helps student learn the writing process (grades 3 - 9); *G.U.M. activity books (for grades 3 - 6); etc.
* Institute for Excellence in Writing (http://www.writing-edu.com) offers a highly acclaimed/ recommended video course for grades 2 - 12.
* Write Guide (http://www.writeguide.com) is a service vendor that provides individualized writing instruction via e-mail correspondence. NOTE: Be sure to contact vendor prior to submitting a PO in order to confirm that there is a teacher available for your student.