Modeling Word Choice

On Hand: A large sheet of construction paper and markers or crayons.

Mini-Lesson: Choose someone to whom you (not necessarily your class) would like to send a note. It might be a thank-you note, a birthday card, or a get-well card. Introduce your task to students and then fold the construction paper in two. Use a black marker to draw the outline of an appropriate picture on the front. Now select colors for your illustration and as you do, tell students why you are choosing them. For example, you might say: "Let's see, I want to choose the just-right colors. My friend isn't feeling well and I want to cheer her up, so I am choosing this bright pink for the teapot. Pink always makes me feel happier. Oh, and yellow-yellow reminds me of the sun, which is bright and cheerful and warm. I'll make the tablecloth yellow."

            Then open the card and tell students that you want to write a note to your friend, but that you want to choose your words as carefully as you chose the colors for the picture on the front. As you write the note, think out loud to allow students to hear your decisions around word choice: "Instead of writing 'I hope you feel better soon,' I am going to choose words that are more specific and more fun. I am going to write, 'Sorry to hear the nasty flu is visiting your house. I'm sending cups of love.'"

            Tell students that writers are always searching for the very best way to say something.

Extension: If you are indeed doing this lesson in December, take the traditional "happy holidays" and see if your students can't come up with some other choices for "happy": cheerful, song-full, peaceful, unforgettable, surprising, loving, yummy. If your students have difficulty coming up with adjectives, ask them to tell you about their favorite holiday memories. Then give the memory an adjective. This is a great way to teach vocabulary in context.

Excerpt from No More "I'm Done!" Fostering Independent Writers in the Primary Grades