The Writing of Fiction

Purpose
Participants in this course will develop strategies to plan and teach inside of a Unit of Study of Fiction. Teachers of grades 3-5 who presently have a writing workshop will plan mini-lessons, locate Touchstone texts, write a short fiction piece themselves, and leave with a clear understanding of several types of fiction writing, their appropriateness for each grade, and why this is such an important genre for students to master.

Course Outline
At this four day session, participants will learn and discuss:

• The concept that Fiction is a narrative/story most times
• Five essential story elements (plus tension or conflict)
• New Ways of developing a Unit of Study for particular groups of students.
• Ways of developing strings of mini-lessons around single teaching points.
• Touchstone Texts that are grade and level appropriate.
• The difference between Touchstone Texts and Mentor Text and why both are essential in the upper grade classroom. 
• How to assist students in choosing appropriate Mentor Texts.
• The role of Literary Devices (such as Flashback, inner thinking, dialogue, etc.)
• How to develop student centered assessments for this unit and others.

If you are interested in a staff development workshop like this contact the NCTE Professional Development Department.