Show Don't Tell Writing Techniques

Laura from YoungWritersWorkshops.com discusses teaching elaboration in fourth grade writing. She suggests using notebooks for idea gathering and peer conferences for elaboration. A mini-lesson on 'show don't tell' is recommended, followed by a writing assignment. Students should write about familiar topics without using the word itself or labels. Peer review helps them revise and understand writing as a process.

What is the primary focus of Laura's introduction in the video?

• Teaching art in fourth grade

• Teaching science in fourth grade

• Teaching elaboration in fourth grade writing

• Teaching math in fourth grade

What is the first step in teaching elaboration according to Laura?

• Teaching grammar

• Assigning homework

• Incorporating notebooks

• Starting with peer conferences

Why are notebooks important in a writing workshop?

• They are used for drawing

• They are used for reading exercises

• They help students gather and store ideas

• They are used for math problems

How do peer conferences benefit students in writing workshops?

• They help students with science experiments

• They are used for art projects

• They allow students to elaborate by interacting with peers

• They help students learn math

What is a key characteristic of fourth-grade students that teachers can use?

• Their artistic skills

• Their interest in science

• Their attentiveness to peers

• Their love for math

What is the main idea of the 'show don't tell' lesson?

• To write essays using adjectives

• To describe things using adjectives

• To show what something is like without using adjectives

• To tell stories using only adjectives

Which of the following is a good example to use in a 'show don't tell' lesson?

• Mathematical equations

• Sensory words related to food

• Historical dates

• Scientific formulas

What should a mini-lesson on 'show don't tell' include?

• A list of nouns

• Demonstrations of showing without adjectives

• Examples of telling with adjectives

• A list of adjectives

What should students focus on when writing about something familiar?

• Using the word itself frequently

• Avoiding the use of the word itself and labels

• Describing it with adjectives

• Using as many labels as possible

What is a good starting point for students when writing about something?

• A topic they dislike

• Something they are unfamiliar with

• A subject they have never studied

• Something they know really well