When I can add a visual element to teaching ELA lessons, I have found how much faster my students absorb the lesson as the colors or objects just make things click! Opinion and persuasive writing is no different. I use a color-coded structure that gives a visual connection to each part of their writing and allows them to work on each skill in isolation before putting it all together. This method provides just enough structure to make sure students are truly grasping the process, but not so much that you are stifling their
writing creativity.
Check out my Rainbow Writing: Opinion and Persuasive Writing Essay Unit to try it in your classroom!
Along with using my Rainbow Writing color system, I have always found success pairing relevant mentor texts with my writing lessons. Here are a few of my favorite to teach with persuasive writing and the key lessons/topics for each:
Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings
The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan and Tom Knight
Escargot by Dashka Slater and Sydney Hanson
Be Glad Your Dad…Is Not an Octopus! by Matthew Logelin, Sara Jensen, and Jared Chapman
Rise Up and Write It! by Nandini Ahuja and Anoosha Syed
Hey Little Ant by Hannah Hoose and Debbie Tilley
We Disagree by Bethanie Deeney Murguia
Dr. Coo and the Pigeon Protest by Sarah Hampson and Kass Reich
Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton
You will get so much out of this little group! Talk with like-minded teachers who are ready to use or already using authentic texts to learn together.
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