Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Beginning Middle End-paragraphs

I use this  hamburger organizer to transition 2nd-3rd graders into writing paragraphs. Students use this hamburger organizer to draft their papers, and then when they write their final drafts, they are able to easily transition into a paper that has 3 paragraphs. I tell them-- when you "FLIP" the paper on your hamburger---start a new paragraph (indent). When we start using this organizer, I like to read a story to them and then have them retell the beginning -middle -end in their own words. Then we transition to their OWN stories------To start off,  I like to write a rubric so that EACH student knows what each paragraph should contain in the beginning- middle and end. This is much easier for them to start understanding paragraphs and it's CONCRETE! By the end of the year, students spread their wings and can do it all ALONE!Pin It

8 comments:

  1. This sounds fantastic! Where can I find the hamburger graphic organiser?
    Renate
    renate.schultz@gmail.com

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    1. I actually don't have a blackline that I can send you on this one. I will tell you that there are only 2 pieces to this flip burger. One is an 11x17 and the other is 8 1/2x11. The 11x17 is two sided. Part of the lines are at the top of one side and part of the lines are on the bottom of the other side. That way when you fold it, part of it becomes the top bun and part of it becomes the bottom. Then the 8 1/2x11 slips in between. You will have to draw in the lines to make it look like a hamburger after you print it out. Does that make sense?

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  2. This is perfect! I am currently a stay at home mom, but as a 4th & 5th grade teacher, I am working with my 'reluctant writer/reader' nephew this summer before he heads into 4th grade. I'm loving the chance to work with him and your blog has been a great creative resource to make the practice fun! Curious to see if you have any tips you could share about narrative (specifically fictional) writing? Thanks for all that you already have shared!

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  3. At the 3rd and 4th grade level I still have them use the 5 paragraph hamburger. This keeps them on topic and teaches them to really focus on few BIG ideas instead of many. So say the prompt was, "Everyone has fun in the summer. What do you do for fun in the summer?" Students would intro--choose 3 things they like to do in the summer and expand on each one individually in a paragraph and then wrap it up with a conclusion. The prompts for narrative in those lower grades do lend themselves to the 5 paragraph . This really helps the students stay focused on a few items and then elaborate with details instead of making huge lists with no details. For instance a student may want to tell a story about a vacation that they took and tell about every ride they went on in Disney World---like a list. Instead they should choose three of their favorites and elaborate with all the exciting details..AS far as fiction stories they could use 5 paragraphs INTRO then First.... Next.... Last for the middle paragraphs and then conclusion. I ALWAYS have them write 5 paragraphs-----NO matter what...Every time. That way students never ask me, " How long does this story have to be?" They always know, and they can't forget ANY elements of the hamburger or it's a restart. Hope that helps :) Good luck!

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  4. is there anyway you can send me a link to get a copy?
    rmac444@sbcglobal.net

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  5. If you could scan this in and send it to: bejohnson@gips.org that would be awesome! I am using Everyday Editing and we also teach the hamburger paragraphs. However, we are learning that not all paragraphs are 5-7 sentences. All the others I have found use just 5 sentences. Thanks in advanced!

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