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Several teachers have heard about and expressed an interest in receiving information on Four-Square Writing.  Below is a brief description of four-square writing, a method for creating the graphic organizer, and two reference books which are available in my office for teachers interested in ideas in how to use this strategy in their classrooms.

Four-Square Writing

"Four-square writing is a method of teaching basic writing skills that is applicable across grade levels and curriculum areas.  It can be applied for the narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive forms of writing.  Prewriting and organizational skills are taught through the use of a graphic organizer.  This visual and kinesthetic aid is employed to focus writing, to provide detail and to enhance word choice.  It is an excellent aid in preparing students for the demand/prompt draft writing assessments...

Teaching writing through the use of a graphic organizer empowers students to write with confidence.  Gloria Houston in her article "Learning How Writing Works" in the September 1997 issue of Writing Teacher states: "Visual organizers help students to conceptualize, understand, and structure a piece of written discourse successfully.  Organizers eliminate jellyfish writing' and provide coherence and cohesiveness in a piece of writing."

Judith and Evan Jay Gould

How to Create a Four-Square Graphic Organizer

  1.  Fold a sheet of manila construction paper into four equal squares.

  2.  Write a topic sentence in the middle of the paper.

  3.  In three of the squares write a complete sentence which states reasons, examples, or   explanations that support the sentence in the center of the paper.

  4.  In the fourth box the student will write a feeling sentence to support the topic.

  5.  Students will then draw a picture in each box, which will describe their sentences.

  6.  Students will then use their Four Square writing to write a story.

Spotlight Resources

 

Gould, Judith S. and Evan Jay (1999).  Four Square Writing Method for Grades 1-3.  Teaching & Learning Company, Carthage, IL.

Gould, Judith S. and Evan Jay (1999).  Four Square Writing Method for Grades 4-6.  Teaching & Learning Company, Carthage, IL.

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