Structure and Way with Words

Maybe I’m late to the party, but Wondrous Words by Katie Woodray provided me with a huge piece of the writing puzzle  - that is, all writers use common structures and employ certain words, repetition of phrases, punctuation marks.

We have geniuses that are beyond our intellectual reach –yep, no doubt, really smart – but a genius doesn’t always make a good teacher.   And, then there are the teachers who are geniuses in the sense that they can unveil complex concepts in a simple, straightforward and understandable way – Woodray is one of the latter.   If you are using mentor texts with students in your writing workshops and/or if you are working with teaching kids how to “read as writers”, read this book – or one of her books.

Woodray clearly emphasizes the “how” of writing and offers sound ways to teach kids “noticings” about how a passage/book is written. Woodray suggests we divide instruction into two categories: Structure and Way with Words; she suggests studying mentor texts of outstanding authors like Cynthia Rylant’s  The Relatives Came in this manner.

Structure            She writes it so that it makes a circle (leaving Virginia, returning to Virginia).

Ways with Words

·       She uses commas a lot.

·       She puts periods at the end of words that aren’t sentences (Missing them).

·       She uses “funny” words together like hugging time.

·       She uses dashes.

·       She uses the same words a lot (bugging, breathing, etc).

       Lester Laminack is a distinguished author and educator.  In the first link he talks about how he uses special words and punctuation marks at the right place and the right time.  He doesn’t talk about structure but he certainly does talk about “Ways with Words”.  : 

In this second link he reads aloud from his book Saturdays and Tea Cakes 

The business of reading like a writer is sound.  Laminack’s repeated use of “paddle, paddle, paddle” is a great example of ways with words.  When your students are composing their own stories, encourage them to use an expression like “paddle” - it’s what authors do to move the story forward. Laminack knows how to use such words and phrases, and he knows their impact on the reader.  Your students writing pieces are sure to be enriched.  

P.S.  – a total aside here - Who among us is not inspired by the emotional maturity and character of the young people from Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida?  We stand with these students and also salute the teachers and parents of these student leaders. They are leading our nation right now – and, I am reminded that I want the children in our elementary school to grow and become as self-assured and as determined as they are.  Our democracy needs such moral leaders.    

Marty