Tara Anderson

Writing Strategy

Diction

Writing Strategy: Diction

Purpose/Student Learning Goals:
To model to students that speech can be written down and read back.
Students will learn writing behaviors and conventions such as handwriting, matching
sounds-to-letters to spell words, punctuation, spacing between words, and sentence
formation through modeling of diction.
Materials Needed: Chart paper, markers
Grade Level: All grade levels with adaptations; K-12
Instructional Time: 10-45 minutes; varies with lesson and material
Texts: Can be used with any type of text, narrative, expository, video, audio, pictures; the texts
can be conflicting, complementary, or a single text broken into sections. Virtually any text can be
used to teach a Comprehensive Health and Physical Education topic/standard.
Overview: This strategy helps students understand the purpose of writing by modeling to
students that speech can be written down and read back. Modeling writing conventions and
behaviors such as handwriting, matching sounds-to-letters to spell words, punctuation, spacing
between words, and sentence formation so that students see proper conventions. Teacher
models writing on chart paper as students respond to text and/or questions.
Guidelines:
1. Once strategy is introduced to students, have students place in strategy binder or create
a strategy binder for class with diction and description of diction.
2. Teacher explains a game or activity to be played in class. For example, teacher will
explain to students how to play blob tag and its purpose. Then ask students what rules
the game should have and create rules as a class.
3. Teacher models writing rules with proper conventions on chart paper as students orally
explain the rules for a game/activity.
4. Teach students how to draw on own paper for personal notes any time once familiar with
template.
Modifications/Adaptations:
Model on chart paper how to write rules of a game or activity. Students can create own
rules on own paper.
Read a text choice aloud to students and model writing as students state details from the
text. This is a comprehension and writing strategy for students.
Review parts/functions of the muscles, nervous system, body systems, games and model
writing as students work to recall the information. This promotes comprehension and input
into permanent memory.
Virtually any article for can be used to teach a Comprehensive Health and Physical
Education topic/standard to listen to and state main ideas to address comprehension as
well as writing strategies.
Differentiation:
ELL Students: Use a modified, grade-level appropriate text for the EL learner; visuals
may be used to represent ideas; sentence/speaking frames.
Gifted and Talented Students: Practice with another gifted and talented student (if
applicable) listening and dictating.
Physical, emotional, cognitive challenge: Work with a partner, visual/audio supports
Sources:
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/dictation

Tara Anderson

Writing Strategy

Diction