Planning Ideas Before Writing
Plan before writing by saying aloud or noting down what will be written, writing down ideas and key words, and summing up ideas one sentence at a time before composing
What a learner can do afterwards
- Verbally rehearse sentences before writing them down
- Jot key words or ideas in a planning format (e.g., story map) before drafting
- Write a simple plan with beginning, middle, and end for a story
1 · Read
You can share finished writing aloud or by typing it. For a new piece, planning means choosing ideas before you write. A plan can help you remember what you want to say. You can use paper or a screen, and you can change your plan. Before writing a sentence, choose its words and say it aloud to try them out.
Mia wants to write about a park trip. Her notes say: swings, ice cream, lost hat. Key words are short notes that help her remember ideas. A plan may use full sentences, but it does not have to. Keep the details you want to remember.
For a simple story map, use boxes called Beginning, Middle and End. Choose what happens first, next and last. For a story about a picnic, your notes might be 'pack lunch', 'eat outside' and 'walk home'. Put each event in its box.
Turn a note into a sentence before writing. For 'swings', Mia says, 'I played on the swings.' Say it again if that helps you remember it. Check your plan too. If an idea is missing, add a note for it. If the End box is empty, choose an ending.
Plan first: say your idea, jot a few key words, and lay out a beginning, middle, and end.
The lesson, questions and flashcards were written for this learning dataset.
These five planning readings were written for this learning dataset.
More to read
Choose an idea to keep
Think of something you want to tell a reader. Perhaps you made a den or imagined a talking shoe. Choose one idea for this piece of writing. Make a small drawing or note to keep it. Add a detail you want to remember. Your plan can grow as you think.
Fill three story boxes
Draw a Beginning box, a Middle box and an End box. Plan a story about a missing mitten. At the start, a child notices it is gone. Next, the child searches the coat pockets. At the end, the mitten turns up inside a sleeve. Put a short note in each box. Then use the notes to tell the story.
Choose useful note words
You want to write about building a tower with your cousin. You remember blue blocks and a wobbly top. A note that says only 'play' may not remind you of those details. Try 'cousin', 'blue blocks' and 'wobbly tower'. Your notes can be short. Pick words that help you remember the ideas you want to use.
Make a sentence from a note
Look at the note 'red scarf'. What do you want to say about it? You might say, 'My red scarf blew away.' Listen to your sentence. Does it tell the idea you meant? Try it again if you want to change the words. When you are ready, write the sentence.
Check what your plan needs
Read your plan before you start your draft. Is an idea missing? Add a note for it. If you have a story map, check the Beginning, Middle and End boxes. Choose an idea for an empty box. You may look back at the plan while writing. If you choose a new idea, you can change the plan.
2 · Watch
En anglaisTake it off screen
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.