Informative Explanatory Expository Writing Mini Lessons Grade 8 Print Digital

PRINT & DIGITAL. No planning needed! These 20 easy-to-use mini lessons have everything you need to make teaching informative writing a snap! In one month, your students will go from generating an idea to writing a full essay. And you'll have time to work with them every step of the way!

Here's teachers are saying about my mini lessons:

• "I love how this resource breaks down each step of the process for students to make it more manageable."
• "Your organization is outstanding, and your thorough planning (with ALL your mini-lessons) is appreciated more than you know. Even if I, myself, spent days creating a set of mini-lessons to use in class, I don't think they would give me the the comfort and excitement that yours do."
• "I love the option of creating a workbook for them at the beginning of the unit, and I especially love the "I Can" statements at the top of each lesson (my principal will love that, too!). The teacher pages are a huge part of what makes this so amazing, though; your instructions, notes, standards, and lesson calendars are so thorough and incredibly helpful. The name of your store really says it all...Just Add Students!!"

This is what you'll get:

Print, Google Slides, and PowerPoint versions!

You'll have everything from lesson plans, planning chart, mini lessons, mentor texts to analyze, answer key, and examples. You can start teaching this today!

No worries that you'll miss a standard - all of the common core standards for expository writing are taught.

This is going to save you so much time!

You'll have everything you need to get started today -- step-by-step mini lessons take your students from defining a informative / explanatory texts to the finished product.

The mini lessons include:

1. What are informative / explanatory texts (anchor chart)
2. Reading an informative / explanatory text
3. Assignment sheet & rubric
4. Gathering ideas, part I
5. Narrowing the topic
6. Free writing
7. Organizing ideas
8. Writing an introduction
9. Creating a first draft: Maintaining a formal style
10. Developing the topic: facts & definitions
11. Developing the topic: concrete details
12. Developing the topic: using quotations
13. Developing the topic: information & examples
14. Using transitions: Words, phrases, clauses
15. Word choice: precise language
16. Word choice: domain-specific language
17. Crafting a conclusion
18. Revising for clear, coherent writing, organization, and style
19. Peer review
20. Proofread: Demonstrate command of conventions

The unit also includes:

• Two mentor texts to analyze
• Clear writing assignment
• Rubric
• Lesson plan chart
• Suggested teaching calendar (great for pacing and lesson plans!)
• Teaching chart for each mini lesson that includes: lesson notes, standard, student-friendly standard, student task, assessment/homework suggestion
• Answer key for mentor texts
• Google slides and Power Point versions

Reasons to love this resource:

• Start teaching today!
• Perfect for writing workshop or whole-class instruction
• Less planning & more teaching!

If you love mini lessons, you may be interested in:

• Teach Narrative Writing
• Mini Lesson for Reading Informational Text
• Mini Lesson for Reading Literature
• Daily Warm Ups for Narrative Writing

I'd love to have you follow my store! Just click the green star by my store name, and you'll be the first to hear about new resources, freebies, and sales!

I can't wait to hear from you! I read and respond to all comments -- and if you have a question, just pop it in the Q&A box below. I'll get right back to you!

Happy teaching!

Marypat