Make Writing Come to Life with the 5Ws and H Strategy [Sentence Expansion Series]

Listen to the full episode to hear how to use the 5Ws and H strategy to expand sentence writing:

This series is all about how to easily get students to expand their sentences by adding details to their basic sentences. Last week’s strategy was all about adding the 2 A’s, adjectives and adverbs, to create a story and description. But today’s strategy also serves a greater purpose than just sentence expansion. In today’s episode, I’m discussing how to add the 5Ws and H strategy to your students’ sentence writing.

When students write their initial simple sentence, adding in the 5Ws and H strategy helps add information, depth, context, and interest to their sentence. It requires students to answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how about the subject. To assist in implementing in your classroom, I provide four main steps and one additional step that you can easily use with your students to model and practice the 5Ws and H strategy. Additionally, I share three examples that you can put into action when implementing during your writing block.

Not only will students expand their sentences with this strategy, but it also serves the purpose of thinking, questioning, and understanding on how to add details and information. If your students are struggling on how to add details to their sentences, this 5Ws and H strategy can be easily used by your students today!

In this episode on the 5Ws and H strategy, I share:

• Steps on how to effectively implement the 5Ws and H strategy
• The greater purpose this strategy serves to your students
• Three reflective questions to ask your students after using the 5Ws and H strategy
• Examples you can easily use in your classroom and how to adapt to your writing block

Resources Mentioned:

• Descriptive Writing Charts Bundle 
• Writing Reference Helper
• Vocabulary Writing Prompts Sampler
• Episode 153, Using Adjectives and Adverbs to Brighten Up Student Writing [Sentence Expansion Series]

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About The Literacy Dive Podcast:

Do you find yourself seeking new implementations when it comes to literacy instruction? Do you crave fresh ideas and engaging lessons to transform your students into skilled readers and writers? The Literacy Dive Podcast was created to provide educators, like you, with actionable steps and strategies to improve teaching reading and writing. 

Your host, Megan Polk, is the creator and owner of The Literacy Dive, a company that creates educational, literacy curriculum that aims to close the gap and support children in reaching mastery. Being a literacy specialist and having over a decade of teaching grades K-5, Megan knows the power of collaboration and working alongside teachers and parents to provide them with the support, confidence, and resources they need to meet students where they are.

Dive in each Monday as Megan and her guests unpack an element of literacy or various topics relatable to educators. Here are some topics covered in this literacy podcast: writing strategies, reading comprehension, the writing process, the science of reading, and small group instruction.

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