The Units of Study in Opinion/Argument, Information, and Narrative Writing Series
Building on the best practices and proven frameworks in the original Units of Study for Teaching Writing series, this new series by Lucy Calkins and her colleagues from the Reading and Writing Project offers grade-by-grade plans for teaching writing workshops that help students meet and exceed the Common Core State Standards.
The Guide to the Writing Workshop, first introduced as a part of the Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing, is now available for separate purchase. The Guide is an essential manual for principals, curriculum coordinators, coaches, and others who are supporting implementation of Units of Study—or for anyone wanting to learn more about writing workshop.
Marie Mounteer, Lizzie Hetzer, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project
About the Unit This engaging new book-length unit will transform your kindergartners into inventive spellers, giving them the tools and strategies they need to approximate the words that are most meaningful for them. The unit celebrates invented spellings as kids develop foundational skills, knowing that your front-and-center goal will be to persuade your kids that they can write, that they too can be members of the literacy club.
Lucy Calkins, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project
The Kindergarten Trade Book Pack includes three age-appropriate trade books that are used in the units to model effective writing techniques, encourage students to read as writers, and provide background knowledge.
* Creak! Said the Bed by Phyllis Root
* Freight Train by Donald Crews
* My First Soccer Game by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
“Any... more
Lucy Calkins, Amanda Hartman, Natalie Louis, Laurie Pessah, Elizabeth Moore, Elizabeth Franco
Lucy and her TCRWP colleagues draw on over 30 years of work to help children begin their lifelong writing journeys in kindergarten. Growth in kindergarten writing is astounding. Youngsters begin approximating writing in the first unit by drawing and labeling their own books. By the second unit, they begin to write true stories. In subsequent units, children write informational how-to texts and craft persuasive texts like petitions.
Lucy and her TCRWP colleagues draw on over 30 years of work to help children begin their lifelong writing journeys in kindergarten. Growth in kindergarten writing is astounding. Youngsters begin approximating writing in the first unit by drawing and labeling their own books. By the second unit, they begin to write true stories. In subsequent units, children write informational how-to texts and craft persuasive texts like petitions.
For over 30 years, Lucy Calkins and her colleagues at the Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Project have served as premiere reading and writing educators. Drawing upon their vast experience with teaching writing through writing workshop, Lucy and her coauthors have crafted this groundbreaking writing curriculum. The series bundle includes all the guidance your budding workshoppers, and teachers alike, will need.
For over 30 years, Lucy Calkins and her colleagues at the Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Project have served as premiere reading and writing educators. Drawing upon their vast experience with teaching writing through writing workshop, Lucy and her coauthors have crafted this groundbreaking writing curriculum. The series bundle includes all the guidance your budding workshoppers, and teachers alike, will need.
Lucy Calkins, Abby Oxenhorn Smith, Rachel Rothman-Perkins
In this popular unit, students take the everyday events of their young lives and make them into focused, well-structured stories, then they learn to breathe life into the characters by making them talk, think, and interact. Please note that this unit, which is offered for separate purchase here, is included in the core Grade 1 writing Units of Study boxed set.
Lucy Calkins, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project
The Grade 1 Trade Book Pack includes three age-appropriate trade books that are used in the units to model effective writing techniques, encourage students to read as writers, and provide background knowledge.
- Night of the Veggie Monster by George McClements
- Sharks! (National Geographic Reader) by Anne Schreiber
- Henry
Lucy Calkins, Abby Oxenhorn Smith, Rachel Rothman-Perkins, Kristine Mraz, Barbara Golub, Celena Dangler Larkey, Elizabeth Franco, Christine Holley, Mary Ehrenworth
These units are written for first graders who have just begun tapping into their powers as readers and writers. Children begin in the first unit by exploring narrative writing, turning everyday events into well-structured stories. In Unit 2, kids write “how-to-teach” nonfiction texts, followed by Unit 3, in which they write persuasive reviews. In the final unit, children will grow from writing scenes to writing an entire fiction series.
These units are written for first graders who have just begun tapping into their powers as readers and writers. Children begin in the first unit by exploring narrative writing, turning everyday events into well-structured stories. In Unit 2, kids write “how-to-teach” nonfiction texts, followed by Unit 3, in which they write persuasive reviews. In the final unit, children will grow from writing scenes to writing an entire fiction series.
Valerie Geschwind, Jennifer Russo, Edited By Lucy Calkins
About the Unit This accessible unit welcomes second graders into the world of nonfiction writing by rallying them to write lots of little nonfiction books. Youngsters learn that they can take anything they know a lot about—soccer, an ice cream shop, ladybugs—and write in ways that teach their readers about the topic. The unit helps second graders feel that puffed-up pride of being an expert and taps into their eagerness to show and tell.
Second-grade writers feel like big kids and want work that feels big and important. That’s just what they’ll get in these units. First, children learn to craft powerful true stories based on their own small moments. In the second unit, students study nonfiction texts and learn to write about science. In the next unit, kids craft persuasive arguments based on text evidence. Finally, students explore language by writing poetry in Unit 4.
Lucy Calkins, Amanda Hartman, Julia Mooney, Monique Knight, Lauren Kolbeck, Shanna Schwartz, Alexandra Marron, Elizabeth Franco, Mary Ehrenworth, Stephanie Parsons, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
Second-grade writers feel like big kids and want work that feels big and important. That’s just what they’ll get in these units. First, children learn to craft powerful true stories based on their own small moments. In the second unit, students study nonfiction texts and learn to write about science. In the next unit, kids craft persuasive arguments based on text evidence. Finally, students explore language by writing poetry in Unit 4.
Lucy Calkins, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project
The Grade 2 Trade Book Pack includes four age-appropriate trade books that are used in the units to model effective writing techniques, encourage students to read as writers, and provide background knowledge.
- Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
- The Leaving Morning by Angela Johnson
- Forces and Motion by John Graham
The Guide to the Writing Workshop, first introduced as a part of the Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing, is now available for separate purchase. The Guide is an essential manual for principals, curriculum coordinators, coaches, and others who are supporting implementation of Units of Study—or for anyone wanting to learn more about writing workshop.
Lucy Calkins, Marjorie Martinelli, M. Colleen Cruz, Kelly Boland Hohne, Shana Frazin, Maggie Beattie Roberts
By third grade, many students are writing on full-sized notebook paper, allowing them to write longer and more fully. The first unit extends personal narrative writing, with a growing emphasis on drafting and revising. Unit 2 helps students synthesize and organize information for chapter books. In Unit 3, kids write persuasive pieces about meaningful causes. Children explore fiction-writing techniques by studying fairy tales in the final unit.
By third grade, many students are writing on full-sized notebook paper, allowing them to write longer and more fully. The first unit extends personal narrative writing, with a growing emphasis on drafting and revising. Unit 2 helps students synthesize and organize information for chapter books. In Unit 3, kids write persuasive pieces about meaningful causes. Children explore fiction-writing techniques by studying fairy tales in the final unit.
Lucy Calkins, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project
The Grade 3 Trade Book Pack includes three age-appropriate trade books that are used in the units to model effective writing techniques, encourage students to read as writers, and provide background knowledge.
- Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse
- Deadliest Animals (National Geographic Reader) by Melissa
This groundbreaking unit—the first writing unit from TCRWP that focuses specifically on graphic novels—stands on the shoulders of all the narrative writing Units of Study, helping children transfer what they’ve learned of narrative craft into a new medium.
Lucy Calkins, M. Colleen Cruz, Kelly Boland Hohne, Cory Gillette, Anna Cockerille, Kathleen Tolan, Alexandra Marron
Fourth graders are on the verge of writing more academic texts. They begin the year writing realistic fiction and learn to develop rich characters and stories. The units then bring students step-by-step toward increasing proficiency with these genres: thesis-driven persuasive essays in unit 2, historical research reports in unit 3, and writing about fiction in literary essays in the final unit.
Fourth graders are on the verge of writing more academic texts. They begin the year writing realistic fiction and learn to develop rich characters and stories. The units then bring students step-by-step toward increasing proficiency with these genres: thesis-driven persuasive essays in unit 2, historical research reports in unit 3, and writing about fiction in literary essays in the final unit.
Lucy Calkins, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project
The Grade 4 Trade Book Pack includes four age-appropriate trade books that are used in the units to model effective writing techniques, encourage students to read as writers, and provide background knowledge.
- Fireflies by Julie Brinkloe
- Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson
- Revolutionary War (Cornerstones
Teachers College Reading & Writing Project, Edited By Lucy Calkins
The Literary Essay, Grade 5 Trade Book Pack includes books that are used in the unit to model effective writing techniques, encourage students to read as writers, and provide background knowledge.
Katie Clements, Mike Ochs, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project, Edited By Lucy Calkins
About the Unit This unit helps fifth graders meet sky-high expectations for writing literary essays. Members of the class begin by writing an essay about a shared story—a poignant video clip that they watch and discuss together. With that shared experience work as a foundation, fifth graders then learn to design, write, and revise interpretive essays about short stories.
Katie Clements, Mike Ochs, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project, Edited By Lucy Calkins
About the Unit This unit helps fifth graders meet sky-high expectations for writing literary essays. Members of the class begin by writing an essay about a shared story—a poignant video clip that they watch and discuss together. With that shared experience work as a foundation, fifth graders then learn to design, write, and revise interpretive essays about short stories.
If students have grown up with the Writing Units of Study, by grade 5 they are familiar with most (if not all) of the skills required for fifth-grade standards. In the first unit, students write reflective personal narratives. Unit 2 calls on students to write research reports. In the third unit, students choose to write in either the essay, narrative, or memoir genre. Lastly, Unit 4 teaches students to build arguments in research-based essays.
Lucy Calkins, Alexandra Marron, Emily Butler Smith, Annie Taranto, Mary Ehrenworth
If students have grown up with the Writing Units of Study, by grade 5 they are familiar with most (if not all) of the skills required for fifth-grade standards. In the first unit, students write reflective personal narratives. Unit 2 calls on students to write research reports. In the third unit, students choose to write in either the essay, narrative, or memoir genre. Lastly, Unit 4 teaches students to build arguments in research-based essays.
Lucy Calkins, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project
The Grade 5 Trade Book Pack includes three age-appropriate trade books that are used in the units to model effective writing techniques, encourage students to read as writers, and provide background knowledge.
- When I Was Your Age: Original Stories About Growing Up, Vol. 1 by Amy Ehrlich, ed.
- Who Settled the West? (Life in
The Guide to the Writing Workshop, first introduced as a part of the Units of Study in Argument, Information, and Narrative Writing, is now available for separate purchase. The Guide is an essential manual for principals, curriculum coordinators, coaches, and others who are supporting implementation of Units of Study—or for anyone wanting to learn more about writing workshop.
Lucy Calkins, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project, Stacey Fell, Alexandra Marron, Kate Roberts, Kathleen Tolan, Maggie Beattie Roberts, Emily Strang-Campbell, Audra Robb, Gerrit Jones-Rooy
The sixth-grade units lead the Middle School Writing Series, launching with a personal narrative unit where students generate story ideas, manage pace, and elaborate. Students proceed to writing literary essays in Unit 2, learning strategies to gather, analyze, and use text evidence to support their claims. In the final unit, writers explore teen activism, using sophisticated ways to explain a position or make a call to action.
Lucy Calkins, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project
Lucy Calkins and her colleagues at the Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Project have served as premiere reading and writing educators for over 30 years. With the Middle School Series, they extend their state-of-the-art K-5 writing workshop curriculum. The series bundle includes all the guidance your budding workshoppers, and teachers alike, will need to excel with argument, information, and narrative writing.
Lucy Calkins, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project, M. Colleen Cruz, Audra Robb, Kelly Boland Hohne, Annie Taranto, Gerrit Jones-Rooy
Seventh graders relish their increasing agency as writers. Accordingly, the grade 7 units embolden these young writers, starting with a unit on writing powerful, realistic fiction, using symbolism and syntax. In Unit 2, students analyze craft and structure in works by beloved authors and then write companion books. The third unit teaches students to write convincing, research-based essays, making arguments to persuade readers to take action.
Lucy Calkins, Teachers College Reading & Writing Project, Mary Ehrenworth, Cornelius Minor, Kate Roberts, Katy Wischow, Julie Shepherd, Audra Robb, Gerrit Jones-Rooy
Eighth graders begin the year with a unit focused on investigative journalism, writing vivid narratives on social activism. Writers elevate their skills as literary essayists in the second unit, making arguments and counterarguments about themes in texts. In the final unit, students craft research-based position papers, using principled arguments, drawing on evidence, and addressing multiple perspectives.