Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 7
 Standardized Test Scores Improved Using This Book August 4, 2009
David C. Hatton (Phoenix, AZ USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Admittedly, I was one of those teachers who believed that following a formula meant forfeiting creativity. Boy, was I wrong! I found that once my students had a solid understanding of the organization, creativity and improved word choice quickly followed. My students come from an English Language Learner background, so writing was a struggle for most of them. But, by using the building blocks put in place by the creators, and following them to a T, I saw remarkable improvement even though I only started about two months before our standardized testing. As a result of this program, my students averaged in the 80th percentile - better than the state average in Arizona. I am looking forward to starting earlier this year, and getting the majority of the students to the vivid adjectives and adverbs - I believe this will be the key to helping them take their writing to the next level.
I cannot stress enough starting from the beginning, do not skip any steps because you believe it to be "beneath" your students.
In conjunction with what is recommended in this book, I recommend that the teacher not only model the lesson, but do it once as a WHOLE CLASS as well, BEFORE having students practice on their own. This step has been CRUCIAL for my classes. It is especially helpful if you can make the topic something the students can buy into as a class. (Take a vote on the topic?) Secondly, spend a lot of time helping students come up with vivid adverbs and adjectives. I find that a good old-fashioned 64-count box of Crayola crayons is a great place to start. They can see a wide variety of creative names for colors. Obviously, take it to the next level with a thesaurus. Thirdly, use the method to become a better writer yourself. Why you enjoy writing, it will show when you teach writing!
Overall, I find the 4-Square books to be an excellent tool for helping improve student writing!
 Excellent, visual approach to teaching kids to write reports March 3, 2007
Learning All The Time (USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This approach is soooo much better than the outlining approach I learned over 30 years ago. I have no idea why it is so much easier for kids to fill in boxes than fill out an outline, but for some reason it is. My kids are writing basic reports quickly and easily and without the tears and frustration we had last fall. The method is easy to learn and use, and I highly recommend it.
However, if you are more interested in teaching creative writing, then I wouldn't use this approach - in my view, 4-square is well suited to non-fiction reports and essays, but not for writing adventure stories, etc...
this rocks November 6, 2006
L. Brockman (Florida)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is the best writing curriculum ever! When I taught my daughter the first lessons, she responded, "That was school? I didn't even know we were doing school!" It's easy to teach, very visual, and makes the child feel like a writing pro with the first lesson.
 AN UPDATE September 2, 2006
I. F. Walker (Milwaukee, WI United States)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
3 years later and I'm back with an update. I still like 4 Square as a graphic organizer.
The structure is easy for children to understand. You will get writing that is organized with details.
I can say that I have moved away from it as my ONLY graphic organizer. If you plan on using 4 Square I would couple it wih 6 TRAITS materials or the authors 4 Square additions/extensions.
Students do need to be taught voice, word choice, and sentence fluency, in addtion to organization.
Great writing tool! December 15, 2005
glassbreaker (South Florida)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Very helpful for teaching young kids how to compose well written paragraphs and reports. Recommended!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 7
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