Scott Foresman Reading Street

Genre Math Story
Writer's Craft Time-order
Words
Writing Trait Sentences

Identify the characteristics of a math story.
Write a math story that includes time-order words.
Focus on sentences.
Use a rubric.

Sentences Have language learners read their sentences aloud to check rhythm, completeness, and sense. Point out opportunities to change a declarative sentence to another type
or to vary sentence beginnings.

FOCUS/IDEAS The story tells

about an event that involves numbers and math.

ORGANIZATION/PARAGRAPHS

The paragraph moves clearly from one part of the event to
the next.

VOICE Writing is engaging and

lively. The writer's personality shows.

WORD CHOICE The writer uses

time-order words (last fall,
first, next) to make the
sequence of events clear.

SENTENCES The story includes

both statements and
questions.

CONVENTIONS There is

excellent control and accuracy, including correct punctuation
of statements and questions.

Model the Trait

Improve Writing

Prewrite and Draft

Draft and Revise

Connect to Unit Writing

READING-WRITING CONNECTION

Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday tells about a boy who cannot hold onto his money.
The story uses sentences with transitions and time-order words to show where the money went.
Students will write a math story using varied sentences and time-order words.

MODEL SENTENCES Discuss Writing Transparency 3A. Discuss the model and the writing trait of sentences.

The writer uses statements about selling gift wrap and
one student's sales.
I can use subjects and verbs such as I sold and the Lanes
bought to track total sales.
Questions at the end signal what
is to be calculated. To find out:
how many rolls, add 3 + 2 +
2 + 3; how much money, multiply
the sum × $4.

Writing Transparency 3A

with | without Answers

WRITER'S CRAFT

Time-order Words

Display Writing Transparency 3B.

Read the directions and work together to identify time-order
words.

USE TIME-ORDER
WORDS Tomorrow we
will write math stories.
I might write a story about spending my birthday money. What time-order words would help show
the sequence of events? I could
write, "First, I bought two comic
books for $5.82." First signals the number one step. I could use next
and finally or last to signal other purchases I made.

GUIDED WRITING Some
students may need more help
with time-order words. Work with them to identify such words in familiar texts.

Writing Transparency 3B

with | without Answers

READ THE WRITING PROMPT

on page 83 in the Student Edition.

In Alexander, Who Used to Be
Rich Last Sunday, a boy subtracts amounts from a dollar.

Think about a time when you used numbers and math.

Now write a math story of that event.

Writing Test Tips

Write about something that happened to you or someone you know that involved numbers and adding or subtraction.
Use time-order words to show the sequence of events.
Include statements and questions.

GETTING STARTED Students can do any of the following:

Brainstorm a list of actions that involve numbers, such as saving money, counting pets, or measuring ingredients.
Make a numbered list showing events in their story in order.
Write a math problem with addition or subtraction facts, then make up details to build a story around the problem.

EDITING/REVISING
CHECKLIST

Does my story describe an event that involves numbers and math?
Do time-order words make the sequence of events clear?
Do I use both statements and questions?
Are words with endings such as -ed and -ing spelled correctly?

See The Grammar and Writing Book, pp. 62–67.

Revising Tips

Sentences

Support your math story by using both statements and questions for variety.
Make sure every sentence has a subject and a verb.
Add details to the subject and predicate to make sentences interesting.

PUBLISHING Have students illustrate their stories and exchange them with classmates, who will work the problems. Some students may wish to revise their work later.

ASSESSMENT Use the scoring rubric to evaluate students' work.

Week 1

Describe a Character 41g–41h

Week 2

A Song 63g–63h

Week 3

Math Story 85g–85h

Week 4

E-mail 115g–115h

Week 5

Narrative Paragraph 141g–141h

Personal Narrative

PREVIEW THE UNIT PROMPT

Write a personal narrative about
a time that you worked hard for
something you wanted. Tell what
you wanted, why you wanted it,
and how you worked to get it.

APPLY

A personal narrative is a story about an interesting experience or event in the storyteller's life.
Use time-order words to show clearly when things happen in your personal narrative.

Writing Workshop Math Story

Sentences