Writing Skills Harcourt Learning Grade 3
Mindprint Rating
Tags
ELA: Writing
Elementary School
Workbook
Skills
Expressive Language
Organization
Visual Discrimination
Mindprint Expert Review
Pros
- The instructions are clear and the lessons are easy to understand.
- Gives students instruction and practice in six distinct styles of writing
- Answer key enables students to easily correct their own work
Considerations
- Students are sometimes asked to rewrite words and sentences rather than simply using editing proofreading marks, which can make exercises tedious.
- Students will want an adult's support to check their individualized work
Mindprint Expert Review
This is an excellent workbook that uses creative prompts to help children improve their writing in six unique types of writing. Each of the six units begins with practice fill-in-the-blank or short answer exercises to teach the student the critical components of that writing style. Then students are given prompts to write their own piece. They are given a useful report card format to proofread their own work and check if they captured all the key elements of the writing format. To keep students engaged there are colorful illustrations and opportunities to make drawings to accompany their work. This workbook provides great instruction and practice and helpful tools for students to learn to self-correct their work.
Academic Benefits
Improves academic skills
- Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
- Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
- Presents educational concepts accurately
- Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
- Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
- Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
- Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)
Fun
Engaging for the Mindprint recommended age range
- Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
- Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
- Includes reward stickers
- Visually stimulating and appealing (uses student-centered pictures, colors, and themes)
- Graphics and overall feel of the workbook is appropriate for the target age range
- Relative to most workbooks, fun to use from a child's perspective
- Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
- Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option
Easy to Use
Understandable for children in the Mindprint recommended age range
- Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
- Student should be able to use independently after first use
- Specific topics/lessons are easy to find
- Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
- Overall - Easy to use
Manufacturer Description
These workbooks are designed to help students express themselves through written language, both inside and outside the classroom. By studying writing samples and practicing different styles, young writers will build the ability to complete any writing projects with confidence.
Harcourt Family Learning Workbooks are a comprehensive line of workbook developed through a partnership with Harcourt, a leading educational publisher. Based on national teaching standards, these workbooks provide complete practice in math, reading, and other key subject areas.