The Four Square Writing Method

Strategy Corner

The “Four Square Writing Method” by Judith S. and Evan Jay Gould is a unique method of teaching basic writing skills that is applicable across grade levels and curriculum areas. It uses a graphic organizer to help children focus their writing.

I have been using a modified version with sequencing the past two years in my first grade classroom. A topic is chosen. We put it at the top of the four squares and brainstorm ideas about it. A one- or two-word detail or idea is put in each square. This helps the children to learn what a sentence is by writing about each detail. Before using this method, they tended to write run-on sentences or never punctuate until the very end of their story. Now they know they have to have a sentence beginning with a capital and ending with a punctuation mark for each square idea. In a short simple story, the first sentence announces what their story is about. The next four sentences refer to that topic and tell about the four squares. We use a summary, or sometimes a feeling, sentence for our last sentence. This method has worked especially well when writing a description.

After students become competent with the short paragraph, they can add supporting details and use each square as a subtopic and paragraph. Transition or “connecting” words can be added to provide smooth reading when changing paragraphs.

 

Getting Reading for Study Trip

 

jackets

  

name tags
 

book bag

  

schoolbus

 

Other Ideas:

  • procedure
  • leaders
  • first aid kit

 

We got ready for a study trip. We put on our jackets. We wore our name tags. We fixed a bag of books to take along. We got on the school bus. We were ready to go on our study trip.

(Written as a group in late September)

By Jane Meyer, Davenport First Grade Teacher, Mississippi Bend Reading Council
Iowa Reading Association Newsletter, May/June 2003
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