Crafting Strong Beginnings

Unit: Phonics and Writing Mastery

Lesson 5 of 6: Drafting Introductory Paragraphs

Duration: 30 minutes
Class size: 10 students (6th Grade Special Education Resource Class)

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.2.A: Introduce a topic; organize ideas with a clear focus.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.2.B: Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, and details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.4: Produce clear and coherent writing appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.6.6: Acquire and use grade-appropriate vocabulary.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Understand the purpose and components of an introductory paragraph.
Use a graphic organizer to plan and organize the introductory paragraph.
Write a draft of an introductory paragraph with a strong opening sentence and clear main idea.
Demonstrate understanding by sharing their drafts in a supportive setting.

Materials Needed

Printed graphic organizers (with boxes for hook, background info, main idea)
Dyslexia-friendly paper and fonts (OpenDyslexic or similar)
Colored pencils or markers
Examples of introductory paragraphs prepared on chart paper
Whiteboard and markers
Individual whiteboards for student brainstorming (optional)

Lesson Outline

1. Engage & Review (5 minutes)

Begin with a brief review of what an introductory paragraph does (hook readers, state the main idea).
Show 2 examples of introductory paragraphs on chart paper: one strong, one weak.
Ask students to identify the difference focusing on sentence clarity and interest level.
Behind the scenes tip: Use dyslexia-friendly fonts and present examples one sentence at a time to reduce visual overload.

Differentiation: For students with processing delays, give oral summaries alongside visuals.

2. Mini-Lesson: Graphic Organizer Introduction (7 minutes)

Introduce the graphic organizer highlighting the 3 sections: Hook, Background info, Main Idea.
Model completing the organizer using a familiar topic (e.g., "Why I like my favorite season"). Write out ideas, verbally explaining your thinking.
Encourage students to ask questions or suggest ideas aloud as you model.

Dyslexia-friendly strategy: Read text aloud and repeat key vocabulary; highlight important words in color.

3. Guided Practice: Drafting on Organizer (10 minutes)

Students choose a topic from the unit (or teacher-generated list) to draft an introductory paragraph.
Using the graphic organizer, students write one sentence for each part (hook, background, main idea).
Circulate to provide individualized scaffolding: prompting questions, sentence starters, or oral support.
Encourage use of assistive tech or speech-to-text if available.

Differentiation: Students needing extra support may write phrases or draw pictures in the boxes prior to full sentences.

4. Sharing & Feedback (5 minutes)

Have students share their drafted opening sentences in pairs or with the whole class, if comfortable.
Model positive, constructive feedback focusing on clarity and interest.
Reinforce the importance of a strong introduction as a "hook" to grab readers’ attention.

Differentiation: Allow students to express orally if writing is challenging, record their responses for later transcription.

5. Wrap-Up & Homework (3 minutes)

Recap lesson goals and praise effort.
Homework: Revise their graphic organizer draft with a family member or using provided sentence starters.
Optional prompt: Try to think of a question or exciting fact for the hook at home.

Assessment

Informal formative assessment through observation during organizer activity and sharing.
Collect graphic organizers to track student understanding of paragraph structure and clarity of main idea.
Use exit tickets (verbal or written) asking: "What makes a good opening sentence?"

Additional Teacher Tips

Keep directions clear and step-by-step; repeat as needed.
Use multisensory teaching: see, say, write, and hear to engage various learning styles.
Provide a quiet workspace and breaks for students with attention or sensory needs.
Celebrate small successes to build confidence.

This lesson integrates clear structure, scaffolded support, and dyslexia-friendly practices to empower diverse learners to confidently draft introductory paragraphs. The use of graphic organizers helps visually organize their thoughts, aligning perfectly with Common Core expectations in writing coherency and focus.

Teaching Instructions