Are you familiar with the term "Show Not Tell" to help students dig deeper into descriptive writing? Before we ask students to write long pieces, working on sentence writing skills with short, quick writes is ideal! This set of writing task cards has everything you need to help your students improve their writing skills.

Descriptive writing--especially narrative writing--can be tricky for students. I wanted a way to engage my students in how to really see how writers “show” the reader what is happening without “telling”--and WITHOUT using boring practice sheets.

I also wanted to make sure my students understand different writing strategies for writing complex sentences that are more descriptive and detailed.

Would you like to be able to have printable cards AND digital access all in one resource?

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This set of 24 task cards focused on "show not tell" and incorporating sensory details into writing is perfect to use as a practice opportunity for whole-class instruction, in literacy centers, or as an instructional tool when working with students needing extra practice in this area.

Cards are made with...

• easy-to-read font
• available in color and black and white
• includes several pictures of the resource in action
• blank cards so you can write your own versions!
• recording sheets
• full digital access

Many intermediate students need explicit coaching in different ways to add detail to their writing so they are better prepared to use more advanced language in their writing. Each card has a great sentence to improve--and even a "hint" to get students started. What a great scaffold for them!

This resource allows you a simple and convenient way to showcase several different ways that are easy for students to grasp—and can help not only with improving their writing but also help prepare for standardized tests where sentence combining is often assessed.

Also included are several recording sheets and supplemental ideas to allow for flexibility of use.

What are teachers saying?

"Thanks for creating these cards with hints. I have been teaching "show not tell" and some of my students are struggling with how and where to add sensory details. Thanks to your hints students don't need constant prompts from me while they are practicing."

"This really helped drive our small groups and helped children see what they could add to their writing to improve it."

"In summer learning, I used these to encourage students to use more graphic vocabulary in their sentences. The best part was hearing the more picturesque words in their conversations, as well as seeing it in their writing. Thank you for this resource."

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Looking for other writing task resources? Check these out!

Writing Dialogue Task Cards

Improving Sentences Task Cards

Sentence Strategies Task Cards

Narrative Writing Bundle

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All rights reserved by ©The Teacher Studio. Purchase of this resource entitles the purchaser the right to reproduce the pages in limited quantities for single classroom use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or commercial purposes is strictly forbidden without written permission from the author at fourthgradestudio@gmail.com. Additional licenses are available at a reduced price.