"The more you read...the better you write...and the more you write...the better you read!"

Writing is an integral part of our school day due to the strong reading...writing connection in literacy learning. Writing helps children apply letter/sound knowledge (phonics) and helps them see how their thoughts can be put to paper to communicate with others. Sharing is a vital componemt of all writing so children learn the purpose of writing is to communicate with others. In our classroom writing is incorporated in the following ways:

1. Daily Journal Writing
2. Making Class Take-home Books
3. Math Problem Solving
4. Writers' Workshop
5. Work Stations (centers)
6. Six Trait Lessons
7. Write-n-Tell Homework (starts in October)
8. Language Homework (sentence to write nightly)
9. Classroom Post Office
10. Reading Response Journal
11. Research Workshop (Science & Social Studies projects)
12. Reading Den Journal Day
13. Young Author Book program
14. Publishing a class book for parents to purchase-details later)
15. ***We have just created a classroom magazine called ORBIT Magazine...Premiere Issue...May 2009
16. 

*****Most importantly we READ, READ, READ!!!***

By using children's literature and actual authors as their models, children learn SO much about writing. (Our Authors of the Month and Books We Love web pages are more references to view.)

Woven through all of my teaching of writing are the following strategies:

Writers write to communicate.

Writers write to remember good times in life.

Writers write to learn and teach.

Writers write because it is fun.

**We use the Six Traits Model to guide our writing decisions.

The Six Traits are listed on the poster below:

1. Ideas

2. Word Choice

3. Organization

4. Sentence Fluency

5. Voice

6. Conventions

+ 1...Presentation

The Wee Can Write, 6 + 1 Trait (K-2 Program) is a useful source for primary (K-2) writing. There are numerous other sources available also.

(Source: Northwest Regional Education Laboratory)

Teachers...If you are interesting in buying this Wee Can Write poster or the teacher's manual here is the link:

Click here to purchase

WAYS TO HELP AT HOME

Encourage your child to:

• write letters to relatives
• make shopping lists
• write stories (your child can share these at school)
• write notes to you
• do Write-n-Tells (start in Oct.)
• bring home class binders to write in
• bring home Literacy Backpacks to write in
• share Our Class Take Home Books with you
• write wish lists
• make lists of things to do or places to go
• do a Young Author Book (due in Dec.- details to follow)
• READ...READ...READ

One last note:

Please remember that spelling words the way they sound is the best strategy for your child to use at this point in his/her young life. It is better to encourge good content over perfect spelling. If children get used to having to spell words perfectly, they are dependent on an adult or learn to write with only easy words. These habits limit his/her writing ability now and in the future. Just think of how it was when your child learned to walk and talk. He/she took baby steps and you didn't expect him/her to run across the room or speak in perfect sentences right away. Writing takes practice and growth...have patience and your child will SOAR!!! -Mrs. Zider

Click on resources to purchase: