Writing

This year your child will be doing a great deal of writing.

One type of writing your child will participate in is called "quick-write" writing. Quick-writes are not compositions, but rather are used to generate ideas, express an opinion, make a prediction, or reflect on an event. This type of writing is not graded for spelling or writing conventions. It is evaluated to ensure that the student followed directions and completed the assignment. We will be doing this kind of writing frequently because we feel it contributes significantly to your child's learning and language development and overall writing fluency.

This year your child will also learn how to write complete paragraphs using topic and concluding sentences, and supporting detail sentences. Students will be taught how to use graphic organizers to help structure their writing. They will also be held responsible for the editing and revising of their work.

Your child will also participate in the Lucy Calkins Writing Program, which focuses on the writing of personal narratives. This program allows students to elaborate in great detail on one small moment from their personal life experience. Great attention is given to detail, expression of thought, and word choice.

You can help the development of your child's writing at home in several ways. First, encourage your child to write as frequently as possible about a wide range of topics. Second, be aware of the different types of writing your child does at school. Remember that all writing does not have to be perfect and free of errors to be of value to your child's language development. Third, be a helper and encourager of your child's writing efforts. Talk about your child's writing and ask that it be read out loud (a strategy that we use in class) as a way of checking it.

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