We are having a great time writing on Wednesdays.
Today the first and second graders finished their books that they've been working on for weeks! Look for them in their backpacks. You will also find each of their weekly reports in their binders, as well as any other unfinished projects we are working on. As time passes by, you will enjoy watching their progress in sentence structure, penmanship, detail, and illustrations. You will notice that we do not focus so much on spelling perfectly, as our intention is to first get the sounds down on paper and then refine for correct spelling as we advance. We do not have time to do weekly spelling practices and tests, but I can provide spelling lists for you to use at home if you'd like. Just let me know.
Third through fifth graders are finishing up their first creative stories! We chose a writing prompt as a class, so all of our stories are about a dinosaur fossil that is shy. It has been fun to watch each student come up with his/her own story, some featuring the shy fossil as a main character, while others have chosen to use him/her as a supporting character. This class is the largest one - and it is often noisy as excited kids share with their friends about what's going on in their story - so it can be hard to hear one's own thoughts sometimes. If your student is having a difficult time getting started in class, please encourage them to find a quiet place at home to begin writing so that they might feel more comfortable next week. I expect that we will wrap up our stories next Wednesday.
Sixth through eight grades are also finishing up their first creative stories. Just like grades 3-5, we selected a starter as a class. We are writing about a rotten sandwich that wants to be human. The kids are all making good progress and it's been a blast to watch them create! I expect they will finish next Wednesday also. I can't wait to read what they've written!
In all classes, we are focusing on punctuation, capitalization and spacing. In grades 3-8, we are working to improve our spelling on basic words and using the dictionary (and occasionally our friends) to spell harder words.
I returned papers in grades 3-8 today. I will always strive to provide feedback - noting things they have done very well and areas where there is room for improvement. This feedback is intended purely for encouragement and constructive direction. Please feel free to contact me at any time with any suggestions or questions you might have, as it is my desire to partner with you in meeting your child(ren) where they are at and progressing forward.
I love my job and look forward to seeing your kids again on Monday! Thank you for sharing them with me.
Tonya
tonyashrader@everestkc.net
