Writing Time

What have we been doing in writing?

We have been discussing, exploring, and using the 6 traits of writing. We have focused our learning around conventions and organization (leads, detailed middles, wrap up endings). Here we are examining leads and sharing our groups' favorite lead.

We have been talking about what a sentence is. Here is what we came up with:

1. A sentence has words that make sense together.

2. A sentence has a capital letter at the beginning.

3. A sentence has a punctuation mark at the end.

4. A sentence has a subject (who or what).

5. A sentence has a verb (action or feeling).

 

We have talked about who writes, why people write, what we need to know to be able to write, and where we see writing. Here the children are drawing pictures and writing about places where they see writing outside of the classroom.

We have been learning how to write each other's names. We have been noticing smiliarities in how our names our spelled. We have even found different ways to group our names: by first letter, last letter, number of syllables, number of letters, and more.

Why Do We Write?

We write to communicate and to express ourselves. Different kinds of writing communicate different things. Sometime we write in our journals to express our thoughts and feelings. Sometimes we write about stories we have read to communicate what we comprehend from the story. Other times we write stories about things we have experienced, this is done to entertain others.

We write across the curriculum areas, with different purposes, and for different audiences :)

 

Here we are writing in our journals. We typically do this on Sundays.

 

The Components of Writing

A) Handwriting (Click to go to web page that provided practice sheets.)

B) Spelling (Click for printable list of high frequency words to learn this year.) Also available are the rubrics for spelling according to trimester. Look for it at the top right hand corner. There are 2 fabulous websites that can help children study and learn their weekly spelling words, as well as the high frequency words. Check them out: www.spellingcity.com and www.kidsspell.com. Have fun!

C) The 6 Traits of Writing (Click to go to web page that describes the traits in detail).

 

Handwriting

Handwriting is also an important component of learning how to write. The children will be learning the proper formation of both capital and lower case letters this year. We are working on writing our names appropriately right now. How can you help at home? Ask them to write their name on their work carefully and using the correct letter formation :) Hint: all letters start at the top.

 

Learning How to Spell

Part of learning how to write is learning how to spell.

The Word Study Program in Brief:

Sundays: study a spellng rule, or word family. Pick our words and build them using magnetic letters/ tiles.

Tuesdays: "Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check" activity

Wednesdays: Make connections

Thursdays: Spelling tests

In addition to this spelling practice, the children will be working on learning 90 high frequency words. We will use them and study them through out the day in a variety of ways. At the end of each trimester the children will be assessed on their knowledge of these words. Our goal is for them to learn all 90 by the end of the year. A list of these words can be downloaded using the link to the right. Please help them learn these words at home :)

 

Here we are sorting words according to where we see the word family /at/ (beginning of the word, middle, end).

 

The 6 Traits

These concepts will be introduced in the first trimester once the children have gotten comfortable with the writing process and procedures. Our goal is for the children to become experienced in all 6 traits. Below is a description of what a piece of writing would look like, or what an experienced writer would remember to do:

1) IDEAS: The topic is narrowed and focused. Includes important details.


2) ORGANIZATION: It has an original title and a catchy beginning. A thoughtful ending is tried. Easy to follow.


3) VOICE: Tries to make the reader feel something. Says more than is expected. Point of view is evident and clear.


4) WORD CHOICE: Uses every day words well. Uses interesting, fresh, and original words.


5) SENTENCE FLUENCY: Sentence structure is correct and creative. Natural rhythm and flow.


6) CONVENTIONS: Spelling is mostly correct. Capitals for proper nouns as well as beginning of sentence used correctly. Basic punctuation and grammar is correct.

 

* You can download The 6 Traits Writing Rubric by clicking on the link on the top right hand corner of this page.