Writing

Writing and risk taking goes hand in hand in grades one! Students are encouraged to use spelling strategies, listen for sounds and use words in their environment while writing. Adult spelling is not necessary for all words. It is important for kids to get their ideas out on paper without worrying about spelling every word correctly. However, we do LOTS of Word Work that helps us move from phonetic spelling to correct spelling. The main goal is independent writing!

The Six + One Traits by Ruth Culham along with Writing Workshop keep us focused on writing all year! The students use real life experiences to write, edit, revise and publish books. Non-fiction writing connects what we learn across the curriculum into reports and informational stories. First Graders really enjoy the persuasive writing we do. It's amazing how good they are at talking people into their point of view ;)! 

Handwriting is another important part of writing. Students work on starting letters from the top and work toward the bottom. They are encouraged to use capital and lowercase letters correctly. We work on being as neat as possible to ensure our readers can understand what we are trying to say. Students practice handwriting through the Handwriting Without Tears program.