Reading & Writing:
It's About Respect
We are starting a new unit in our Literacy in Action program about respect. The purpose of this unit is to help your child talk, read, and write about respect and learn to appreciate images about respect. We will be learning about ways people show respect to themselves, to others, and to the environment. People can show respect in many ways. We will also be reading and writing biographies that give information about people's lives and the ways these people have shown respect.
You are invited to be part of our unit in a variety of ways. For example;
You are invited to be part of our unit in a variety of ways. For example;
- Invite your child to retell some of the stories we read at school
- Talk about examples of respect in your family and in your community
- Look through newspapers and magazines together for pictures of respect
- Ask your child to share words and expressions that describe respect
- Talk about characters in books, in movies, or on TV that show respect
Writing: 6 + 1 Traits
In our Writer’s Workshop, students are learning about the different genres of writing, such as narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive writing. We are currently focusing on descriptive writing. Students learn to effectively use 6+1 writing traits, listed on the chart below, to develop their writing. Using the language of traits gives students the vocabulary for speaking about and working with texts that they create, as well as assessing their writing.
1. Ideas and Content -concerns the focus on the main idea of the writing
2. Organization -emphasizes the logical development of topic from beginning to end
3. Voice -concentrates on a sense of a real person behind the words and a clear understanding of audience
4. Word Choice -encourages varied and rich, powerful and engaging words
5. Sentence Fluency -highlights the smooth flow of the text
6. Conventions -examines mechanical correctness, including spelling, grammar & paragraphing
7. Presentation -supports text and format that is legible and pleasing to the eye
1. Ideas and Content -concerns the focus on the main idea of the writing
2. Organization -emphasizes the logical development of topic from beginning to end
3. Voice -concentrates on a sense of a real person behind the words and a clear understanding of audience
4. Word Choice -encourages varied and rich, powerful and engaging words
5. Sentence Fluency -highlights the smooth flow of the text
6. Conventions -examines mechanical correctness, including spelling, grammar & paragraphing
7. Presentation -supports text and format that is legible and pleasing to the eye