Writing a long-term project at Naples
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April 19, 2013 |
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Naples Elementary fourth graders show
off their "Flat Stanleys." |
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By Kathy Hampton
The famous writer, Willa Cather said, “Most of
the basic material a writer works with is
acquired before the age of fifteen.” At Naples
school, the teachers believe this quote to be
true and they strive to create purpose with
their writing assignments while encouraging
students to be creative, descriptive, and
precise.
Writing starts in kindergarten and excels
throughout all the grades.
In kindergarten, the students create personal
books entitled “A Year in Writing."
Monthly, the students write about their learning
activities and special events. At the beginning
of the year, writing their name and a simple
sentence is an accomplishment.
With daily writing practice in journals and
class books, these kindergarteners’ writing
continues to improve. This month of April, Mrs.
Macdonald said, “My students are writing two to
three sentences with confidence.”
They will take their books home at the end of
the school year.
In first grade, the writing continues with
enthusiasm.
First graders start the school year with journal
pages containing four lines and they increase to
pages containing 12 lines. They write about
things that are important to them and what they
are learning in school.
Four to six times a year, the students select
one of their journal stories to publish into a
book. Mrs. Lemley helps with editing and
revising skills. Then the stories are ready to
type on the computer.
Students create book covers and illustrations
for their books. They plan a special day for an
Author’s Tea where they have an opportunity to
share their books with friends and family.
In second grade, these new writers are ready to
expand their horizons with multiple genres of
writing.
They learn to write interviews, letters,
posters, stories, reports, book reviews, science
diagrams, journals, and poetry. Mrs. Hampton
said, “Second graders are becoming proficient
writers while expanding their confidence and
enjoyment of writing.”
In third grade, students use the writing process
(brainstorm, write, edit, revise, and publish),
writing traits, and language skills throughout
the curriculum. Students continue to focus on
using these skills while developing creative
stories, poems, research projects, and letters.
They can then capture an original perspective in
their writing.
Mrs. Doolin commented, “Students form ideas with
an understanding that writing makes sense. As we
know, writing leads to active learning.”
Fourth grade continues to develop writing skills
while adding challenging and motivating topics.
These students participate in the Flat Stanley
Project that started in 1995. It is meant to
facilitate letter-writing.
The students begin by reading the book “Flat
Stanley." They create paper Flat Stanleys, and
they mail him along with a letter to a friend or
family member who is asked to treat Stanley as a
visiting guest and to write about his
adventures.
Flat Stanley usually returns with photos from
his visit. Students plot Flat Stanley’s travels
on a map and then share the contents of the
returned letters with the class.
Over the years Mr. Alverez’s Flat Stanleys have
traveled from Sandpoint to Saudi Arabia, and
have visited three Presidents.
In Miss Omodt’s fifth grade, students continue
to write in their daily journals. They publish
their works in either cursive or type on the
computer.
Their biggest yearly project is the U.S. State
reports where each student does research on
their chosen state’s history, landmarks, and
climate. They also create a map and flag.
The project concludes with students giving oral
presentations. Fifth graders also write
biographies about famous black Americans during
Black History Month.
Recently, they researched the tragic sinking of
the Titanic. Students picked a passenger from
the Titanic and wrote a letter as if they were
the passenger describing his or her experience
on the Titanic.
In closing, we would like to share this
wonderful poem written by Marcus from Mrs.
Hampton’s second grade class:
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The River
In the sunny morning,
I hear birds whistle
By the river.
I see flowers blooming
By the river.
I see fish swimming
By the river.
I see frogs
By the river.
Birds glide through the air
By the river.
Just wait and see
By the river.
By Marcus |
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