Two classrooms, two grades … two levels of writing being honed. All in a day’s work at Breton Downs Elementary.
Never Too Old for Star Wars
Kindergarten teacher Kristen Borak’s students were immersed in how to write how-to’s when the school reached its 100th day in session. They typically mark the day in some special way, Borak said. So the class brainstormed and came up with the idea to write a how-to on living to 100.
Grant Griffin’s Step 1: Get a wheelchair. Step 3: When kids are in your yard, say “Get off my yard, little rascals.” And Step 5: Get lots of rest.
Hannah Gerkin had a different take. Step 1: Take a bath “because maybe you got dirty.” Step 3: Tell people when you are going to Florida. Step 4: Go to class “because maybe there are things you didn’t learn yet.”
Borak’s kindergartners also created self-portraits of themselves at 100, with cotton-ball hair and crumpled paper-bag faces to simulate wrinkles. Hannah at 100 was sporting stylish blue eyeglass frames. Grant’s were orange, plus he wore a Star Wars shirt.
“They did really, really well” incorporating their how-to writing into the 100-day assignment, Borak said. “It was a happy accident we were at that point in the unit so we could bring them together.”
A Dog Named Kevin
Joanne Anderson sat on the floor of her classroom with a foursome of third-graders who were studying persuasive writing. Everyone in the class had written letters — which many delivered to their intended recipients — to practice the skill.
“Third-grade writers, what are you working on right now in your persuasive writing?” Anderson asked in a quiet tone, reflecting her 34 years of experience bringing out the best in her students’ wordsmithing.
Mikey Wolford, who wrote his dad to advocate for wireless headphones, said he was working on “the power of three,” a writing technique, and on adding detail to his writing.
Lyndon Turnage expanded on that, saying he used the power of three as well in his appeal to Principal Caroline Cannon to have safeties remain at the doors until after the second bell.
“I actually made each of the three their own paragraph,” Lyndon told Anderson. “I stretched it out to more than three words and explained better.”
Reading her students’ assignments, and listening to what they had to say about honing their skills, was music to Anderson’s ears.
“Every child believes in themselves as writers,” she said. “It’s a gift to be able to help them bring that out.”
How successful is Anderson’s persuasive writing assignment? Just ask Principal Cannon, whose daughter, Anna, is a former student.
“We have a dog at our house because of that assignment,” Cannon said.
CONNECT
