(January
2008, Riverhead, NY) Reading/Writing
Workshop is being implemented throughout the District. Elementary teachers
attended summer workshops and have been participating in collegial circles,
workshops (see below), on site visits and training events.
Classes study writing units: small moment narratives, realistic fiction
and letter writing units. A “Book of the Month,” favorite
authors, author visits (see right), unique formats and “Writing
Celebrations” at the end of each unit help inspire student writing.
According
to Aquebogue Literacy Coach Katy Pettit, “Each month the unit
of study is different depending on the grade level. At the end of each
unit of study a class has a celebration. A class may choose to have
parents in to celebrate their growth or they may have a less formal
celebration and invite another class in to hear their stories. Sometimes
the celebration can just be a museum walk where the class walks around
and reads one another’s pieces and writes comments on post-its.”
The second graders at the Roanoke Avenue School recently completed a
unit on realistic fiction 
writing.
During her class’ Writing Celebration (right), Mrs. Stacy
Tuohy shared, “Ezra Jack Keats and Brian
Heinz (above) were our mentor authors. When Brian Heinz
visited Roanoke, he taught us to begin a story by telling the reader
what the character is doing. This introduces the setting to the reader.
As we read Ezra Jack Keats‘ books, we noticed the strategies that
he used. He used hyphens and ellipses to slow the reader down. He used
all capital letters in a word to make it important. He used onomatopoeia
to add sound effects. The children follow the writing process by brainstorming,
using webs, drafting, revising and editing. They finally publish for
a purpose. That purpose is to share their writing with an audience.
They are so proud of their accomplishments when they can read aloud
their stories for parents, friends and school staff.”
Mr. James Richardson at Roanoke Avenue and Mr. Charles Giannone at Phillips
Avenue have 
instituted
a writing/news show entitled “Weekly Rewind” (right)
in their fourth grade classes. Each teacher presents a Powerpoint presentation
in the computer lab about current media events and topics. Students
take turns speaking about “What’s on My Mind”
and other questions pertinent to 4th graders. The students prepare written
news and speak publicly (clearly, loudly and with good posture). Parents
and staff are invited to act as an audience. The students occasionally
interview an adult guest by asking a few human interest questions (top).
(They’re currently trying to book the Superintendent of Schools,
Dr. Diane B. Scricca.) The student moderators are different for every
show. Both teachers place an emphasis on teamwork and respect in this
creative and innovative writing experience.
At
the Pulaski Street School, Tanya Dougherty (left), who writes
the “Flanders” column for the News Review, visited
her daughter’s classroom to talk about writing. “Being a
good reader is one way to become a better writer,” she told the
students in Mrs. Devlin’s class. “I read constantly.”
Read with your child and celebrate what they write!
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