| WRITING/PENMANSHIP |
 |
|
Six traits of Writing is a method used throughout Copper Creek and introduced in first grade. Children are taught specific traits such as voice, organization, ideas, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions. In addition to this approach children are also taught through Interactive Writing, individual journal writing, and Shared Writing. The writing program is explained again on the reading link on this website. It is one of the Four Blocks.
The children will be publishing class books, as well as individual books. Children are encouraged to write letters, make lists, jot down notes; anything to engage them in writing. Students will be writing for the class blog about acts of kindness in our classroom or at school. They will also write about the daily activities in our classroom. I will be posting this writing on the class blog. There will be a traveling journal in addition to a book that goes home with Little Bear (a stuffed animal). There is a letter explaining what the child is expected to do when Little Bear goes home with him/her. Please make sure that your child returns it and the entire contents of the bag on the appropriate day. There will be other traveling journals later on in the year. Every journal has a letter of explanation and a book that goes with it.
Whole group direct instruction is given in penmanship if the majority of the class needs instruction during the Writing Block. Direct instruction will be given to any child who needs it if it is not taught to the whole class. Kindergarten and First grade use the Manuscript Method. Neatness and correct formation are stressed. First Graders are not ready to write in cursive. Please do not encourage or try to teach your child cursive. |
How to Hold a Pencil Correctly |
| The pencil should be positioned so that there is equal pressure between the thumb, the side of the middle finger and the tip of the index finger. All fingers are bent slightly. this is called a "tripod grip" or "tripod pencil grasp". For more detailed information on this subject and a picture of the grip go to: http://www.drawyourworld.com/grip.html. |
