The Common Core Standards categorizes writing into three areas - Narrative, Informational and Persuasive Writing.  In K/1, we will explore all three types using Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop model.  During our writing workshops, students will have a mini-lesson followed by uninterrupted opportunities to write.  The writing process includes opportunities for students to think about their writing, talk about their writing, and most importantly WRITE!  Mrs. Stone loves teaching writing.  We use an approach called free writing.  In fact, Mrs. Stone’s father-in-law Peter Elbow helped to coin the term “free writing.” 

Our writing units in K/1:  

• Narrative Writing

• Small Moments

• How To Books (Informational)

• Writing Nonfiction and Fiction

• Writing Reviews (Persuasive)

• April is National Poetry Month!

We are grateful to have students arriving into K/1 having already developed a love of reading.  Way to go families!   Students join us with a wide range of reading abilities, making it important that our reading instruction lend itself to differentiation.  Building on students’ early reading successes, K/1 uses Lucy Calkins Reading Workshop and a balanced approach to literacy instruction.  Exploring a variety of genres, students in K/1 build skills as they practice good reading habits and strategies during our workshop.  

Skills that are a focus in K/1:

• Fluency

• Vocabulary

• Phonics and Phonemic Awareness

• Comprehension

Students will rotate through three to four literacy centers in small groups.  This gives teachers and volunteers an opportunity to work more closely with children on specific skills.  

• In the beginning of the year, one of these centers is often play-based

• Spelling

• Phonics and Word Work

• Handwriting

• Reading Buddies

• Grammar, Punctuation, Sentence Structure

• Reader’s Theater (fluency)

• Literacy games

• And more!

Evan-Moor Spelling

Using spelling lists from 1st to 4th grade, students will work at their own pace through a four page practice packet followed by a spelling test.  Words spelled incorrectly will be carried onto the following week’s test as “bonus” words.  Students will bring completed practice packets and tests home in Friday folders.  We aim to complete one packet/test a week, but the 3rd and 4th grade lists are lengthy (!). 

Handwriting and the Handwriting Without Tears Curriculum 

Students will work through Kindergarten or First Grade Handwriting Without Tears workbooks, focusing on correct pencil grip and correct letter formation.  In K/1, there are times when we ask students to use their best handwriting (HW books, spelling tests) and times when handwriting is not a focus.  For instance, during writing workshop, we ask students to make writing legible, but do not want a focus on handwriting to detract from their writing fluency.