Writing

**Tips for Supporting Writing at Home **
 * **encourage your child to write EVERYDAY! **
 * **provide a purpose for writing & allow for different kinds of writing...keep it fresh & exciting! **
 * **encourage content over conventions...this is a fine line as we want to encourage proper letter formation & techniques, but we want to avoid frustration (choose 1-2 conventions to work on if child is struggling, but don't make it overwhelming, or work on handwriting/conventions in small increments or at a separate time) **
 * **notice what your child is doing well & set goals for areas that need to be worked on **
 * **make daily connections between reading and writing ("Read like a Writer"...point out what an author is doing to help you as a reader and refer back to the book/author when your child is writing ("I noticed... the descriptive/juice words the author is using to help me get a picture in my head...the talking bubbles/thinking bubbles the author used...that some of the words are in bold...") **
 * **have different types of paper available (lined, unlined, stationary, envelopes, post-its, notecards, journals, diaries, etc) **
 * **provide different styles of writing tools (regular pencils, mechanical pencils, colored pencils, crayons, markers) **
 * **encourage use of pencils for writing & coloring tools for illustrating **
 * **have reference tools available (ABC chart, word wall chart/ heart word lists) **
 * **provide options for storing & displaying writing (special frame for "published/finished" pieces, special cork board, special spot on the fridge, folders, binders, clipboards) **

**Spelling Strategies **
 * **use word wall chart & snap word lists for sight words **
 * **use "Best Guess" spelling for other words (encourage students to clap out syllables of word & include vowels in each syllable)**
 * **encourage child to use knowledge of zoo phonics, short vowel & long vowel combinations, digraphs, blends & endings**
 * **encourage use of books, charts and words written in the environment to spell unknown words**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">**create a word bank before writing for words your child may need to know how to spell in a given topic**

**<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%; line-height: 25px;">Three Main Types of Writing that Support our Common Core Standards: ** **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%; line-height: 25px;">1.Opinion ~ __These should include an opinion__ **<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%; line-height: 25px;">and **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%; line-height: 25px;">__evidence/reason why to support opinion__ **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%; line-height: 25px;">**Reading Response (My favorite part, character). The evidence/reason should come from citing events that happened in the text, not just "it was cool, funny, happy". For example, "My favorite part was when Lisa sewed on Corduroy's button** <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%; line-height: 25px;">because I felt happy that he finally had a friend who loved him. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%; line-height: 25px;">**"**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%; line-height: 25px;">**Personal Opinion (My favorite time, event, holiday, grade, subject, book, author, food, sport, etc) with a valid reason as evidence.**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%; line-height: 25px;">**Book Review**

**<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%; line-height: 25px;">2.Informative/Explanatory ~ Examine a topic, convey ideas & information clearly **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%; line-height: 25px;">How-To (step by step, procedural) **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%; line-height: 25px;">All About/ non-fiction (all about a certain topic, **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">**i.e. snakes, unicorns, kittens, human body)**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">**Scientific observations**

<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%; line-height: 25px; text-align: left;">**3.Narrative ~ Develop real or imagined experiences or events using descriptive details & clear event sequences**
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">Journal/diary writing **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">Personal narratives **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">Friendly notes or letters **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">Social notes (invitations, thank you's, get well) **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">Story & play writing (fantasy, tall tales, realistic stories) **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">Poetry **

**<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Other Practical/Daily Writing: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">grocery lists **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">to-do lists **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">brainstorming ideas **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">reminders **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 20px;">Awesome Sight for Handwriting Practice! **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 18px;">This sight was forwarded to me from our Occupational Therapist. Check it out as it has valuable strategies and activities for all beginning writers! **

http://www.therapystreetforkids.com/Handwriting.html