Writing

The early elementary years focus on teaching a child to be a proficient writer. As a child progresses, the emphasis shifts from writing instruction to ascertaining what a child can write. The articles below help a child become a proficient writer.

Handwriting Basics

Writing Conventions

The Writing Process

Writing By Grade

  • 1st Grade Writing

    In the beginning, the focus is on an idea NOT the writing process. The ability to tell a story (become an author) begins with getting an idea on paper. Encourage your child to draw pictures and write sentences that explain the picture. Children develop writing skills differently; as a result they will achieve these benchmarks…

  • The Writing Process

    Stages of the Writing Process As early as first grade, our school introduces the writing process. By second grade, many curriculums provide the foundation for the five basic steps of writing which are as follows: prewriting, first draft, revising, editing and publishing. Prewriting Prewriting encompasses the initial planning stage. Before writing a child should ask…

  • Writing Checklist

    Every child progresses differently. As a child develops his ability to write, he should also begin to self-monitor his work. Prior to completing a writing assignment, a child should reread her work to find mistakes. Checklist for Writing Help your child proof their work. Use the checklist (ideal for primary grades) below to locate and…

  • List of Contractions

    A contraction shortens words by replacing one or more letters with an apostrophe. Many reading curriculums introduce this concept in second grade. Our reading program expects a second grade student to use an apostrophe to form both contractions and frequently occurring possessives. Contractions The following words are commonly used to form contractions. am are have…

  • Capitalization Rules

    Before completing a writing assignment, children should proof their work to ensure proper use of capital letters. Every child progresses differently. Incorporating capital letters in writing is a gradual progress. However, many reading programs expect students to use correct capitalization by forth grade. When appropriate, review the following capitalization rules with your child. Guidelines Benchmark…

  • Writing Rubric

    Rubrics measure the quality of a student’s work; they are assessment tools that teachers use to grade a student’s performance. Writing rubric uses numbers and a set of criteria or guidelines to evaluate a student’s writing. They are a great tool that communicate the teacher’s expectations to both the student and parents as well as…