Small Moment Stories

Yesterday we published our first "small moment" story! The children have worked hard to write and illustrate a story from their lives. I have been teaching lessons around telling your story across several pages, sticking to one specific story and adding details in pictures and words. We are also working on getting our words down. Spelling can be quite a challenge for early writers because they have so much to say, but the task of actually writing it down is tedious.  First graders are learning to say words slowly and write down the sounds they hear, listen for little words inside of bigger words, and use tools such as "word walls" and print around the classroom to help them. When children are stuck on how to spell a word, I tell them to underline it and move on!  We will continue to write small moment stories in October, and students will learn more strategies for adding details and writer's craft to their stories. Continue to ask your child, "Tell me about the story you're writing at school."