Read, Write, Repeat

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"

It Came in the Mail by Ben Clanton, Ten Thank you Letters by Daniel Kirk, and Letters from Rifka by Karen Hess, what do all of these books have in common? Whether wishing for mailbox deliveries, thanking people, or communicating with family members, each of these books offer models of letter writing for differing purposes.

In our past blogs we have stressed the importance of reading and how as a community we can guide the students’ learning. In this digital age it is most important that we promote, support and model purposeful writing for our children. The interconnections between these two skills is critical.

How are reading and writing connected? Readers are writers and writers are readers. As readers, we “notice” what writers do. As writers, we emulate what we good writers do. When we make an explicit connection between reading and writing, writing improves. Of course, practicing writing is also vital to growth. In his latest book, Writers are Readers, Lester Laminack (http://www.lesterlaminack.com/index.htm) connects the reciprocity between reading and writing. The main idea in this book is about "flipsides." Through this idea he shows how students can use their learning from reading and “flip” it to use those experiences in their writing.

At Glacier Ridge, the Wee Deliver program, sponsored by our PTA and run by our students, offers our school community the opportunity to write letters for a variety of purposes. Our trained student Wee Deliver crew does an outstanding job delivering the mail received. Parents and grandparents, you can join in on the fun too! On the Glacier Ridge website under activities, Wee Deliver is listed: the link for our school address book is posted too. Anyone can write to an individual in the school: Mr. Chicho, our awesome custodian, enjoys letters too! Simply send your addressed letters to the school office and the Wee Deliver Postal service will make sure it is delivered.

Parents, you can support this writing at home as well. Check out the books listed above or Google lists of books that model great letter writing. Reading these books at home can spark the interest to write here at school or even at home! So, the next time you share a read aloud together leave time to “flip” and launch into a writing activity about what you just read. You may be quite surprised what your child can create! When we provide the opportunities for authentic purposes for writing and support it with exemplary pieces of writing, our children strengthen all their literacy skills.

Happy writing!