Write to Read!
The first graders in Mrs. Aten's class have been working on their writing skills. According to Fountas & Pinnell (1996) writing and reading are “interrelated: what is learned in one area makes it easier to learn in the other.” Children learn how written language works by manipulating sounds and symbols through writing. The students in first grade have been working on “sticker stories.” A child chooses a sticker, puts it in his or her journal, and proceeds to write simple sentences about the sticker. Sometimes the children even write a make-believe story about the character from the sticker. This writing activity really seems to help the “I-don't-know-what-to-write-about!” syndrome sometimes encountered in first grade. The students always enjoy sharing their stories when they are finished!
