Skills to be learned will include:

• Writing all upper and lower case letters of the alphabet, using the correct letter formation.
• Understanding that print represents spoken language and conveys meaning.
• Knowing that print moves left-to-right across the page and top-to-bottom.
• Understanding that written words are separated by spaces.
• Using pictures and labels to convey meaning.
• Understanding that a sentence expresses a complete thought.
• Learning to write a simple telling sentence, capitalizing the first word and ending with a period.
• Beginning to use phonetic knowledge to correctly spell three letter words.
• Using familiar sounds and patterns to spell.
• Copying correctly basic sight words that have been studied and are displayed in the classroom.
• Learning to capitalize proper names.
  

2nd Nine Week Grading Period

New skills to be learned in writing:

• Capitalizing letters with proper nouns (names of places and things).
• Beginning to edit one’s own writing by using an “Editor’s Checklist”.
• Being able to chose a topic based on personal experiences.
• Beginning to use adjectives.
• Expanding writing to two sentences on the same topic.
• Using an appropriate format for writing a friendly letter.
• Orally reading in front of an audience/learning how to give positive, constructive feedback to others.

3rd Nine Week Grading Period

New writing skills to be learned will include:

• Learning how to use question marks with "asking" sentences.
• Continuing to learn how to edit one's own writing (including capital letters for names and places).
• Creating lists.
• Using a web to plan writing.
• Learning how to "stay focused" on a writing topic.
• Creating graphic organizers to compare/contrast characters, setting, etc.
• Learning the appropriate format to write invitations.
• Learning how to write a thank-you note.

4th Nine Week Grading Period

New writing skills to be learned will include:

• Learning how to use exclamation marks to convey surprise, excitement or emphasis.
• Sustaining interest in a piece of writing for multiple days.
• Varying word choice in sentences.
• Beginning the development of stories that contain a beginning, middle and an end.
• Understanding rhyme through poetry writing.
• Knowing how and when to use a dictionary.
• Using writing paper with margins.
• Publishing a variety of written products.