| September
2002 Dear Parents: This year your child will be involved in a writing program that is based on years of research and development and has a few special features. I will be keeping your child's original finished compositions here at school in a writing folder rather than sending them home. The compositions are being kept here so that we can review them to see how writing skills are developing and to look for major problem areas. During the year you are welcome--in fact I encourage you--to come to school and review and discuss the compositions. (Because most of your child's essays are typed, a copy can be printed to take home.) Another major feature of this program is called focus correcting. The focus correcting system is based on the belief that student writing improves more quickly when the student works to improve a few writing problems at a time. It will be hard for me not to correct every error on each paper, but this year I will be grading errors on each paper in only one, two or three areas. These areas will be announced in advance so that my students can focus their energy on them. We will keep a record of all the focus correcting areas we cover during the year. When you see FCA at the top of your child's paper, it refers to the focus correcting system. Parents often ask, "How can I help?" Let me make a suggestion. Be a helper and encourager, not a critic. Provide a quiet place to write with good lighting and a dictionary. Talk about the assignment and help your son or daughter get lots of ideas. Look for good things in a composition. And if you are asked to review a composition, read the composition out loud. Ask if it sounds right. You'll be surprised at how many of their own mistakes they will be able to hear--and then correct. At school students are encouraged to read their essay in a "one foot voice". They also are encouraged to read each other's essays and give suggestions. Students usually have three or more days to complete an assignment. The topic will be listed on their assignment sheet. It is an excellent idea for them to work on the draft copy of their composition at home. Final copies will be typed at school. Keyboarding is part of our curriculum. If you have questions about the program, please call or e-mail beldridg@manistee-net.com . I would appreciate having your e-mail address so that I can contact you. Sincerely, Barb Eldridge |