Love Reigns- Use Relationships to Drive Writing

​     Sensitivity to family traditions and celebrations is important. However, you can easily work around it by using the Holiday to discover themes. Valentine's Day is much deeper than just "mushy love and cards". It is about relationships and friendships which go far beyond that one day of the year.
    Any Month is a great month to focus on themes related to relationships using expository or descriptive writing.  Students can write essays on friends, family members, or community members which have influenced them in a positive way. Essays, even in kindergarten, are possible.  These writings can be chalked full of examples and explanations about the person that they care deeply about.
     Begin with a sample, modeling the template, gathering keys details and supporting examples and explanations, creating topic sentences and concluding sentences, and sharing their ideas with an "elbow buddy". 
          Before long, you will discover students writing like crazy about the people, friends, and family whom they adore. Make sure to throw in the opportunity to illustrate or create art to accompany these pieces of writing.
            Sit back. Watch and be amazed!