| Announcements Summer Reading: Participate in Tournament of the Books – click here We are starting Week 3 of the tournament today – your child can still participate! Click here to get the two books your child should read based on grade levelRead both books this week &vote for their favorite by Saturday, using the voting link! |
| Supporting Your Child’s Growth in Writing and Literacy |
| The Importance of Writing in a Tech & AI-Driven World In today’s fast-paced, tech driven world, writing remains one of the most powerful skills our children can develop. Writing more than just a way to communicate, it is a tool for understanding. With what some may call an information overload, writing helps students slow down, think critically, and organize their thoughts clearly as they sift through the information presented to them. Writing teaches students, no matter how young, to recognize bias, question misinformation, and to build reasonable arguments. While AI can assist with generating written pieces, it does not replace a student’s authentic voice, creativity, or lived experience. Writing allows our youth to reflect, express emotions, and explore their unique perspectives, all of which are essential life skills. When children learn to write well, they’re not just preparing for their academic lives, they are preparing for a lifetime of clear thinking, confident expression, and thoughtful contribution as global citizens of an ever changing world. |
| Literacy: The Impacts of Strong Reading and Writing Skills on the Future When students are in class or perhaps even at home, sometimes writing can feel like a chore. This may be due to many reasons such as not being able to generate ideas, feeling unsure of how to organize their thoughts, or even the sheer act of writing itself feels tedious. Learning how to write and maintaining a strong habit around writing, in all subjects, is essential to a child’s holistic growth. The “why” behind writing is really up to each individual to determine, however, it is important to steer our children in the right direction, no pun intended. Writing is an outlet, is a way to express thoughts, is a way to communicate information, is a way to absorb facts and commit them to memory, and is an essential practice for all people.In an article written in 2021 on Edutopia, a professor from Arizona State University breaks down a clear benefit of writing. |
| Relating Reading and Writing Often educators will say that the better reader someone is, the better writer they will be as well. This is because readers, even from an early stage, can see the layout of a good story or a detailed article from a credible source. From an early age, our children are picking up on organization, imaginative ideas, and are able to generate questions based on what they are reading. This then lends itself to their writing, no matter the genre. |
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| How to Build the Skill: Just Write Over the summer, our families have plans of travel, different programs, and time to build lasting memories. While writing may be more a priority during the school months, the summer is also a great opportunity to build writing habits at home. |
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| Grade (Band) Level Milestones As your writers grow, it is important to know what the standards are nationally. |
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| What Does A Strong Writer Do? Through writing, students learn not just to inform, but to argue ethically, persuade thoughtfully, imagine boldly, and advocate powerfully. With regular practice and thoughtful feedback, they’re laying the groundwork not just for school success, but for becoming the next generation of thinkers, influencers, and change-makers.Writers do not limit themselves to just one genre of writing. Sure, there may be a preference over time, but being exposed to all genres of writing is essential for an individuals growth, especially with critical thinking. As former presidential speechwriter James Humes famously said, “The art of communication is the language of leadership.” |
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| This interview with author, Jacqueline Woodson tells us more about the writing process from a renowned author’s perspective. |
| Writing Activity |
| This month, we are introducing a writing exercise that we encourage your child to complete and then submit! See activity details such as the prompt, and the submission instructions below. |
| Stay Engaged at Home |
| Parent Book Nook |
| Theme: First Books in a Series To align with this month’s theme of first books in a series, our July parent book recommendation is “Children of Blood and Bone” by Toni Adeyemi. This book is a powerful beginning to Tomi Adeyemi’s West African inspired fantasy trilogy. With rich world building, layered characters, and timely themes of courage, justice, and resilience, this book offers a compelling reading experience for adults.By reading alongside your child, even if it’s a different book but of a similar theme, there is an opportunity for meaningful conversations about characters, choices, and the worlds that are experienced through books. |
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| Student Book Nook |
| Theme of the Month: First Book in a Series This month, our book nooks suggests the first books in a series. This is the perfect way to hook young readers and spark a deeper love of reading. The first book invites readers into new worlds, introduces compelling characters, and lays the groundwork for rich storytelling. It is an opportunity to build skills in character analysis and understanding how authors create immersive settings and plots. |
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