Letter Writing

By: Lily Reyes Rentería

We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.

Ray Bradbury

What & Where I teach

San Antonio ISD

Sarah King Elementary Taught in a 2/3 Bilingual

classroom Will be teaching a 4th grade

bilingual classroom 2006-2007

                      

   

1001 Ceralvo St.

San Antonio, TX. 78207

My teaching experience

I learned that not always can you complete the lesson in 1 day, especially in a split level classroom.

Having a great support system is vital to any teacher, especially an inexperienced one.

Developing a connection with students, parents, co-workers will make or break your year.

I’ve completed my first year teaching – IT WAS GREAT!

The Students of Sarah King Elementary Our school is a Title I school which is funded to meet the

needs of the low socioeconomic students that attend our campus.

My school is located in the west-side of San Antonio surrounded by single family homes but primarily, public housing.

My students native language is Spanish and many do come from Mexico. Some of the children are U.S citizens with illegal immigrant parents.

The parents of these children value the educational system and support me as the teacher to assist their children in achieving success.

My classroom is…

Family based, we are a community that works together to cheer each other on with our accomplishments and

support each other during our difficulties. We will not laugh at another but laugh with them. Together we will learn from each other, support and care for one another.

My Students

My philosophy of teaching writingI believe it is absolutely necessary that children learn to write, not just how to spell, use punctuation and grammar. It is about time that children are able to lead their assignments with connections, put onto paper their true feelings, and express their thoughts, ideas and views. I’m concerned that TAKS has become the focal point of teaching that we’re losing the voices of children in order to achieve the scores to please the masses. We as teachers must be able to come together and make sure that the voices of our children are heard. That children write with meaning and know that there is purpose for their writing.

My strategies to teaching writing: Introduce the writing with a book. Model for the students. Introduce various resources that the students can

use. Make the assignment relevant to the student, give

it meaning, purpose for writing. Attempt to promote creativity. Make the real-life, school connection. There’s a

true reason why we are learning this.

Strategies and Research

Louis Moll – “Funds of Knowledge” Includes: familiar histories, family

networks, educational history, language use and child-rearing ideologies

Children’s previous experiences and comfort with languages affect ability to comprehend text.

Strategies and ResearchLev Vygotsky

Social processes and cultural resources are used to construct knowledge.

Tasks students cannot yet perform independently can be performed with help and guidance – scaffolding.

Vygotsky’s theory encourages to share with growing children ways that we as adults, think about and interpret the events around us.

Why letter writing?

Personal Communication

Dear Mrs. Renteria,I know that you are sick. It’s been four days without you. To tell you the truth we all miss you. And we are behaving well. And I got A Honor Roll and Student of the Month and Perfect Attendance. I know that you feel bad that’s why we are making a surprise for you.

Dear Renteria,I’m very sorry that someone in your family has died. Hopefully you’ll come back soon because I miss you very much. Hopefully you are good.

Your student Barbara

Personal Communication

Voice Through Role PlayingMy Dear Brother Honoré,

Here on the boat there are many people dying because it is very cold. It’s been very ugly on this boat. Because everyone is on top of one another. I’m waiting until I can see you again. Here life is very different because there are people that are different from us. I was scared when we began the journey. I’m awaiting for the day that we will see one another again and be together always. I miss you very much brother.

To Inform

Dear Mrs. Reynolds,

I’d like to tell you that the class that’s in front of ours there is a girl that cries a lot. This girl when she cries bothers us a lot. When we are taking a test we cannot concentrate on the questions. We’ll get bad grades if we cannot concentrate.

The Lesson Begins http://readwritethink.org/materials/letter_g

enerator

June 19, 2006HEADING

Dear Class, GREETING

Today we are learning about writing letters. I hope that everyone enjoys the lesson. We will be practicing how to write a letter and you will write a letter of your own real soon. Please pay close attention so that no one misses any steps and so that everyone will be successful. Have fun and learn plenty.

BODY

Yours truly,Mrs. L. Rentería

CLOSING

Sample of a Personal Letter

HEADNGGREETING

BODY

CLOSING

Sample Business Letter

Friendly letters have five parts:  

1.  The Heading:  The heading can include your address and the date.  In casual, friendly letters your address is not necessary.

2.  The Salutation (greeting): This usually begins with Dear_________.  The blank is for the name of the person you are writing.  After you write the person's name you put a comma ( , ) .

3.  The Body: The body of the letter is the information you are writing in your letter.

4.  The Closing:  In the closing the first word is capitalized and you put a comma after the last word.  

Some examples of closings are: Sincerely, Your Friend,Love,Very truly yours, 

5.  Your Signature:  This is your name. It goes under the closing.

     Writing Friendly Letters       ©abcteach    

Letter Writing Begins….

Author’s Chair Those student’s who choose to share their

writing may do so at this time.

Internet Resources for your use:•http://readwritethink.org/materials/letter_generator/•http://www.thinkalphabits.com/images/teach_guide99.pdf•http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/student_material.asp?id=5•http://jc-schools.net/write/letter-write.htm•http://www.abcteach.com/Writing/FLinfo.htm•http://www.abcteach.com/Writing/friendlyletter2.htm•http://www.abcteach.com/Writing/envelope.htm•http://members.enchantedlearning.com/language/english/label/businessletterblockstyle/index.shtml?p•http://members.enchantedlearning.com/language/english/label/envelope/•http://members.enchantedlearning.com/language/spanish/label/envelope/index.shtml?p

English Titles

Spanish Titles

Works CitedABCTeach. June 14, 2006.http://www.abcteach.com/Writing/FLinfo.htm

Garrett, Ed.D, Sherrye Dee (2005). All together Now; Living and learning in a Multicultural Society. (pgs. 4-5).

Ormrod, Jeanne Ellis. (2000). Educational Psychology: Developing Learners Third Ed. New Jersey: Merrill/Prentice Hall

The Quotations Page. June 14, 2006.http://www.quotationspage.com

Writing Quotes – Famous quotes, famous sayings. June 14, 2006.http://quotations.home.worldnet.att.net/writing.html

Student work courtesy of 2nd and 3rd grade bilingual students from Mrs. Lily Rentería’s 2005-2006 classroom.

Please write again soon. Though my own life is filled with activity,

letters encourage momentary escape into others lives and I come

back to my own with greater contentment.

Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey ‘A woman of Independent Means’