Labels and Captions

Our writing over the past two weeks has focused on labels and captions.  Last week we discussed how we can label our pictures to give our readers more information.  We practiced this skill by traveling around the room in groups and labeling different parts of pictures.  

This week we have taken our writing a step further by creating captions.  We learned that in addition to labeling our pictures, we can also write a caption to provide more details that answer the questions: Who? and What?  Yesterday we went on an adventure around the building and took pictures with our iPads and then provided a caption for each picture.  Then we created our own pictures on our whiteboards and wrote captions.  Some of us even included labels as well!

"I am spray painting my pumpkin"

"My baby brother"

"Riding a roller coaster"

Encourage your child to write at home!  Give your 1st grader a notepad to help you write a list for the grocery store.  Have him or her write a note to a relative and send it in the mail.  (And encourage your relatives to send a letter in return!)  Create a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt by enlisting the help of your 1st grader to write clues to post around the house for a sibling or family member to solve.  Keep a journal or diary where you and your child draw pictures and write about your favorite memories.  

Most importantly, PRAISE your child for any and all writing.  This is the best time to boost our children's writing confidence and stamina as we move toward more conventional writing throughout the year.