Our ability to communicate through the written word is both an art and a science.

English is a very complex language. Young children must learn a vast amount of information to become fluent in speaking, reading and writing. From phonics to blends to digraphs, children learn the foundational blocks with which to construct their language. Sounds evolve into words which compile into sentences. Stories become longer and start to involve characters, settings and plots. Then we start to see there are different types of writing with different purposes: persuasive, critical and expository. A student starts to develop their own style of writing and begins to understand the need for citations and sources to support a thesis as they move through the upper grade levels. The art of writing and rewriting can continue to be refined over one’s lifetime and the process can be very rewarding. Writing exercises for my young students can be as simple as spelling tests and flash card sentences, or as advanced as creating a full paged story with an introduction, body and conclusion. Older students may practice writing in prose and poetry or organizing debate and mock trial dissertations.

Reading is more than just speaking or thinking the words on a page. Students must understand the tone, the theme or even the author’s purpose for the story to have a full meaning. I teach my elementary students how to identify the simple elements in a story and the more advanced mechanics such as metaphors or allusions. Through short reading exercises and games, students can become well versed in identifying and applying literary terms. My high school students will often read the classics such as Animal Farm, 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Pride and Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird and more. Together we will discussed overlying themes such as racism, propaganda, or feminism as we analyze the author’s intent and the unwritten script. If time allows, we will make our own projects to coordinate with school readings, such as a poetry engraving or a newspaper article printed on vintage paper.