Middlebury Elementary School

The writing process is integrated into all areas of the curriculum beginning in Kindergarten. Students learn to write narrative pieces (stories), and expository pieces (reports, research, etc.) as they move through the grade levels. The 6 Traits Writing program serves as a common language for our writing instruction: Ideas, Word Choice, Voice, Organization, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions. Spelling, handwriting, and language mechnaics are instructed at each grade level with a focus on integrating these skills into the writing process.

Stuents begin to develop a writing portfolio in grade one and this portfolio becomes more detailed and complex as the grades progress. Children in the upper grades keep a working folder of writing from which they choose their best pieces to be included in their portfolio. Each year, with the guidance and support of teachers, students write a critique of their writing and establish goals for the next year. Portfolios are shared with parents in the spring of each year.