2024 - A Year of AWE - Authentic Writing Experiences

 

The 2024 theme for both my blog and newsletter is AWE - Authentic Writing Experiences. That is one of the reasons I ended 2023 with a writing contest based on "A Long Winter's Nap."  See the poem and details below, but first I'd like to talk about using Thank You Notes as an opportunity for an authentic Writing Experience.

First, brainstorm a list of words students could use to express gratitude - grateful, thanks, appreciate, acknowledge, indebted. Then discuss the different types of things we can be grateful for. At this time of year, it is easy to name tangible things like gifts and presents, but people also give us laughter, music, food, and company.  If we have been visiting relatives we could also thank them for their hospitality, generosity, and kindness. We might thank others for words of encouragement, favors, or support. 

After brainstorming a list of words, encourage students to follow the same format they would use to create a paragraph for a school writing project. I created a visual for my Hank the Tank Activity Book that I call High Five Writing which can be seen below.  It can be used for everything from writing paragraphs to constructing Thank You Notes. 

Step 1: Write a 1-2 sentence INTRODUCTION.

Step 2: Describe three or more supporting DETAILS in three or more separate sentences.

Step 3: Write a CONCLUSION.

When I started my private therapy practice, parents often asked me to help their kids write Thank You Notes. When students are left to their devices, they often have difficulty constructing written notes for the same reason they struggle with other types of writing. Their writing tends to be redundant and they repeat the same ideas using the same words. They benefit from having a structure, brainstorming word lists and ideas, and receiving help to differentiate a conclusion from the main idea and the details.

Following the general format above, I modified the High Five Writing strategy to expand the ideas as described below.

Step 1: Write a 1-2 sentence INTRODUCTION or SALUTATION

Express gratitude in a general way about a specific thing or event.

Examples: Dear Grandma: Hello! Thanks so much for inviting us to stay at your house during winter break... Dear Aunt Sally: I hope you had a happy New Year. I appreciate the thoughtful gift you sent me. The poodle sweater with the little dogs on front will be very useful for staying warm this winter.

Step 2: Describe three or more supporting DETAILS in three or more separate sentences.

Describe three different things or give three different details about one thing. Remind students that they don't have to like the gift to be able to express gratitude and find something good to say about it.

Example: It was fun playing Monopoly with the whole family. Decorating cookies is always exciting. I especially liked your new reindeer cookie cutters. My favorite part of our stay was sledding down the hill behind your house. 

Example: The little dog on the front of the sweater is so cute. The color will match my new blue jeans. Most importantly, it is thick enough to wear without a coat on days that aren't too cold.

Step 3: Write a CONCLUSION or COMPLEMENTARY CLOSE (Valediction)

End with a general statement that is different from the introduction.

Examples: I can't wait until we get to see you again... It's always fun to spend time together...You are always so thoughtful...

Thanks again, Name.

Additional Thoughts

Be sure to show students an example of a completed letter so they have a visual of the layout and spacing. For older students, you may want to use terms like Salutation and Valediction and explore the common roots behind these words found in terms like salute, salutatorian, valedictorian, diction, etc.

Now, about that winter poem and writing contest going on until January 31, visit my December 2 post to find out more - A Long Winter's Nap - Illustration and Caption Writing Contest.

Finally, sign up for my newsletter HERE and receive a free copy of my first decodable book, No Gift for Man. That way you won't miss any of the fun-filled activities I'm creating for A Year of AWE: Authentic Writing Experiences.