(#sol24 Day 7/31)

I had to completely ditch my lesson plan for writing today. BUT it was for an excellent reason!

Let me explain…

We’re in the middle of an opinion writing unit in both first and second grade. All writers are doing a great job of clearly stating their opinion, supporting their statement with examples and details, appealing directly to their future readers, and even beginning to stretch their empathy muscle when they realize that not everyone shares their opinions on things. All great things. So proud of them. They’ve come so far. Yada yada yada.

Well.

Turns out, one of our first graders has been doing some extra opinion writing at home. Imagine my surprise when I saw her tagline in the local paper this morning! She wrote a letter to the editor about her opinion on a proposed change to a local park playground structure.

Since we had our own published author in residence today, we just HAD to celebrate her.

This awesome publishing event turned into an extraordinary conversation about how our opinions and our words matter, how clearly written statements can reach lots of people, and why local newspapers play such an important role in a community.

The other students were instantly inspired, across both grades, and conversations and writing about park and playground structures filled the classroom air all afternoon.

Look out, Aspen Daily News. You may have 33 well organized opinion pieces coming your way soon!

😉