A new school year brings the gift of a fresh start and a chance to build strong foundations for reading and writing instruction.  The first weeks of school are the perfect time to set clear routines, foster a love of language, and create a classroom culture where every child sees themselves as a reader and writer.

Strong literacy instruction starts small with joyful read-alouds, meaningful discussions, accessible classroom libraries, and daily opportunities to write. These early moments build confidence, curiosity, and growth.

This year the ELAOK Elementary newsletter will focus on deepening writing instruction and developing young authors. A key focus this year will be Joan Sedita’s Writing Rope, a powerful framework for writing instruction that we will explore and apply throughout the year.

Each month, a different strand of the Writing Rope will be explored to show how every component supports strong, purposeful writing. With practical classroom applications, resources, and ideas, this work will build a toolkit to support the growth of confident, capable writers.

Here’s to a year of learning and growing together as we strengthen writing instruction, one strand at a time.

Christie Barris

• "Our Classroom" Descriptive Writing
  • Take students on a "detective tour" of the classroom.
  • Give them clipboards to jot down observations.
  • Point out special areas: library corner, art supplies, class pet, etc.
  • Students write a descriptive paragraph about the classroom.
  • Encourage sensory details: "The reading corner has soft pillows and smells like books."
  • Create a class book with all descriptions.
• "Me in a Bag" Writing
  • Give each student a brown paper bag.
  • Students bring 3-5 small items in the bag that represent who they are.
  • Students write a short paragraph explaining why each item is important to them.
  • Share paragraphs aloud to build the classroom community. 
• "A Letter to My Teacher"
  • Students write a letter introducing themselves, their hobbies, what they are excited or nervous about, and what helps them learn best. 
  • This activity works as a quick writing assessment and relationship builder.
  • Students draw a picture of themselves and write a short bio.
  • Share a list of items they should include in their bio.
  • Display them with the title, "Meet Our Writers!"
  • Save for the end of the year. Repeat the activity in May and compare with the beginning of the year bio.

• "If I Were the Teacher" creative writing
  • Ask students to imagine they're the teacher for one day.
  • Provide prompts: What rules would you make? What would you teach? How would you make learning fun?
  • Students write a paragraph (3-5 sentences for younger, 5-8 for older).
  • Extension: Have them draw themselves as the teacher.
  • Share and discuss the creative ideas.
• "How to be a Good Friend" Recipe
  • Discuss what ingredients make a good friend.
  • Model recipe format: "Ingredients: 2 cups of kindness, 1 tablespoon of sharing..."
  • Include directions: "Mix kindness with sharing. Add a pinch of forgiveness..."
  • Students create their own friendship recipes.
  • Illustrate their recipes.
  • Compile into a class cookbook of friendship.

Imagine Reading Bundle

The Imagine Reading Bundle offers free site licenses to qualifying districts (limited to 100 licenses) for students in kindergarten, first, second, and third grades and students who are not reading at grade level in grades 4-6. Additional licenses needed for 7-12 grade are available for purchase at a discount. Unlimited professional learning is available at NO COST to qualifying districts.

Imagine Language & Literacy supports Oklahoma’s Academic Standards for English Language Arts through personalized instruction that accelerates reading and language proficiency. Imagine Language & Literacy is a supplemental, adaptive online curriculum that provides targeted instruction in all four domains of literacy — reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Its flexibility makes it suited for any instructional setting, from whole-class to small-group to one-on-one.

Seuss Corner is a dynamic digital library featuring 30+ beloved Dr. Seuss eBooks and exclusive printable resources designed to make literacy learning fun and effective. Perfect for classrooms or at-home reading, it supports foundational skills, vocabulary growth, and comprehension through engaging stories and themed activities. With curriculum-aligned content, differentiated learning tools, and mobile-friendly access, Seuss Corner helps students of all levels explore reading across subjects—from science and math to character develoment.

School/District Application: APPLY HERE to bring the Imagine Reading Bundle to your students.

The Inspire OK conference was a big success! Educators from across the state gathered for a day of enriching learning experiences. The Oklahoma State Department of Education presented on a variety of topics.  

Below, you will find links to the Elementary ELA sessions presented at the conference. 

• The Power of a Sentence: Building Skilled Writers
• Spelling Matters: Connecting Spelling and Reading
• Writing Development in Early Childhood 

Visit the Professional Learning Vault on the ELA Frameworks webpage for more professional learning resources. 

Need professional development for your school or district?  Fill out this form to request training from our team.