Publishing Party Spotlights Young Authors

The morning celebration welcomed all students into the celebratory space with balloons and applause as each author one-by-one read aloud their personal narrative story to their classmates. The writing prompt for the stories asked the students to share what was the best gift they have ever received. Topics included lockets and necklaces, coloring books, a hockey stick, a drum set, blankets and stuffed animals, a dirt bike, a piano, and more. As the young authors were presenting, three fellow classmates were selected to write a few words of feedback. The event ended with a sweet treat of donuts and hot chocolate.

In Language Arts with Ms. DePalma, students have been learning about personal narratives, listening to model texts, practicing their writing skills, and learning how to take a small moment from their own lives and turn it into a well-developed story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. They focused on using sensory details to help readers picture what’s happening, transition words to make the story flow smoothly, and strong openings and conclusions to grab the reader’s attention.

Additionally, students also practiced revising and editing their drafts to strengthen word choice, add dialogue, and ensure their writing is organized and clear. Students edited with their peers, self-checked their narratives, and had teacher conferences leading up to the class event.

“The students have all worked extremely hard over the last six weeks and we wanted to celebrate that work through a Publishing Party where they were able to proudly walk the red carpet and share their stories as "published authors"