We want ALL students to write well.

We want them to think creatively and to value their ideas.

We want students to engage in the process of writing ideas because writing is a gift.

Blackbird & Company curriculum provides the scaffolding that will support students as they learn to write. Punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure, grammar, and spelling, YES! But students will also explore the various types of writing such as narrative and comparative and persuasive and observational—the genres of writing—as they read and write. They will engage in the process of writing. They will learn to conference and self-edit. Blackbird & Company students will learn to introduce their ideas with a terrific HOOK instead of a topic sentence. And, ultimately, they will discover that when they write well, their unique voice shines.

Writing is NOT Calculus.

Writing is an art form achieved via a series of steps:

1) It all begins with an IDEA. Without an idea, the writer will simply stare at the blank page.

2) Once there is an idea in the mind of the writer, the PENCIL steps in to translate thoughts to words on the page.

3) When the pencil’s work is complete, the job of the writer is to become a READER. Encourage your students to RE-READ everything they write.

4) Empower students to use the RED PEN as they re-read to REVISE. Teach them to use strong words, to fearlessly re-arrange, to make corrections, and to not be afraid to strike through.

When Students Write

We want ALL students to write well.

We want them to think creatively and to value their ideas.

We want students to engage in the process of writing ideas because writing is a gift.

Writing is NOT Calculus.

Writing is an art form achieved via a series of steps:

Every student has a story to tell!

Children have enormous creative potential.

When students write, they are igniting potential.

When students write well, their IDEAS take flight!