IN THE CLASSROOM:Writing helps them learn

When Karen Carios had a dream, she decided to write a story about it so she could practice her writing skills.

The 11-year-old John Muir Elementary School student wrote about a homeless person with superpowers.

“It’s about a magical hobo that comes up to me and asks if I’ve been to a place where everything I wish for comes true,” Karen said.

Her story is one of dozens of student essays that are being written every day in class.

Students practice writing daily to focus on the school-wide emphasis on writing, Principal Amaly Avakian said.

“We feel that if your writing skills improve, you improve on all other subject areas,” sixth-grade teacher Taleen Petrossians said. “They become better note-takers; clearly, through all of our evaluations, we see a gradual improvement individually and as a whole classroom.”

Students are working to improve the focus and organization of their ideas, Petrossians said.

Each day they spend one hour writing, during which time they also receive instruction, she said. Petrossians teaches students how to evaluate and critique their own writing, and that of their peers.

Eleven-year-old Jasmine Sagamoso’s writing folder is full of rough drafts of all the essays and short stories she’s written in class.

“I like to write fairy tales and riddles,” Jasmine said.

Her favorite story is “My Pet Tiger.”

“It’s about my grandma who buys me a pet tiger,” Jasmine said. “It’s taken away from Africa.”

Students use graphic organizers, flow charts and thinking maps to help with their writing.

“Not only are they visual, but they need to go from putting thoughts in their minds on to paper,” Petrossians said.

“They need to brainstorm ideas, visualize and think it through to write a more understandable essay.”

Candice Hernandez, 12, sometimes finds a flow chart helpful as she works to organize her essays and stories. At the top, she writes her introduction. Below, she writes information for the body and concluding paragraphs, she said.

“I like to write about fiction,” Candice said. “I get ideas and I have to see it first before I write about it.”

Students also interview each other for stories and draw their own illustrations. They also make presentations on what they have written.

“I’ve interviewed two people for a book I’m writing,” 11-year-old Artur Hakobyan said.

“When you write something, the teacher corrects it. You do illustrating and you can let others draw, too.”

Since the beginning of the school year, students have worked consistently to improve their writing, Petrossians said. And their improvement shows, she added.

“They have so much to say,” Petrossians said.

“Their final product is much more finely tuned. Their essays are much more engaging and well thought out.”

KIDS TALK BACK

The Glendale News-Press visited John Muir Elementary School and asked students: “What do enjoy writing about?”

“I usually like expository essays. It’s more easy for me and it’s interesting for me.”

EMMA ALEKSANYAN, 11

Glendale

“I like writing about imaginative narratives and poems. I wrote about talking animals.”

MIRNA GADALLA, 11

Glendale

“I like imaginative narratives and fantasy. I wrote about Cinderella with another twist to it. Cinderella and Prince Charming are having a fight.”

MANOUSH KRIKOR, 11

Glendale

“I write about animals and scary stories. I wrote about rattlesnakes and I wrote three different stories. They’re like mysteries.”

HAKOP ARUTYUNYAN, 11

Glendale

“I like murder stories. All my life I like people that fight and get murdered and at the end someone wins. The good people win.”

LORIS KESHISHYAN, 11

Glendale

LUNCH MENU

Glendale Unified School District elementary school lunch menu for March 27 to April 2:

TODAY: Bean-and-cheese burrito, chicken patty on bun, turkey-and-cheese bagel sandwich, chef salad, salad bar, flavored yogurt.

WEDNESDAY: Hamburger on bun, turkey corndog, ham and cheese on French roll, taco salad, salad bar, flavored yogurt, potato puffs.

THURSDAY: Totally taco wedges, chicken nuggets, turkey-and-cheese submarine sandwich, Chinese chicken salad, salad bar, flavored yogurt, birthday chocolate cupcakes.

FRIDAY: Trout fish cakes, French bread pizza, cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, hot grilled-cheese sandwich, tuna salad, salad bar, flavored yogurt.

MONDAY: Grilled-cheese sandwich, chicken nuggets, ham-and-cheese deli sticks, chicken Caesar salad, salad bar, flavored yogurt, opening day baseball cookie.