A walk by Mrs. Johnson’s 2nd-grade classroom at Forest Heights Elementary reveals a lot of hard work pinned to the walls! Her students recently took on the challenge of researching musical instruments from around the globe, and their independent writing samples show just how much they’ve grown.
These young writers went far beyond the basics. Their reports explored the 40,000-year history of the Didgeridoo, the "earth sound" of the Rebab, and the technical steps of playing the Piccolo. From breaking down the 1,200 parts of a Grand Piano to discovering how the Chimta was used to boost morale during WWI, these students proved that with a little curiosity and a pencil, you can explore the whole world.
It is inspiring to see 2nd graders tackle such interesting topics—like the mechanics of the Marimba, the pop-culture connections of the Clarinet, and the rhythmic heartbeat of the Bass Guitar—all while practicing their "how-to" and informational writing skills.
We have to admit, we learned quite a bit of new information ourselves just by reading these articles! We invite our entire community to take a few minutes to read through these samples. You might be surprised by what these diligent, hardworking 2nd graders can teach you.
Once you've had a look, please join us in saying: GREAT JOB, STUDENTS!
Mrs. Johnson’s students are a wonderful example of the writing journey happening in classrooms across our district. At Harrison Schools, we believe that learning to write well is a skill that grows with practice, patience, and plenty of encouragement.
