Teacher: Sharon Huff-Lenhardt
Grades 4 to 8

This is a hands-on writing unit which will reach 4th-8th grade students at their own level. Students are encouraged to participate through whole and small group discussions, compose original writing pieces; reflect, critique and analyze elements of writing, and enhance their compositions using technology and/or various "top quality" techniques.

Jan 19th: Poetry Through the Arts
In this fast-paced unit, students will learn to generate ideas from multiple sources using sensory details and descriptive techniques. They will discover the creative "sounds of colors" and analyze some of the world's greatest artwork to inspire the composition of the hidden poetry behind each masterpiece.

Feb 9th: Storytelling
A guest speaker will reveal the art of storytelling. Students will become enthralled in the engaging stories as they listen to, examine, and participate in the elements of good storytelling.

March 8th: Fabulous Florida Fables and Tall Tales
Students will have fun reading some of Florida's finest fables and tall tales as they examine the exaggerated details of these comical styles of writing and work to create their own original explanations of Florida's unique traits.

April 19th: The Fine Art of Narrative and Expository Writing (Part I or II)
Students will apply the tricks of writing mini-stories, metaphors, similes, dazzling details, enhanced vocabulary and dialogue for a variety of audiences to original narrative writing pieces (stories). The skill of mastering the distribution of informational details while keeping the writing interesting and the reader engaged will also be examined through the art of expository (informational) writing.

May 17th: Writer's Celebration (Part II or II)
Students will complete the second part of a two part unit, however, all students are welcomed to share in the celebration of writing. Our favorite books and/or authors will be shared and discussed while higher level questions will be reflected upon as students analyze the various authors' writing styles. Final writing pieces, selected by each student will also be proudly shared as we celebrate our "top quality" work and enjoyment of writing.

Sharon Huff-Lenhardt graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Political Science. While working in the legal field she returned to U.C.F. where she earned a Master's Degree in Elementary Education in 1998. For the past ten years she has worked with Dommerich Elementary School teaching, 4th grade , 5th grade, and the Accelerated Academic Individualized Module (AAIM) serving highly and profoundly gifted students. Ms. Huff-Lenhardt earned the Sallie Mae Award Beginning Teacher of the Year Award at Dommerich Elementary in 1998. While serving as Chairperson on the Grant Committee at Dommerich Elementary School, she received numerous Darden and Superintendent Grants and was a first year recipient of the Holmes Grant