MSD of Steuben County hosts writing support webinar featuring local educators

The MSD Steuben County school district held an informative meeting on April 25, 2025, focusing on the "Raising Strong Readers and Supporting Writing" initiative. This event aimed to equip parents with strategies to enhance their children's writing skills at home, a crucial component of literacy development.

Jonathan Winslow, the Director of Elementary Education, opened the meeting by emphasizing the interconnectedness of reading and writing. He explained that strong writing skills are built upon foundational skills such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation, which are essential for effective communication. Winslow highlighted the importance of students being able to express their thoughts clearly, stating, "Writing is a form of thinking on paper," which allows children to explore ideas and deepen their understanding of what they read.

Kiana Bierwalter, a first-grade teacher, followed Winslow's presentation with practical tips for parents. She encouraged turning writing practice into engaging games to motivate children. For instance, she suggested activities like "Caption This," where kids create funny captions for silly family photos, and "Sentence Scramble," where they rearrange words to form coherent sentences. These interactive methods not only make writing fun but also reinforce critical thinking and composition skills.

The meeting also introduced the concept of the "writing rope," which parallels the reading rope, illustrating how various components of writing, such as syntax and text structure, work together to develop proficient writers. Bierwalter stressed the importance of creating a supportive environment for writing at home, including providing a comfortable space and various writing tools to inspire creativity.

As the evening concluded, parents were encouraged to participate in a drawing for gift cards, fostering community engagement and rewarding attendance. The district plans to continue these discussions in future webinars, focusing more on writing skills to further support students' literacy journeys.

This initiative reflects MSD Steuben County's commitment to enhancing literacy education and empowering families to play an active role in their children's learning, ultimately aiming for stronger academic outcomes in the community.