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Simmons Elementary presents K–V writing approach and student examples to school board
Summary
Simmons Elementary principal Karen Kantor and assistant principal Dr. Daniel Beck showcased grade-level writing instruction, starting with phonics and orthographic mapping in kindergarten and moving to authentic audiences by fifth grade.
Karen Kantor, principal of Simmons Elementary School, and Dr. Daniel Beck, assistant principal, presented the school’s K–V writing approach at the Hatboro-Horsham School District board meeting on Feb. 23, describing how instruction builds from foundational phonics to multi-paragraph and audience-focused writing.
Kantor told the board that teachers use shared experiences to build background knowledge and subject vocabulary, and that sharing writing with authentic audiences—peers, families or local businesses—heightens student engagement. "There are many purposes for writing including writing to convey information, to express opinions, or to communicate with others," she said.
Dr. Beck walked through grade-level expectations: kindergarten work focuses on connecting sounds to letters and orthographic mapping; second grade uses shared-class experiences and graphic organizers to develop multi-paragraph structure; by fifth grade students are expected to write with more detail and often address authentic audiences. A second-grade student described a straw-rocket activity used to create a shared experience for writing.
Board members thanked the presenters and acknowledged Kantor’s upcoming retirement. The board did not take action related to the presentation; the session was informational.
