Words of encouragement

Andrew Edwards

Reading and writing, and more reading and writing.

Those are the basic elements of elementary school.

Members of teacher Marjorie Roys’ third-grade class at Westmont

Elementary School busied themselves writing tributes to a fellow

classmate, while others gathered around Roys to prepare a book report

or pursue independent activities on computer stations.

The lucky student, who was the subject of the children’s

accolades, was 9-year-old Johnny Richardson.

The letters detail “how nice [Johnny] is and what we like to do

with him,” 9-year-old Shelby Pepper said.

Throughout the year, Roys’ students write positive letters to

other children in the class and compile them into books. By the end

of the year, each student will have a compilation of praise from each

other.

A sample of a letter written by 9-year-old Rosaino Pavia begins

with the line, “I think Johnny is a very cool kid.” Johnny received

more kind words from 9-year-old Ysidro Eslava.

“You are so smart. You are cool. You have a good sense of humor,”

Ysidro wrote.

When asked how he felt about reading the letters when they were

ready, Johnny simply said the prospect was “OK.”

As most of the class composed their letters, others worked with

their teacher to finish up a book, “If You Lived at the Time of the

San Francisco Earthquake,” for an upcoming report.

“I like that it told you what actually happened,” 9-year-old

Richie Lopez said.

Richie added he liked the amount of historical detail in the book,

such as the part about how one of the victims lost a leg in the

disaster and had the limb replaced with a wooden substitute.

Because of the details, “I’ll have something to think about all

day,” Richie said.

A few students took time to build their vocabularies on the

computer. The students had a list of words and they were assigned to

research the meanings.

“I type in the word and I try to find the answer,” 9-year-old

Alisha Moua said.

One of the students working on a letter, 9-year-old, Luis Galbez

summed up what he thought the value of the day’s lesson was.

“You get to write more and learn,” he said.