Becoming Brave Young Authors: A Kinder–First Grade Story

Some of the most meaningful learning at Amistad happens quietly—tiny hands gripping pencils, sounds slowly stretched into letters, stories unfolding one brave attempt at a time. In Maestra Lucía’s Kinder–First Grade classroom, writing isn’t simply another part of the day. It’s a practice of courage, creativity, and connection, where our youngest learners begin discovering the power of their own voice.

In kindergarten, students are just beginning to step into the identity of “author.” During Writing Workshop, they say words slowly, listen carefully for each sound, and record the letters they know with growing confidence. They rely on the world around them—the word wall, their classmates’ names, labels around the room, and the alphabet chart—to anchor sounds to meaning. Every child is crafting a personal story, and every mark on the page is celebrated.
As Maestra Lucía explains, “Our kindergarteners are becoming brave young authors… each child is writing their own story, celebrating every attempt to capture sounds on paper.” Their guiding question, How do writers use sounds and letters to share their ideas? becomes a daily invitation to explore, try, and grow.

By first grade, these early authors are expanding their storytelling in new ways. Students are learning to match their written words with illustrations, adding expressions, labels, and small but meaningful details that bring their stories to life. They write about favorite meals, family celebrations, friendships, and moments that matter to them—and their books show a growing understanding of how words and pictures work together.
As Lucía shares, “Their stories come alive when readers can see expressions… these details help connect their writing and pictures, making their stories meaningful and clear.” With each week, their stories become fuller, clearer, and more connected to the world they want to share.

These joyful classroom moments also reflect a broader narrative unfolding across our elementary program—one of consistency, strength, and remarkable growth. This fall, we achieved 100% DRA Español coverage across elementary grades, a rare achievement in dual-language education. Writing proficiency rose from 43.9% to 82.9%, showing the impact of intentional instruction and strong systems. First grade enrollment increased by 71%, a powerful sign of family trust and community reputation. Mathematics, implemented with new structures this year, reached 92.4% coverage, and overall elementary enrollment grew nearly 18%, reflecting strong retention and satisfaction.

All of this points to a program not only expanding, but thriving. What began as developing assessment practices just a few years ago has now become a model of operational excellence—while still holding onto the relationships, warmth, and creativity that make Amistad feel like home.

As we continue strengthening kindergarten enrollment and building on the momentum of grades 1–2, the work happening in Maestra Lucía’s classroom shows exactly why families choose Amistad. Our young writers—some just beginning to stretch out sounds, others crafting full stories—are living reminders of what bilingual, bicultural learning makes possible. Every picture labeled, every character imagined, every story shared becomes part of a much larger journey toward confident, joyful learning.

Thank you, Maestra Lucía, for inviting us into this beautiful work—and for helping our youngest students discover the power of their own voice.