It is writing time, and the kindergartners are sitting in chairs with paper and pencil before them. Their assignment: to write about the weather that day. Mrs. Miller is moving about the classroom, coaching individual children in this endeavor.

“Read to me, Amir.”

Amir is now looking out of the window at the clouds. He picks up his writing and reads,“Today is cloudy. I hope it will snow.” On his paper is printed:

Toda iz clody I hop it wil sno

“Good,” says Mrs. Miller. She points to the word “toda,” and says. “I can figure this word out; this one is almost like how I spell it. She points to the word ”Today” on the blackboard.

“What would you do if it snows?” she asks.

“Make a snowman,” replies Amir instantly.

“Why don’t you write that down and some other things you like to do in the snow. Then draw a picture to go with it. Make sure you put yourself in the story and in the picture. I want to see you in the snow.”

Intrigued, Amir leans over his paper and continues working.