After celebrating the winter holidays in our beautiful winter concert, second grade students were very excited to share their persuasive reviews with their guests at our first writing celebration of the year. As guests gathered in classrooms, teachers shared background information about the writing process, including brainstorming lists of books, places to visit, and toys/games, and restaurants they think others should try. Each writer planned their persuasive review to contain four important elements: a hook to catch the reader’s attention, the writer's opinion, reasons supporting that opinion, and a closing statement. Teachers also shared three types of goals throughout the unit: content goals, revision and editing goals, and publication goals. Students were proud to display their improved fluency when reading their writing. They rehearsed standing in front of the audience and using the power of their words to convince the audience to follow their ideas. Afterward, it was fun to share a morning snack and wish everyone a wonderful winter break.