MIDDLETOWN – “This was nothing like first grade when I went to school,” Two River Times columnist Bob Sacks’ said when he visited his 7-year-old granddaughter Emma’s first grade class at New Monmouth Elementary School recently.
The class learned about writing reviews, something Emma’s grandfather knows about as he reviews restaurants in his column Dinner With Bob.
“They loved it!” Sacks said of his audience. And Sacks, an award-winning dentist in Oakhurst, was impressed with how curious and articulate the students were. “These kids are learning to write critical reviews of books, movies, TV shows and restaurants, instead of playing with blocks and taking naps,” he said.
He credits their teacher Elizabeth Vaughan with working with the students to develop their writing skills with an emphasis on critical writing. “I spoke with them about how to open the review, discuss what they liked and didn’t like, and how to close,” he said. “I also discussed descriptive writing with imagery and ‘making a movie’ in the reader’s mind.”
And the reviews for the reviewer were magnanimous: “You inspired me to write using more details. I learned a lot from you.” “I give you 200 stars!” “Last night I googled Diner with Bob. I give you FIVE stars.” “You had an awesome beginning and ending. Good job!”
