880 Lexile – 4th Grade
Essay / Point of View
No More Snow Days
Prose Constructed Response Question:
The article No More Snow Days explores the benefits and challenges of trading snow days for online learning
e-days.
Write an essay from the point of view of the Superintendent of Revere Schools, Dr. Dianne Kelly, explaining
why e-days should replace snow days. Include specific details from the article to support your essay.
(*you could also take the point of view of a student, teacher, or parent)
Enter your essay text here or type it on your computer and attached it to this paper
880 Lexile – 4th Grade
EXAMPLE
Enter your essay text here
Living in the Northeast we are hit with harsh winter storms each year. These storms
cause school districts, like Revere, to have to cancel school. Snow days result in learning
setbacks and extended school calendars. However, this does not need to be the case.
Online learning is the solution. Online learning has been used with college students for
years and recently it has been used with elementary students.
The time has come for e-days to replace snow days. One important reason to replace
snow days with e-days is to reduce the risk of students experiencing learning setbacks
created by canceling too many school days. The winter is a time when some of the most
difficult material of the school year is covered. Educational experts such as Doug Levin
claim that “being able to keep students on track can make a huge difference”. Teachers
would also be online to direct students to websites and/or to help with any questions.
Students would stay on track with their learning and become comfortable using online
learning which is widely used with college students.
Another reason e-days should replace snow days is to eliminate the need to modify
school calendars. Since schools are required to be in session for a certain number of days,
snow days extend the school calendar keeping teachers and students in school until late
June! No one wants to be in school when it is hot!
Furthermore, e-days also help school districts save money. With e-days districts don’t
have to pay for electricity or bus transportation.
The benefits of e-days are clear. Lisa Wendel, superintendent of the Mississinawa
Valley Local District in Ohio, held two e-days last year and she feels that “online learning
during snow days is going to continue to snowball in this country”. E-days are a wonderful
alternative to snow days!