What are the 3 best strategies to help teach writing in kindergarten?
They are:
- modeling
- procedures
- materials
Procedures I use for Teaching Writing in Kindergarten
Start every writing time the same way!
Each of my students has a folder, one side is the work in progress and the other the finished work. On the in progress side, (either side works) we have a weather calendar that we use for science, cards for friends, stories that we are writing, or pictures that go with what we are reading.
So when the students come into the classroom, they get a piece of paper and they will write whatever is on their minds with no restrictions, which helps with engagement.
I walk around the room and underwrite it with adult writing. They understand that it’s okay that mine looks different than theirs.
Once they are done with writing, they can go to the progress side of their folder and work on whatever they would like for the remainder of the time. They can also start a new story!
To end the lesson, I share someone’s amazing writing (I read the story to focus on fluency) and discuss celebrations of what we see on their page.
What Do We Celebrate When Teaching Writing in Kindergarten?
The things to celebrate:
- spaces between words
- capital at the beginning of the sentence
- capital I used correctly
- punctuation at the end
- letters for the sounds
- sight words spelled correctly
Using Models When Teaching Writing in Kindergarten
Modeling
The models that I use to help with teaching of writing in kindergarten are built throughout the year. I hang and display them as we grow as writers. Doing this as the year progresses (instead of at the beginning of the year) makes it more meaningful to the students.
- rhyming posters for sight words
- alphabet chart
- class writings
- celebrated writings from the students
Rhyming Posters for Sight Words
On my word wall, I have rhyming posters on display. The words I use that I want them to focus on are usually sight words. There are also mix of more difficult words that they are not able to spell yet but use all the time when writing in kindergarten.
➕the words when needed or taught
There is also a little word wall in their folders that have all the letters in the alphabet.
This makes it easier for kids that can not write a letter on the horizontal plane while looking at the wall. Remember to add words as the school year goes on.
Materials Needed for Teaching Writing in Kindergarten
If you have a plethora of materials for them to use you will be amazed at the different kinds of writing that will happen.
- markers,
- crayons,
- highlighters,
- colored pencils,
- scissors. Yes I allow them to use scissors to make the cards. This also will help with their fine motor skills. They love to draw a rainbow, cut it out and put it on another piece of paper with a note to give to a friend.
