What is the very best way to help beginning writers easily write words?

An adaptation of writing workshop is the best way to help beginning writers write. Kiddos think, draw, tell. They write with the teachers help. The teacher does all the editing and publishing. When students are writing, they often want to spell words correctly so have a list of words that beginning readers and writers use a lot! BUT it’s not exactly a word wall!! It has rhyming pictures!

Grab them here.

Use rhyming posters as a word wall!

Rhyming posters make a quick reference for finding high frequency words and difficult sight words! By looking for a picture that rhymes, students that don’t know all the letters yet, can find the words easily! Trust me it will help those that struggle with knowing the letter names. (I also use them to practice rhyming…check it out Teach Words Easily.) Rhyming posters is a best way to help beginning writers write easily especially the difficult sight words.

📌THIS IMAGE FOR LATER

1st Step is Thinking

Always have the kiddos think of a story.

Think:

✅Who is in the story?

✅What happens?

✅Where does it take place?

Draw a Picture to Show the Story

After that, have kiddos tell the story. Kiddos can tell the story to a friend or to the teacher but most importantly kiddos are talking and sharing. As a result, kiddos are building language skills.

Writing the Words of the Story

Phonemic awareness is the best way to help students learn to write. It is the hardest phonological awareness skill! You can check out all the skills from easiest to hardest on this page.????

Let’s use the word cat for example.

1. I say the word slowly and tell the child to listen to the sounds. Then I have the child say it slowly after me. Lastly, the child says it slowly… independently.

2. I clap the syllables (1 clap for cat). Then the child claps with me. Lastly, I say, “Clap cat by yourself.” As the child claps, I hold up fingers then the child tells me the total.

3. I segment each sound as I touch my head for the 1st sound /c/, my waist for the second sound /a/, and my toes for the 3rd sound /t/. Then I ask the child to do it with me. Finally, I ask the child to do it independently while touching their body.

4. Then it’s time to write the letters that make the sounds. I touch my head and say the sound /c/. I ask, “Do you know the letter that makes the sound /c/?”

    ~If the answer is “Yes, a.” I say, “Write it.”

    ~If the answer is no, I stretch the sound again but stop at my waist and ask, “Do you know the letter that makes the /a/ sound?”

Repeat until the word is finished (if all you get is t…that’s ok!)

What happens if they don’t write words easily?

I often say, “No worries, you’ll learn that sound soon. We only write the letters for the sounds we know.” Meanwhile, continue until the sentence is written.

Using this model, therefore will make writing happen easily and without frustration for kiddos.

To sum up:

• Say the word slowly (stretch the word)

• Listen to what sounds you hear 

• How many sounds are there (clap it out) 

• Segment each sound

• Have them segment with you

• Have them try it by themselves 

• Think about the letters that make those sounds 

  • Break it down with each sound

  • Have them write the letter down on a paper.