Writing in Kindergarten

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Writing in Kindergarten
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When do I start teaching them to write?

• Immediately
• Read alouds provide earliest writing instruction
• model different writing samples
• ex rhyming, prediction, nonfiction,
• morning message

3
Developmental Stages of Writing

• Stage 1 Picture Writer
• Stage 2 Verbal Informer
• Stage 3 Letter Copier
• Stage 4 Labeler
• Stage 5 Inventory Taker/Sound Maker
• Stage 6 Sentence Maker
• Stage 7 Information Communicator/Story Maker
• (Freeman, 2003)

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Support your students
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Continue the Support

• Differentiate instruction
• start where they start
• connect to what is familiar to them
• give all the supports necessary
• pull supports gradually
• keep a lifeline

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The Reading Writing Connection

• Compare the writing and reading processes
• Reading/Writing Connections in the K-2 Classroom
  by Leah Mermelstein

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The Reading Writing Connection

• When Writers Workshop is new
• essential to have launching unit
• - teaches how to work independently
• story study what makes a good
• story
• how to write informational text
• - start with a subject students know
• well
• Dont have to start on the first day. Talk it up!

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September

• My Map Book, Sharon Finnelli
• - last page, map of my heart
• - can you think of 3-4 things you can
• picture writing about multiple
• times?
• - share out
• Patches Lost and Found, Steven Kroll
• - shows kids writing

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The Reading Writing Connection

• Thinking strategies that readers and writers use
• Quality of writing that reveals this type of
  thinking
• Helpful language

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Writing making it a priority

• www.writingcommission.org
• www.ncte.org (National Council of Teachers of
  English)
• www.writingproject.org
• www.literacymatters.org
• www.readwritethink.org
• www.writingfix.com