We know how to meet—or exceed—kindergarten Common Core writing standards.

However, not all writing pieces need to fit into one prescriptive category of opinion, information, or narrative writing. My overriding goal as a teacher of kindergarten writing is to nurture in each of our young children a love of writing, drawing, and making books to share with readers. I want them to already see themselves as “prolific writers and illustrators” who will continue to make books and write lists, messages, and science notes all summer long. We want children to go into first grade with a passion for the author’s craft! You might hear the influence of master writing teachers Donald Graves, Katie Wood Ray, Lucy Calkins, Peter Johnston, and Julie Lay in my words:

• Wow! You are becoming such a prolific writer!
• You might find yourself swinging on a swing or lying in bed thinking about the next story you will write…
• You have grown so much as a writer! Remember the beginning of the year when…?
• Your words and pictures tell a story.
• You wrote that whole book all by yourself! Aren’t you proud of your writing?
• Authors often need to make choices like that….
• Good writers do a lot of rewriting: it’s part of the writing process!
• No problem. We have “oops” tape. What do you want your sentence to say? You have a writerly decision to make.
• Let’s just stop, breathe, think, and focus! (Signing each word increases the brain connection!)
• Tell me about your illustration. What other details might you add?