Kid Writing Instructional Videos

Kid Writing Workshop Video #1

Award-winning kindergarten teacher, literacy coach, and national presenter, Julie Lay has expanded on the original Kid Writing Workshop model from Eileen Feldgus. Julie Lay and Nellie Edge collaborated to teach high-frequency “heart word” strategies and enhance ABC Phonics Mastery with fingerspelling and song. Observe Julie skillfully weave phonics and “heart words” into a powerful, Comprehensive Writing Workshop Model with intentional and playful Writing Workshop lessons.

These videos document the beginning of Julie’s journey as a master kindergarten writing teacher. Notice how she scaffolds essential skills into the writing process, seamlessly making the writing-to-read connection in each lesson.

We are appreciative of the pioneering work of Lucy Calkins and Katie Wood Ray for their influence on authentic, early writing instruction.

Kid Writing Workshop Video #2

The next short segment shows Julie demonstrating how to help children formulate a plan for their illustration and writing—extending their thinking with what, why, where, and when questions. Julie Lay helps each child verbalize complete thoughts by identifying a topic and expanding on details.

Notice how Julie scaffolds the child’s “Kid Writing”—intentionally stretching out the child’s words, emphasizing the sounds while keeping the word intact, a practice referred to as a “moving target”. Later, children will internalize the modeling and take over this process for themselves. As a “kid writer,” the child needs careful adult scaffolding and underwriting. During the year, children will move towards the independent writing stage, where you can actually read their writing without adult underwriting. This makes for an amazing and exciting journey in kindergarten.

Kid Writing Workshop Video #3

In this short planned session with two different kindergarten writers, Julie Lay intentionally highlights the strengths shown in each writing based on the state and district literacy goals.

You will see references to the “kid crown” hats (such as the King of “-ing”). This is adapted from the Kid Writing website. Notice the high-frequency “by heart” word wall, which incorporates Sign Language, and finger spelling.

Within this two-and-a-half-hour kindergarten program, Julie Lay successfully works with a different heterogeneous group of four to five children each day for fifteen to twenty minutes while the other children are rotating through literacy centers. She praises effort, strategies, and willingness to try something new. Julie celebrates what each “kid writer” can do and directs them to the next level of personal achievement!

We videotaped these short demonstration lessons after school so that Julie could show many strategies in a short period of time. This is intended to compliment Julie Lay’s Writing to Read in Kindergarten: Explore the Power of Kid Writing seminar.

Articles and Resources

e-Book: Writing to Read in Kindergarten Seminar Sampler
Talking to Kindergartners About Their Writing
Star Charts Writing Assessment Forms
See kidwriting.com for more details about this powerful research-based approach to early literacy.

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