I wrote this original document for my kindergarten colleagues — Jaime, Katie, Laura, and Shanda — who are starting the publishing process in April. Because I had so much fun developing it, I decided to share with all of our online community. We hope that even teachers who have not studied kindergarten writing with us will find this a practical and joyful look at the KINDERGARTEN PUBLISHING PROCESS. (See Chapter 9 in Kindergarten Writing and the Common Core: Pathways to Joyful and Accelerated Literacy by Nellie Edge.)
FROM FOLDED LITTLE BOOKS TO KINDERGARTEN PUBLISHING
Six-page folded books allow young writers to practice quality handwriting, illustration techniques, and to understand that “our pictures and words tell a story.” In our Kindergarten Writing and the Common Core program, by spring, kindergartners are well able for the challenge of writing “My Book,” “The End,” and several pages using a repetitive sentence pattern with pink and purple “heart words” spelled conventionally. Many young kindergarten writers benefit from repeating a familiar “heart word” sentence pattern, and this may provide a frame for making some of their first “really cool” books.
We keep our “Really Cool Books” (bookmaking) tote supplied with folded little books made from 11” x 17” paper. The “I” Chart (I is for Independence) and volunteer information are all kept in our yellow information folder right there in the tote.
Follow this template to make Nellie Edge Folded Little Books:
Kindergarteners will love to draw animals and will be able to write and reread their books early on in the year:
I love… I see the… I like my…
This is a… I have a … What is that? That is a …
More proficient writers at the same writing center enjoy the creative and cognitive challenge of writing a book about whatever is most meaningful to them, from “New Shoes” or “My Penguin Book” to a play date at the park. I love the way teachers’ independent writing center totes naturally differentiate literacy and build a classroom of writers and illustrators who all take pride in doing quality work.
Spring is often a good time of year to transition from the “word work” of storybook writing with simple repetitive sentences to folded books that have more details and eventually can be proofread, edited, rewritten, illustrated, and published.
Consider beginning to raise the expectations by giving children black pens and quality colored pencils or thin marking pens. Invite the children to look at some exemplars of the kinds of Little Book writing that kindergartners are capable of doing. These may be samples from last year’s students.
- Encourage children to create an interesting cover that entices their reader to open the book. (They might borrow the style of Mo Willems, Eric Carle…) Expect them to write the title at the top of the front cover and the author’s name at the bottom.
- Expect children to use quality handwriting (you may want to review the words: My, By, Book, The End).
- Encourage children to write “The end” and decorate (fancy up!) the last page and refer to authors’ “end pages.” Show them samples from their “kindergarten writing colleagues!”
- Talk about book details when reading literature to children. Children might locate end pages in Mo Willem’s Elephant and Piggie books and Nellie Edge Read and Sing Big Books™.
- Remember to order the blank 8.3” x 6” Chunky Bear Books (item #3602) in early April in order to begin the publishing process in late April or early May from www.blankbooks.com.
- Send home the “About the Author” page soon and ask parents to write up a brief bio based on the sample so you have this time-consuming piece of the kindergarten publishing process completed early on.
Find a template for Interview Questions About the Author and Illustrator.
- Consider choosing a few proficient and disciplined writers and have them publish first so you can show the children how their favorite (rough draft) folded book stories can be proofed, edited, and rewritten to become beautiful published books.
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 drawing, writing, and making books. I want them to already see themselves as “prolific writers” who will make books, lists, messages, and science notes all summer, going 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, Janis Wurgler, 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!
- Your pictures and words 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!
- No problem. Cross it out. What do you want your sentence to say?
- Let’s just stop, think, and focus! (Sign Language included!)
- What do you want to tell your reader?
Kindergarten publishing celebrates the delightfully unique voices of young writers. It’s a grand and magical way to end the year!
Yes, this is “t – h – e e – n – d, the end!”
A special “thank you” to my kindergarten writing colleagues: Jaime Corliss, Winter Curry, Laura Flocker, Becky Leber, Katie Nelson, and Shanda Vandehey. This blog is adapted from Chapter 9 of Kindergarten Writing and the Common Core: Joyful Pathways to Accelerated Literacy (book, CD and seminar) by Nellie Edge, 2014 update.
Was this article helpful? Do you have any publishing strategies to share? We love to hear from you and would be happy to respond to your questions.
Cindy Ulshafer says
Every example you give is so individual! That verifies what so many wise teachers have known for so long: teaching words that reflect the children’s fascinations, whether in the natural world or in their hopes and dreams, gives them ways to express themselves, making them so excited about learning!
Rebecca Larkin says
can we get a copy copies of what you put in the yellow folder; the front cover and what is inside?
Thanks
Nellie Edge says
Thank you for your comments Cindy. Yes, we love the unique voices of kindergarten writers. This is why it is so important to give children choices in their writing topics. We all write better when the topic is one that we care about!
Nellie Edge says
Hi Rebecca . . . I did not even think about teachers wanting those samples, but that is a good, practical request.
I was assuming that most of our readers have attended our writing seminar and these pages are on the Kindergarten Writing and the Core (seminar) book and CD, however they are not on my website for quick access. If you can wait until Friday , April 4th, I should have some technical help and I will try to post the Independence Chart and the Notes to Volunteers.
Laura Flocker says
When introducing the six- page folded books I love to do a separate mini lesson on each aspect: making your title page appealing, choosing your topic, choices for using a patterned heart word sentence, producing high quality illustrations, interesting end sheets, etc. By concentrating on a different aspect of publishing each day I can really build excitement about writing.
During the spring term I like to always keep a writing tub of blank six-page books available for my students because it becomes a favorite free time choice.
Nellie Edge says
Thank you for sharing Laura. . . you are reminding us to be intentional about teaching the craft of writing to our youngest learners. Gotta love it when our kindergartners favorite activity is to write really cool books!
Nellie Edge says
Hi Rebecca, I am not able to send you a link to the I Chart and Teacher Helper Jobs from my blog at this moment, but if you email me at info@nellieedge.com, I can send you the documents.
Katie Nelson says
This will be my 4th year publishing with my full-day kindergarten class, and I learn a little more each time. I’ve learned that the more practice students have just writing on topics of their choice throughout the school year, the stronger writer’s they will become. Ultimately the goal for publishing is to have six good sentences related to a topic, and that’s why the folded books are so wonderful to use as their “rough draft”!
Nellie Edge says
Thank you for reminding us about how important choice is for young writers. . . and that is why your children write with such passion and voice. We can’t wait to see what they publish this year!
Tammi Myers says
I enjoyed the article and the ideas. Wanted to let you know that the link to the blank books doesn’t work though. I think it might be this site that you meant http://www.barebooks.com/product-category/books/chunky-bare-books/ . Please let me know if it isn’t so I can check out the ones you recommend, Thanks!
Nellie Edge says
Tammi, You are SO right! Thank you for carefully reading the blog and noticing that we posted the incorrect link. We love these Chunky Bare Books for our end-of-the year publishing, and this year we are going to use them to make some beginning readers, featuring photos of the children. Have a grand teaching year!
Nellie Edge says
love it!