2. Provide illustration study and guided drawing lessons early in the year. Teach students to outline in black and carefully fill in the drawing with color. (See What Makes a Quality Illustration)
3. Teach kindergartners—with Parents as Partners—to build fluency with two kinds of words: a growing collection of words they are expected to know “by heart” and words they learn to listen to, stretch through, and use phonics-based spelling for. Use “quick writes” and encode sounds to print to build sequential sound segmentation skills.
4. Teach children to draw, write sentences, and make books. Create independent writing centers for authentic word work to build skills and stamina for writing workshop.
5. Understand the stages of early writing development and how to build appropriate assessment and carefully-crafted minilessons. Share writing development photos with parents and ask: “Where do you think your child is right now as a writer?”
6. Give students choice and ownership of their writing pieces. Publish kindergartners’ writing in simple and delightful ways so children see themselves as young authors and illustrators all year long.
Writers don’t improve their craft unless they have a real purpose, a real audience, and a real investment in their writing. -Mem Fox
7. Build the reading and writing brain. Simultaneously incorporate multisensory ABC Phonics Immersion, fingerspelling, and handwriting into a comprehensive writing program.
Want to take your writing program to a higher level of excellence?
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Kindergarten Writing Foundations
- 6-hour Nellie Edge MasterClass (456 power slides)
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7 Must-Have Exemplary Practicum Projects
Look for fall 2021 Kindergarten Writing Workshop Schedule with Nellie Edge
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Download horizontal and vertical Kid Writing paper templates from Nellie Edge Freebies page.
Download 4-page Writing Workshop Support (NEW!)
Free Kid Writing Printables and “Best Practices” Support for Your Writing Workshop (includes how to use adult underwriting for reading, fluency practice)
Consider starting the year with “My Drawing and Writing Book” templates in horizontal Kid Writing format for a longer, continuous sweep. Print on 24# or 80# paper so pens will not bleed through.
Children learn “you get to write in the white!” Teacher provides underwriting in the gray or in continuous text at the bottom of the paper (depending on their teaching focus) ONLY until the child’s writing is proficient. Note: Kid writing paper automatically teaches children to write within every other line.
“I love that phonics and sight words and reading and writing were all blended for authentic learning.” –Brenda B., kindergarten teacher
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