Kindergarten Writing Workshop and Independent Writing Centers All Year Long

1. Build a consistent, dependable writing workshop routine that honors kid writers with choice of topic, differentiated learning, individual coaching, and carefully-crafted minilessons.

Proven Practices for Creating a Powerful Kindergarten Writing Workshop Model

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)

Boost Kindergarten Writing Skills with These 15 Best Practices Fluency with high-frequency “heart word” sentences is your key to success!

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.

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. Simultaneously incorporate multisensory ABC Phonics Immersion, fingerspelling, and handwriting into a comprehensive writing program

7. Build the reading and writing brain. Simultaneously incorporate multisensory ABC Phonics Immersion, fingerspelling, and handwriting into a comprehensive writing program.

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Free Writing Templates to Support Your Writing Workshop

Consider starting the year with “My Drawing and Writing Book” templates in horizontal format. Print on 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.

Download horizontal and vertical Kid Writing paper templates from Nellie Edge Freebies page.