| The BEST method of teaching young children the art of putting their thoughts on paper. Take a look and see what you think . . . |
| Kid Writing |
The following are photos of some of my Young 5s Kinder-kids involved in the process of Kid Writing.
Kid Writing is a 3-step process where children are moved from their beginning attempts at forming
letters to adult-like writing.
letters to adult-like writing.
1. The children draw a picture and begin to
think about what he/she wants to write about
the picture. Children are encouraged to write
a sound, a letter, a word and or a sentence
about the picture. This is called the "Kid
Writing" part. At the beginning of the year, it
looks much like this . . . simply a picture.
think about what he/she wants to write about
the picture. Children are encouraged to write
a sound, a letter, a word and or a sentence
about the picture. This is called the "Kid
Writing" part. At the beginning of the year, it
looks much like this . . . simply a picture.
2. Then I call each child up to look at the work and talk about the picture. This is when individual teaching
happens. As we begin to learn letters and sounds, I encourage every child to write those letters as it is heard
in the sentence that he/she wants to write. After meeting with this child, he told me that the picture was
of his dog Sam and that he liked him. So I completed Step 3.
happens. As we begin to learn letters and sounds, I encourage every child to write those letters as it is heard
in the sentence that he/she wants to write. After meeting with this child, he told me that the picture was
of his dog Sam and that he liked him. So I completed Step 3.
3. Step 3 is where I write the sentence at
the bottom of the page to demonstrate
"Adult Writing" and offer words of
encouragement like, "it won't be long
before you start writing like an adult too."
the bottom of the page to demonstrate
"Adult Writing" and offer words of
encouragement like, "it won't be long
before you start writing like an adult too."
Take a look at the same child's writing the
following day...
following day...
As children learn what 'writing' means, putting a thought on
paper, they begin to use shapes and squiggles that will soon turn
into letters.
paper, they begin to use shapes and squiggles that will soon turn
into letters.
As the school year progresses, I remind the
children that some words they want to write can
be found around the room or on the word wall. I
explain that adults sometimes have to look up how
a word is spelled and it is ok to do that.
children that some words they want to write can
be found around the room or on the word wall. I
explain that adults sometimes have to look up how
a word is spelled and it is ok to do that.
At the end of the school year, you'll receive your
child's "Kid Writing" journal... you'll have lots of fun
looking at the progress he/she made throughout the
school year.
child's "Kid Writing" journal... you'll have lots of fun
looking at the progress he/she made throughout the
school year.
Here's a sample of a typical Young Fives student's
writing by April.
writing by April.