As you can imagine, we practice a LOT of writing in Kindergarten. Here are the three ways we learn.
Handwriting:
Here they are building Mat Man using the Handwriting Without Tears letter parts. They are learning how to draw a person and how they can use "little curve, little lines, big curves, big lines" to make him. Those are the same words and pieces we'll use to make our letters.
Journals:
At least twice a week your child will write and illustrate in their writing journal. They get to draw and/or write about their weekend, something exciting that's happened or going to happen, a lost tooth, bad dream, etc. This is one of those rare moments they sit at their tables and work quietly. I give them time to generate some ideas and put it down on paper. I love this time of getting to know your child better and to learn about the things they do outside of school. Soon they will have an individual writing goal. The goals are usually to add more color, details, sound out words, use spaces, and use punctuation. Each child is at a different writing level so this is a great time to privately discuss writing needs, goals and celebrate successes!
Daily 4:
Each day your child will rotate through 4 literacy stations while I am working with a small group on reading. They four rotations are: read to self (sometimes read to buddy), work on writing, listen to reading and word work. We have been practicing our "work on writing" stamina while another group works on their "read to self". Each day there will be a new "job for them to complete. Sometimes they'll work with their group or by themselves. On Monday they'll begin learning the third component to Daily 4...Listen to Reading. It's time to discover who knows how to use a mouse!
Shared Writing:
Another way we practice writing is through "Shared Writing". I don't have any photos of this just yet. Shared writing is done in a whole group setting with me leading the writing, thinking out loud, and have them interact with the chart, paper or document.
