I puffy heart love Writer’s Workshop. I follow my district’s curriculum
for covering the TEKS but the steps I use to teach my children how to write
come from my own writing unit. You can see it here. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindergartners-Can-Be-Authors-Too-How-to-Teach-Writers-Workshop
for covering the TEKS but the steps I use to teach my children how to write
come from my own writing unit. You can see it here. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindergartners-Can-Be-Authors-Too-How-to-Teach-Writers-Workshop
Each year, our pacing is different depending on the abilities of the
class. Lots of things factor in when it comes to how fast we move. Discipline
and independence play a big part. The amount of time we spend on writing also
depends on each child’s stamina. We work hard to building writing stamina just
like we build reading stamina. It’s unfair to expect me to expect a child to
sit down and write and illustrate a story from beginning to the end if they
haven’t built up this ability.
class. Lots of things factor in when it comes to how fast we move. Discipline
and independence play a big part. The amount of time we spend on writing also
depends on each child’s stamina. We work hard to building writing stamina just
like we build reading stamina. It’s unfair to expect me to expect a child to
sit down and write and illustrate a story from beginning to the end if they
haven’t built up this ability.
Some of my students are still on step three, labeling, still today, while
others are soaring at writing complete stories. I tell them all the time that
yes, we can write amazing sentences that follow all of the rules, but are they
telling a story. Do they have a beginning, middle and end? We are past “I like
my mom. I like my dad. I like my dog.”
others are soaring at writing complete stories. I tell them all the time that
yes, we can write amazing sentences that follow all of the rules, but are they
telling a story. Do they have a beginning, middle and end? We are past “I like
my mom. I like my dad. I like my dog.”
Here are a few student examples of their sentences in WWS.
Each morning, we complete our morning work. Right now we are on set
two.
two.
Then, in our journal (spirals), we write stories. These are my absolute
favorite! I call on a few students to throw out a topic, then we vote. Once a
topic is chosen, I ask my students what vocabulary they need help with
spelling. I write five words on the white board. The rest of the words will be
sound out by each child. I like this for several reasons. First, it makes them
think about what words they would use to write. If we are writing about a farm,
they may suggest barn, farm, cow, etc.
This is also a way to teach vocabulary to students who have not had
exposure to these particular ways. When I write the words on the board, I
reiterate spelling rules to them to help them understand how they would have
sounded them out write them their selves had they needed to. Here are a few
examples of journaling.
favorite! I call on a few students to throw out a topic, then we vote. Once a
topic is chosen, I ask my students what vocabulary they need help with
spelling. I write five words on the white board. The rest of the words will be
sound out by each child. I like this for several reasons. First, it makes them
think about what words they would use to write. If we are writing about a farm,
they may suggest barn, farm, cow, etc.
This is also a way to teach vocabulary to students who have not had
exposure to these particular ways. When I write the words on the board, I
reiterate spelling rules to them to help them understand how they would have
sounded them out write them their selves had they needed to. Here are a few
examples of journaling.
“My plane had cookies. My plane had apple sauce. The plane was awesome.”
This week they wanted to write Easter stories every day. They were
all different though and I just loved it. I loved that they had several opportunities
to write various “books” on the same topic and the places their imagination
took them. I do allow them to write fiction or nonfiction during journaling. I
am really looking for them to understand the beginning, middle and end concept
with this. I also want them to now move on past repetitive text.
all different though and I just loved it. I loved that they had several opportunities
to write various “books” on the same topic and the places their imagination
took them. I do allow them to write fiction or nonfiction during journaling. I
am really looking for them to understand the beginning, middle and end concept
with this. I also want them to now move on past repetitive text.
It really is great to be a kindergarten writer!
Love and virtual hugs.
It's so great to see their writing progress. Unfortunately, I don't have time during our day to do writers' workshop as we are departmentalized and time with my class is limited. They do write stories in their journal for morning work. Some kiddos are still just writing one word, copying it from our word wall, and some are still at the "I like…" stage because they are stubborn to do any more. I want to get them away from writing "and" all the time and get them to use First, next, then. Any suggestions to do a mini lesson on that?
Love the idea of essentially giving the kids a word bank from which to spring board from. That's something I have been lacking – and need to start! Thanks!
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