When to Start Kindergarten Writing Instruction
There are many kindergarten teachers who say they don't start teaching writing until after the first marking period because kids aren't ready yet. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't start writing! There are a lot of opinions about when to start kindergarten writing instruction and it can be hard to decide what's best for your students.
Why Teachers Wait to Introduce “Real” Writing
It makes total sense when kindergarten teachers say that they wait until October to add writing instruction to their daily lesson plans. After all, many kindergarteners start the year having never really held a pencil before!
I think the main reason that teachers wait to introduce “real” writing in kindergarten is that they think of words and sentences when they think about teaching writing. It's true: This instruction naturally falls later in the school year. However, writing is happening from the beginning of the year when students are first putting pencil to paper!
5 Reasons to Start Writing Instruction As Early As Possible
By explicitly teaching writing from the beginning of the year, teachers can create a more cohesive plan for writing instruction that will help their students build a strong foundation. Here are five reasons to start this explicit writing instruction as early as possible in the school year:
1. Writing Skills Progress Naturally
Kindergarten writing instruction follows the natural progression of the year. From the first day of school, students are learning how to hold a pencil effectively. They are also learning how to write their names so they can label their work.
As the first weeks of school progress, students are working hard to master the letters of the alphabet. Part of this literacy instruction is learning about proper letter formation. Then, when students are ready to put their phonics skills to use and read words, they are ready to start doing the same in writing.
Since writing skills are being used from day one of the school year, it makes sense to consider this writing instruction and treat it as such.
2. Students Need to Build Confidence
When we explicitly teach students that they are writing when they put their names on their papers and when they use correct letter formation, we are building their confidence as writers. These are tasks that students master early in the school year, so they will feel like writers as they develop these skills.
On the other hand, when the first time students hear about “writing” is in October, when they suddenly need to respond to a writing prompt, it is much more intimidating for them. After all, writing really is one of the most challenging tasks we ask our kindergarteners to complete. Instead, when students hear that they’re learning how to write from the beginning of the year, they will feel more successful and confident as the amount of writing gradually increases.
3. Early Writing Practice is Engaging
Even though writing is challenging, it doesn’t have to be a tedious chore for students! There are many ways to make writing practice engaging, especially as students are gradually building stamina for this skill.
This labeling unit is a great example! Students love to successfully convey meaning through writing single words. It is a very approachable way to encourage students to practice writing and they love to feel successful!
By using engaging writing activities early in the year, you can motivate your students to write. They won’t associate writing with only the challenging task of writing a complete sentence. Instead, they will learn that writing can be a fun way to express themselves in many different ways.
4. Writing Tasks Can Enhance Centers
If you plan to use centers in your kindergarten classroom, writing practice can easily become part of the daily rotation early on in the year. Students don’t have to be able to write full sentences in order to take advantage of writing practice during centers time.
There are many writing centers that can help students become more confident with letter formation from the beginning of the school year. Whether it’s letter formation cards, vocabulary word tracing, or write the room, students love to experience the success of completing writing tasks independently during centers.
5. Students Will Be Ready for More
When students are explicitly taught that writing is something they do every day from the beginning of the year, they will have a strong foundation for future writing instruction. When it’s time for them to fill in a sentence frame and then to complete a writing prompt, they will be able to rise to the challenge. They will already consider themselves writers because they have been writing letters and words since the beginning of the year. It will be a natural progression for them to move on to more challenging writing tasks.
The Kindergarten Writing Toolbox
Are you excited to teach writing to your students, but not sure where to start? Does your ELA curriculum feel like it’s missing the additional writing practice your students need? Are you trying to teach writing without a curriculum?
For various reasons, many kindergarten teachers have found that they could use some additional activities and inspiration for teaching writing in kindergarten. That’s why I put together the Kindergarten Writing Toolbox membership. It contains a growing library of engaging writing activities that you can use to teach writing from the beginning of the school year.
From helpful visuals to themed writing centers and prompts, you’ll find everything you need to plan or enhance your kindergarten writing instruction from day one. Every month, you’ll receive access to new writing resources centered on a kid-friendly theme. These engaging activities will keep your students motivated to practice writing all year long!
Just click below to take a closer look at everything included in the Kindergarten Writing Toolbox membership.
Save These Tips for Kindergarten Writing Instruction
Be sure to save this post so you can come back to it later! Just add the pin below to your favorite teaching board on Pinterest. You’ll be able to quickly find these tips and resources when you’re planning your kindergarten writing instruction.
