Writing in Kindergarten can be a challenging topic to teach, but with these resources, it can be a breeze (ok, well maybe not a breeze, but maybe it will be a bit easier for you). Now, after using some of these strategies, I can’t believe there was ever a time that I did not enjoy teaching writing! It now is one of my favorite subjects to teach! I think it has *a little* to do with the fact that several of my students come to school not even knowing how to write their names, and leave writing complete, thoughtful sentences! It’s just so gratifying!
One of my favorite ways to incorporate writing in kindergarten into my lessons is to make class books. These books are fun because my students are the authors, and it really helps them to understand how books are made. Then we put the class books into our classroom library and they are hands down always the favorite to read!
I made this little book to use at the beginning of the school year. This class book is titled At School and it’s all about what we like to do at school {or what we can do at school, depending on what I’m in the mood for ;)}
I glued the cover page onto construction paper and tied the book together with ribbon.
Here’s my sample page on the inside:
I love having my students write the books themselves, and usually “translate” under their words. However, you could always have your students dictate their sentence to you and just have them draw their picture.
I added this little book to my TpT store as a free download, and included an editable cover page so you can type your name directly onto the cover.
I always incorporate a writing station into my language arts rotations when teaching writing in Kindergarten. My students write in their journals every day. Some days I give them a topic or a sentence stem, some days I let them free write, whatever their little hearts desire!
Here’s what our monthly journals look like {without any writing because I’m still on summer vacation muahaha!}
Each month, I make them a new journal with a cute themed cover and I copy the vocabulary words onto the back of the front cover. I really encourage inventive and “best guess” spelling so the words are by no means meant for my students to spell their monthly words correctly. I just provide them as a guide to help my students brainstorm what they will write about.
I keep all their journals through the year and then wrap them up with a cute bow. Then I leave their journals out on their desks when we have Open House at the end of the school year. The kids and the parents love to see their growth through the year!
You can purchase these journals in my TpT shop!
I also incorporate the monthly words into a word work station to help teach writing in kindergarten. At this station, I do encourage correct spelling of both sight words and vocabulary words. I print the monthly themed words onto card stock and place them in a pocket chart. My students use the cards to complete the writing pages.
Here are some samples from my Fall Words file.
I have four options for the writing practice to help differentiate the levels of my students.
Here are some samples of how I use less support for each page.
On this page, the students write the sight word and vocab word independently.
Here, they choose the word to complete each sentence and draw their own pictures.
You can find these words plus more in my TpT shop!
Can you tell how much I love teaching writing yet??
Here are some of my most favorite writing resources that I have found from my amazing blogging friends:
Teri{A Cupcake for the Teacher} has put together the most amazing writing center! Such a great resource!
Lori{Teaching with Love and Laughter} has the cutest topic cards! We never don’t know what to write about!
Lyndsey{A Year of Many Firsts} is beyond creative, and has the most amazing “writing zone” in her classroom!
How do you teach writing in Kindergarten??
I love the idea of a monthly journal! Super cute!
I really love reading about how you teach writing. Writing is such a complex subject to teach, but you are right- it is so rewarding (and SO important!). I love incorporating silly picture prompts near the beginning of the year, to really reel my kids in. I was start teaching at the word level (vocab), and move toward paragraph writing (with parts of speech and sentences in between). Using silly picture prompts is best with the vocab and parts of speech sections 🙂
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I win your outstanding units! I've already added them to my wish list (just in case)
Rae
Mindful Rambles
We use the Lucy Caulkin's basic set-up and I throw in some resources I have found along the way. I have really enjoyed reading about how you teach writing though. I loves getting new ideas and resources that will help me teach my kinders better!
Love your new designed blog page. I am thrilled to find that so many kindergarten teachers use a daily writing journal. Something I am adding in this year. Thanks for the great pics so show off everything.
I do class books as well! I am going to try and do 1 a month this year and give them away at e end of the year! Thanks for the free download on the book!
Renee
Reneesaintlaurent@hotmail.com
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas. I can't wait to try out some of these in my classroom.
LOVE your new blog design!!
My writing wall needs an upgrade, and while I teach year 6 (grade 5) I have come away with HEAPS of ideas!
Thanks
Erin
The E-Z Class Follow on Bloglovin
This is my first year teaching kindergarten and will be my first time having to teach students writing. I plan on using monthly journals and already had ideas about a few class books we were going to write. Your resources are going to be a big help for me during my first year adventure. 🙂
We use Lucy Caulkins and I throw in other fantastic ideas I find.
I have been struggling to get just the right materials to teach writing. Your post is awesome and comes in a very timely manner.
I would love the opportunity to win a copy to use with my kinders.
foxysexyroxy10@gmail.com
I'm planning to use some new resources this year in my writing center that I purchased on TPT. I also love your monthly journals!
kmcox@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
I love teaching writing as well! It is by far my favorite time of the day! The past few years, I allow my kids to write wherever they would like. It just cracks me up when some of the kids "discover" that their cubbies make awesome hiddy holes to write in. I also like to give them silly/interesting prompts to write about such as "I drive my mom crazy by…" and "On a dark and spooky night, I…". Our school follows "Kidwriting", but I love when my little ones are able to really write sentences–they get such a joy out of it! ^_^
Thank you for sharing your journal idea! ~Erica (K Teacher)
erica.gorrell@gmail.com
The blog design looks great! Today was our first day of pre-planning….meetings, ugh! It was SO refreshing to come home and see the link to your blog on fb! What GREAT inspiration and WONDERFUL ideas you are sharing!!!! Tried and true, that is what we need, REAL ways to teach writing that the kids enjoy and the super "tools" to accomplish the task!!!
Thanks so very much!
pmcgahee
I have a hard time teaching writing but I found some resources on TPT that I'm going to try. I might need to go with monthly journals next year but I already shelled out the cash for composition books this year.
I love your new design and I would die of pure joy if I won the aforementioned products! Fingers crossed!!!
Irene
mrsleeby@gmail.com
Learning With Mrs. Leeby
While we make class books frequently, teaching writing has never felt like a strength for me.
I LOVE your products and can really see the benefits of incorporating them in my class!
Thank you for offering,
Mendy
mkschanck@baschools.org
Your writing pack looks like just what I need to start the year! My writing center is the only one I just can't seem to get together.
Ironically enough, I was online specifically looking for how to progressively write with my K-1 special education students. I found this post extremely helpful…I was so glad it came straight to my inbox!! 🙂
I would LOVE the opportunity to use these units!
Amanda
http://www.mrsdsdiamonds.blogspot.com
amanda.donajkowski@hotmail.com
I love making class books!! Thanks for the great ideas!
Your new blog design is super cute! I teaching writing within the D5 framework giving the kids a good bit of choice on Mon.-Thurs. Friday we spend more time writing together and have a lengthier lesson followed by a writing task usually with a craftivity of some sort. I love your journals!
Each of my students has a writing binder. In the front outside pocket is an alphabet chart with pictures for each letters to make a connection. On the back is sight words. I insert seasonal/holiday words throughout the year. The binder serves as a portfolio since the students keep all of their work in the binder from the beginning to the end of the year.
Love to teach writing!! It's so amazing to see how far you can take them.
Kimchaiken@gmail.com
YEAH! I am so glad I checked about your monthly writing journals. I love them and can't wait to use them. Thanks for the "freebie" for making a class book. Writing in K has been so rewarding over the years and it does make a different with their reading. We use the "Kid-Writing" and now I can start making the September journal! THanks and keep up the great work!
Maryann
brennemm@carlisleschools.org
Your monthly journals are fantastic! I especially love how you include a word bank for each month… Great idea!!
Andrew
Mr. First Grade
I like to teach my students how to write because it is one form of communication. We start off with labeling things with as many sounds as they can identify and work our way to writing complete sentences.
Thank you so much for giving me some ideas for teaching writing. I am a new Kindergarten teacher so I find your ideas very helpful. I plan to buy your great journals. Thank you!
Love your class book, thanks for the freebie? Do you use StudenTreasures or a similar program to publish your books at the end of the year? I had my kinders write an "all about" class book last spring and we got it published for free; 19 of my 22 students' parents bought their own copy! I LOVED it, like you said it's amazing to see the growth! Holding onto those memories now as I see my new crop struggling to write letters… 🙂
I love to teach writing by modeling, modeling, modeling!!!! I love to use our thinking maps to scaffold their writing, then help them extend their sentences:) I love your tpt packets!!! What a great way to differentiate! Thanks!
I love your monthyly journal covers and the list of words for the inside cover! Great idea! And the word cards would be great for syllable sorting as well as writing prompts. I do a lot of modeling while I teach writing. The kids love to hear funny stories about my life and it helps them brainstorm a story. Thanks for your post.
My school just switched from using Lucy Calkins writing program to Write from the Beginning.
We have a free writing journal and we love class books too!
Thank you for the cute classroom books. It's a sure thing I will use it on the first day!
This is my first year teaching kindergarten and I'm still planning my year. These resources are awesome and I'm sure I'll use many throughout the year! Thanks!
I just got my first teaching job today and it is in Kindergarten! I am so excited. I love the monthly journal ideas. I don't have my favorite way to teach writing yet but I am hoping to win the units in this blog post, that would help me so much! Thanks for all the great ideas!
I start with their own names when they first arrive at three years class, basically copying from labels I've prepared. After that stage I encourage them to copy other words ( and read them) it's very regarding to see how they're able to absorb news words. At three and four years I use capital letters, when I pass at five years with my students, we begin to learn script and I do a more phonetic approach. I work in Spain and I'm aware that each language has his particularities at been taught.I I love your attitude for sharing all kind off ideas and material.
Love these ideas! I would love to win any one of your units! Kelly (geleott4@embarqmaiil.com)
What a great way to introduce writing. Love the new blog!
Kirsty
littlelearners101@gmail.com
Over the years I have joined together ideas on writing and come up with my own style. But, I do enjoy the Journeys series and how they build in the writing standards into their series. I use that as a guideline for my year.
Thanks for the chance to win your awesome units! I love your journals!
kindertchr01@yahoo.com
I ju
st moved to kindergarten last year after 8 years in 3Rd. My expectations were a little high :/ This post has some great and helpful ideas for the new year! Thanks:)
ckerzaya@yahoo.com
Love reading about all your ideas and seeing them in action. Keeps me on my toes ready to try new things.
I have my students do daily journal writing. We make class books. I love your "At School" class book. Thanks for sharing this with us. Willaby Wallaby is also a fun one. I love Lucy Calkins and I use Primary Pizzazz Writing by Melissa Forney. She has a lot of wonderful ideas in her book.
I would love to win those awesome units!
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Phoenix preschool
Great resources! Thanks for sharing this detailed post =)
Had a hard time getting enthused to teach writing last year to my K's. Bought this last night can't wait to use it!
I love your writing resources! These are great ideas for my ELLs. How many words are you introducing each month?
I LOVE reading this!! I teach at a very small school (I have K/1's) and it is hard to get the K's writing because they feel so far behind compared to 1st. I am going to try out some of these ideas ASAP!!