Writing is hard for many kids! If you run a writing workshop, you know how important it is to have kids writing independently. Yet, there are many challenges kids can have during this time that can lead to frustration and less-than-ideal work! Teachers face a huge challenge when kids aren’t able to work independently during writing workshop, too. If you… Read More
Writing
Writing How-to Books in Kindergarten
In Writing Workshop, we are working on How-to books and so far, it’s one of our favorite writing units! Here are some fun ways to introduce writing How-to Books Give directions out of order. Let the kids see how it just doesn’t work that way! Coming to the carpet, cleaning and lining up, getting ready to go home- any of… Read More
Stretching Words Out: Emergent Writing Strategy
It can be daunting for emergent writers to stretch out words, especially long words. Many of my kindergarten students are very artistic and can add details to their pictures, but when I ask them to add words, they sometimes hesitate or tell me they don’t know how to, even if they do have some letter-sound knowledge. Writing Warm-Ups To get… Read More
Mini-Lessons for Mañana Iguana
I love when I find a great book that I can use for multiple Writer’s Workshop mini-lessons! Mañana Iguana by Ann Whitford Paul is one of these books. It’s a version of The Little Red Hen with a Mexican twist. The main character is an iguana and she wants to throw a fiesta, but the Conejo, Tortuga, and Culebra (Rabbit,… Read More