Early Writing Experiences

1
Early Writing Experiences

• Jana Crosby, Reading Specialist
• Read to Succeed Initiative
• Alissa Ongie, Preschool Project Coordinator
• Tennessee State Improvement Grant

2

• Researchers agree that children go through
  certain developmental stages of writing these
  stages may vary in length from child to child.
• Development typically spans from 2 or 2 ½ to 5
  years of age from the late toddler stage to the
  end of the preschool years.
• (Baghban, 1984 Clay, 1987 Schickendanz, 1990)

3
Points to Remember

• Reading and writing develop together, not
  separately.
• Models, collaboration, and choices promote
  writing.
• Intentional teaching of writing develops young
  writers.
• Karen Bromley, 2000

4
Stages of Writing

• Drawing
• Scribbles
• Letter-like Forms
• Letter Strings
• Copying Environmental Print
• Invented Spelling
• Conventional Spelling

5

• If children are provided with marking tools, a
  suitable surface on which to write, and a safe
  place to play, they begin to make marks at quite
  an early age. Judith Schickendanz, 2000

6

• During scribbling, children learn to distinguish
  writing from drawing.
• Scribbles start out as random marks and transform
  to marks with meaning!

7

• Children begin to produce letter-like forms that
  show some similarity to letters.
• Some children will use the lines and shapes that
  they are observing and learning about letters and
  make mock letters during this stage.

8

• As children learn the names and shapes of
  letters, they begin to produce letter strings.
• Letters from childrens names often begin to
  emerge during this stage of writing.

9

• Once children are able to form letters, they can
  look at environmental print (such as food labels
  or a grocery list) and copy the letters and words.

10

• As children develop they will start to use
  invented spelling they may use one letter to
  represent each word they want to communicate.
• Eventually, children move to conventional
  spelling and writing.

11
Stages of Writing

• Drawing

12
Stages of Writing

• Scribbles

13
Stages of Writing

• Letter-like forms

14
Stages of Writing

• Letter strings (letters reversed)

15
Stages of Writing

• Copying environmental print

16
Stages of Writing

• Invented spelling and conventional spelling
  (first name)

17

• What kinds of activities do children need to
  participate in to develop the fine motor skills
  that will help them prepare to write?
• Object-handling activities that emphasize motor
  control, precision, and accuracy of movement.

18
Suggested Activities

• Water play
• Writing in shaving cream/fun foam
• Lacing cards
• Tweezers games
• Play-dough
• Scissors
• Using a hole punch
• Clay
• Eyedroppers
• Pegboards
• Cotton swabs
• Sorting games

• Clothespins
• Puzzles
• Paintbrush and water
• Tearing paper
• Stringing beads
• Easel painting
• Writing with different tools
• Self-help skills
• Finger-painting
• Puppets
• Chalkboard writing
• Finger plays

19
Things to Write On

• Stationery
• Note pads
• Order forms
• Receipts
• Calendars
• Chalk boards
• Dry erase boards
• Theme-shaped paper
• Post-it notes
• Unlined paper

• Variety of paper
• Clipboard with paper
• Ready-made books
• Paper plates
• Old forms
• Junk mail
• Etch-a-sketch
• Magnadoodle
• Textured paper
• Lined paper

20
Things to Write With

• Chubby markers
• Thin markers
• Pencils
• Colored pencils
• Crayons
• Ball point pens

• Chalk
• Sidewalk chalk
• Dry erase markers
• Alphabet stamps
• Paint
• Gel pens

21
Accessories and Tools

• Marker stand
• Tape
• Envelopes
• Writing caddy
• Ruler
• Stamps
• Magnetic letters
• Ink pad
• Index cards

• Stencils
• Yarn
• Scissors
• Wallpaper samples
• Magazines
• Catalogs
• Journals
• Word cards
• Sentence strips

22
Kinds of Writing

• Activities include
• Journals
• Message boards
• Letters, cards
• Lists
• Write the room
• Response to literature
• Dictation

23
Journal Writing

• Gives children opportunities to practice writing.
• Develops the concept that writing has a purpose.
• Provides opportunities for self-expression.
• Is an activity you can do with your child by
  keeping your own journal, too.

24
Message Board

• You may use a dry erase board or post-it notes on
  the refrigerator to leave messages or reminders
  for other family members.
• Let your child help you write the messages and/or
  write his or her own messages.

25
Letters Cards

• Technology has led to less communication by
  handwritten letters.
• Revive the lost art of letter-writing by sending
  letters or cards to family and friends for
  special events and holidays.
• Let your child write a portion of the letter, or
  at least sign his or her name.
• Help your child send thank you notes after
  receiving presents it increases literacy and
  reinforces good manners.

26
Lists

• We write many types of lists on a regular basis,
  including grocery lists and to-do lists.
• Before going to the grocery store, let your child
  write his or her own list or help you with yours.
• During the shopping, let your child be in charge
  of marking items off the list this increases
  literacy and keeps them occupied during grocery
  shopping.

27
Write the Room

• Give your child a clipboard, paper, and pen or
  pencil.
• Choose a room in the house with a good amount of
  environmental print (the kitchen has food labels
  the living room may have book covers)
• Let your child go around the room and write the
  words that he or she sees.

28
Response to Literature

• After reading aloud to your child, choose a
  writing activity to respond to the story in some
  way.
• Examples write a new ending to the story, write
  a letter to a character in the story, write a
  list of characters in the story.

29
Dictation

• Dictation is writing down the exact words your
  child tells you.
• Dictated activities
• Demonstrate that what we think/say can be
  written.
• Provide a model for writing.
• Encourage childrens use of language.
• Values childrens words.

30
When taking dictation

• Write EXACTLY what your child says.
• Remember, we are working on writing, NOT grammar!
• Encourage all attempts your child makes.
• Ask questions to extend language.
• Make sure your child can see you write.
• Read the dictation back to your child, following
  the print with your finger as you read it.
• Encourage your child to reread the dictation by
  themselves, to friends, or to other family
  members.

31
SIG Preschool Literacy Toolkit

• You are receiving a toolkit from the TN SIG
  Preschool Literacy Training Project.
• The purpose of the toolkit is to provide literacy
  materials and activities that you and your child
  can do together.
• You can pick up your Preschool Literacy Toolkit
  when you turn in the workshop survey.

32
Questions?

• Thank you for participating in this parent
  workshop.
• You are your childs first and most important
  teacher, and you are well on your way to helping
  your child become a writer.

33
References

• Bredekamp Copple 1997. Developmentally
  Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs
  revised edition. Washington D.C. National
  Academy Press.
• Morrow, Lesley Mandel 2001. Literacy Development
  in the Early Years, Helping Children Read and
  Write. Boston, Massachusetts Allyn Bacon.
• National Research Council 1998. Preventing
  Reading Difficulties in Young Children.
  Washington D.C. National Academy Press.
• National Research Council 1999. Starting Out
  Right. Washington D.C. National Academy Press.
• Neuman, Copple, Bredekamp 2000. Learning to Read
  and Write Developmentally Appropriate Practices
  for Young Children. Washington, D.C. NAEYC.

34
References

• Ranweiler, Linda 2005. Preschool Readers and
  Writers Early Literacy Strategies for Teachers.
  Ypsilanti, Michigan High/Scope Press.
• Schickendanz, Judith and Casbergue, Renee 2004.
  Writing in Preschool Learning to Orchestrate
  Meanings and Marks. Newark, Delaware IRA.
• Shickendanz, Judith 1998. Much More Than the
  ABCs The Early Stages of Reading and Writing.
  Washington, D.C. NAEYC
• Strickland, Dorothy and Morrow, Lesley 2000.
  Emergent Literacy Young Children Learn to Read
  and Write. Newark, Delaware IRA.
• Center for Improving the Readiness of Children
  for Learning and Education 2002. National Head
  Start S.T.E.P. Trainers Manual. Houston, TX
  National Head Start/CIRCLE.