When setting up your writing time, there are a few things to consider:
1. Weekly/Daily Schedule of Your Classroom My weekly schedule provides around 130 minutes for my entire literacy block each day. Here are the things that my kindergarten team thinks is important to include each day in our literacy instruction:
Adding all of those parts up, you notice that I am over my allowed time by about 20 minutes. This caused me to take a look at my schedule, and decide that I would have writing 2/3 times a week, and then the read aloud/activity would be the other two times a week. I feel it is important for 5 and 6 year olds to have practice with projects where they must follow large group instructions, and improve their fine motor skills. This also allows me to keep the "fun" activities as a part of my day that those kinders deserve! You may have more time or less time in your literacy block, but I have found that around 30 minutes is perfect for the writing chunk of our day (10 minute mini lesson, 20 minutes writing and individual conferences) . 2. Focus Potential of Your Students When deciding where in your literacy block to put your writing time, you should pay close attention to what parts came before and after. As you know, kindergarteners are unable to sustain focus in an independent way for long periods of time. I am lucky to have a morning recess that breaks up my literacy block right in the middle. I was able to create a schedule that looks like this.
3. Making it Fun There are a few ways that I make my writing time fun for my kiddos:
4. Conferencing It is important to meet with each of your students to talk about their writing. This will help you gage their understanding, guide your planning, and it also helps you gage their focus. I tried to meet with each child once a week and used the observation document listed in my resources post. You will meet with your students during their 20 minutes of independent time each day. It might help to make a schedule which I have included here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Conference-Schedule-351994 5. Student Independence There are a couple of things I do to foster independence during our writing time. You should consider these as well, otherwise you will be interrupted many times, and not get much done.
6. A "How I Know My Book Is Finished" Chart Hang this chart on the wall near your supply station so that your students can easily use the list to make sure they have completed all the steps. Here are the check boxes we had on our list: 1. Name on the front of your book 2. Pictures and words on every page 3. One BIG idea 4. Share with one friend 7. Share Out Ideas I strongly suggest you purchase the book I suggested in my resource list, because it has many ideas to try when sharing out their stories! Here are some that I have tried or want to try!
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Each unit, after the foundational lessons, lasts around 5 weeks.
Here is an example of one of my units that I based off of the Writing Through the Year TPT bundles. Remember that my schedule allows me to have a writing section two days a week, so this unit lasts for 5 or 6 weeks: “How To” Writing Scope and Sequence Day 1: Read “How to Babysit a Grandma” and sequence activity (eating a cookie) Day 2: Generate ideas of things we know how to do Day 3: Importance of naming the activity/choose what to write about and create your title on how to writing page Day 4: Act out and draw your steps on how to writing page Day 5: Add details to pictures so reader knows what it means Day 6: Use words to keep your steps in order (first, next, last) on how to writing page Day 7: Add labels if needed Day 8: Materials list if needed Day 9: Edit sentences with self & partner Day 10: Partner acts out using your steps/words Day 11: Celebrate/share! Student Example: Here is a list of items I used to plan my writing time or that students used during our writing time. Please click any to take you directly to the item to purchase it!
1. manilla folders -each student will get a manilla folder with their name on it that they can decorate with crayons, markers, and even family pictures 2. jumbo popsicle sticks -each student will get one to put their name on and decorate -we call them their "space mans" to help them create spaces between words 3. alphabet chart -print and laminate one for each student, then staple inside of folder 4. individual sight word wall -print and laminate one for each student, then staple inside of folder 5. writing checklist -print and laminate one for each student, then staple inside of folder 6. writing ideas list -print and laminate one for each student, then staple inside of folder 7. dot spots -spread these around the room, and use them for students to know where to sit during your writing time -YOU choose the colors they sit on, so you can make sure they sit by peers that will help them be successful 8. jumbo timer -hang this in a place where all students can see -set the time at the beginning of your independent writing time so students know how many minutes they have to work 9. writing paper -narrative/fiction/opinion/persuasive -how to 10. note taking/observations 11. projector/document camera -every district provides different equipment for classrooms-in my classroom, I have a document camera that I use to model my mini lessons -students can see while I write and draw so they know what I am asking them to do 12. The Writing Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Writers by Jennifer Serravallo -this book is a WONDERFUL resource-I used it to help plan my lessons early in the year to get them ready for more focused units later 13. Writing Through the Year TPT Bundles -our team picked only some of these units to download, and based our units off of these -they include great resources for each unit, a scope and sequence, lessons, and examples |
AuthorHi! My name is Brooke Praska. I am a kindergarten teacher, and I wanted to share my journey in striving to be better every day! contact |