ELA the Kindergarten Way

Happy Spring!

Fellow kindergarten teachers....

We are excited to announce that our book of language arts lessons and strategies for kindergarten teachers will be published by Capstone in spring 2017!  

Here is the official book description: 

Kindergarten teachers know that a child's first taste of school should be engaging, active, social and fun!  Yet we are presented with a challenge.  How do we nurture the holistic, exploratory nature of early childhood while teaching with the intentionality and rigor required for meeting specific and ever-higher learning goals? Let this resource show you. ELA the Kindergarten Way contains a year-full of methods for teaching foundational reading skills, building vocabulary, inspiring and developing writing, and for helping children respond to literature and informational text - while inherently fulfilling the needs of the whole child. All activities are classroom-tested and naturally infuse visual art, music, drama, poetry, movement and puppetry - so that kindergartners meet standards their way.

Journals in Kindergarten

     Lately, we've been thinking about using journals in kindergarten.  We are a little concerned that first grade teachers may want to keep the magic of journal writing to their grade level.  We also recognize that kindergarten students need more support with their writing especially at the beginning of the year.  Sometimes, we've seen children drawing or coloring so much that they don't leave time for working with letters, sounds, and words. Sometimes, we've had children who need a lot of support just moving from one page to the next or with keeping their journal right side up!  On the other hand, we always remember the great moments when they leap at the chance to record something wonderful in their journal. Or, when they beg to write in them at choice time too, "I'm just about finished with my story."  And, sometimes, we get lucky as one student in the class blurts out with, "Oh, I can write by myself!"

     Two weeks ago, I took a camera look around during a quick 15 minute write by yourself time.  
   

I am convinced that journals need to be a part of writing in kindergarten!  Children are always so excited to write in them - they have free choice to be an author and illustrator.  Just choosing the topic can be exciting.

  Each child is successful working at their ability level without any assistance from the teacher other than setting up how to write in kindergarten and how to respond to your own and other's work expectations.

 

They get so much practice for an activity that is so fun for them!

I allow children to share about what they are writing or reading frequently.  This sharing will spark ideas and start peer networking without even trying.  Even though my students are supposed to be writing by themselves, they know who is writing Ninja or Princess stories and sit at the same tables to share ideas.

  So, Laura and I will continue to model reading and writing for children, to share and discuss mentor texts, to set up special writing projects, to teach directed writing to our students, and to teach and allow students to write in their journals!

  Kindergarten teachers - how are journals working for your students?  Let us know!                                        

     Enjoy!  Molly