Activities to Teach Children in Kindergarten to Write
Learning to write can be an exhilarating and frustrating process for a kindergartner. As exciting as it is to learn to write like a "big kid," these skills don't come easily. Don't expect children to learn to create letters and form words overnight. Expose children to letters, words and literature every day and make writing materials available at all times. With time, each child will make progress and learn to write in his own time.
Other People Are Reading
-
Tracing
-
Tracing exercises allow children to practice the mechanics of forming letters and words without having to worry about spelling. Tracing also helps children practice any letters that they struggle with. Using lined paper, fill each line with a single letter of the alphabet written over and over. As you move down the line, use increasingly thin pen strokes, leaving a bit of blank space at the end of each line. By the end of the line, the child should be forming the letter herself. Pass out the sheets during writing time or make them available for children to work on during free time.
Word Search
-
Each child can write out his own word search using a favorite book. Create blank word searches by drawing a grid on a piece of paper, with each space big enough to fit one letter. Read a favorite class story out loud, then ask the class to help come up with a list of six or seven vocabulary words from the book. Write the words on the board and give each child a blank word search. Each child must write each of the words somewhere in the grid, writing horizontally or vertically. Children must then fill the rest of the spaces in with other letters, then switch papers and find the words in a classmate's paper. This exercise teaches spelling, vocabulary, and how to write with control in small spaces.
-
Names
-
A kindergartner's entire world outside of home is herself and her classmates. It's not only useful for a child to be able to write these names, but she'll also be more invested in working on this project than learning to spell random words. Create a picture card with each child's name and picture, then use them as flash cards at morning circle. Hold up a card and ask who, other than the child in the picture, can identify the letters in the name. Once you've spelled out the letters, put the card away and ask each child to write the name from memory on a piece of paper. Make another set of cards to keep in the writing center so children can copy the names down.
Journals
-
Kindergartners should be learning that writing can be a joy and should be allowed time to write creatively. Give each child a notebook to use as a journal. Ask children to write in their journals for 20 to 30 minutes a day about whatever they choose. Kindergartners will likely "write" with scribbles, illustrations and plenty of misspelled words. Ask the class every few days if anyone would like to share a story he's created in his journal, since this will help children build storytelling and public speaking skills. Don't correct any of the child's writing techniques in his journal. As the year goes on, you should start to notice that the child's skills are improving.
-
References
- Photo Credit boy writes to writing-books image by Stepanov from Fotolia.com
