Writing in my Kindergarten Classroom

This morning I read Mrs. Wills Kindergarten blog. She is doing a book study on the book In Pictures and In Words by Katie Wood Ray. Writing is one of my weakest areas, so I really need this book. I ordered it and can't wait for it to come in! I know once it comes in I will have a lot of catch up work to do!

Mrs. Wills discussed Chapters 1 - 6 this week and will be discussing Chapter 7 next week. You can download the schedule at Mrs. Wills Blog {click here}.

I try to build Stamina by giving my students time to write everyday. We begin the year with blank journals and in January we move to lined paper.  I also start the year with small golf pencils (or a regular pencil that I have cut in half - so it is the right size for their little hands).

I let the children the first few weeks decide what they want to draw. I ask them if they want to label their pictures or if they want me to. If they want to label, I work with them to write the word in their picture. (For example, if they draw a princess, I help them write the word princess). Eventually, I give them a sentence to copy off of the board. Later on, we work on finishing a sentence they copy off of the board and lastly they write their own sentences and develop their own stories.

I can't wait to get my book and read what I am doing right and what I need to fix.  I really want my Kinders to be successful writers!

To help my writers I like to use lists of words to help them with their writing. While blog stalking, I found the cutest little writing offices from Krazee 4 Kindergarten. You have to check them out! They are so cute! They fit perfectly in a school box! My Kinders would love that!

What do you do for Writing? Have you read In Pictures and In Words by Katie Wood Ray yet? Let's get our copy and read it all together! :)

Can't wait until next week to hear more of what Mrs. Wills has to say! :)