How does a kindergarten student become a writer?

Kids use Kidwriting! Kidwriting is just writing the sounds heard in a word that is spoken. The child may hear lots of words or none (use a blank line to 'hold the space' if they hear nothing in a word). Try this recipe to cook up some fun!

Recipe for Kidwriting

What do kindergarten children gain by trying to write? They practice Reading Skills!

Children learn these reading skills:
1. Print moves in a straight line from left to right across the page.
2. Print is made of letters.
3. Letters come in upper and lower case.
4. Letters stand for sounds in words.
5. Written words are made of different letters.
6. Words represent pictures, places and things.
7. Words are separated by spaces.
8. Each word stands for one word when talking.
9. Words have beginning, middle and ending sounds.
10. If you don't know all the letters in a word, you can write down the sounds you hear.
11. When you know the word, you spell it the same way every time.

Source: Invitations - Changing as Teachers and Learners, Regie Routman, Appendix J, p. 103b, 1999.
This page was created by Mrs. Sabers - Fall 2003, updated Summer 2007