Writing Before They Can Write - HOW?!

I love teaching writing in Kindergarten. I know it's not everyone's jam, because let's face it, it's hard! Writing is the only content area where students have to produce something from nothing. It's literally all on them! In years, past, I have struggled with what to do at the beginning of the year when students don't yet have the letter/sound knowledge to produce words. I know I'm not alone here! I didn't know how to fill our writing time before students could actually write. 

In seeking to solve that problem, I asked myself what the pre-requisite skills were. Well, before they can write letters, they have to be able to manipulate a writing tool and produce the developmental strokes necessary for letter formation. 

Before they can write stories, they have to be able to TELL stories - to understand the components that make up a story. Eventually we want them to be able to tell these stories with words and pictures. They'll need the foundation for drawing before becoming illustrators. 

Enter Before Words. I wanted a systematic approach for teaching all these skills. I didn't want to leave them to chance or try to teach them "on the fly" because these prerequisite skills deserve the same care and intentionality as anything else we teach. I know you've heard this before, but I can't stress it enough in Kindergarten Land. 

Go slow to go fast. 

I put together a unit for each of these skills: pre-writing strokes, oral storytelling, and illustrations. Each unit includes detailed lesson plans that follow a gradual release model: I do, we do, you do. Each lesson has a Google teaching slide already prepared for each of those gradual release components. These are no-prep, no guess work, everything laid out and ready to go! Click HERE to get a closer look! 

BUT, WAIT! I want to clarify something. I fully believe that while you're teaching these prerequisite writing skills, you should simultaneously be teaching children about letters and sounds. When you're working on oral storytelling and illustrating, you're also giving them the tools to physically write. So, I highly recommend pairing this work with some letter formation practice. I've got a really comprehensive handwriting bundle you can find here. And I want to offer you a freebie A-Z letter set as well! Click the image below to download! :) 

Wishing you all the best as you give your kids the tools and confidence to be actual, real life writers! Thank you for all you do to encourage their creativity and the opportunities you provide for them to express themselves through story!