COMMUNICATE
Early Writing
Support preschoolers as they express their own ideas through pictures and words
At A Glance
Early writing in preschool brings together many developing skills. Young children use fine motor, thinking, and language skills to produce writing that holds meaning and can be shared with others. We can support children’s development of early writing skills by narrating as we write, talking about different types of writing, and encouraging children to write on their own.
What It Looks Like
A quick glance at ways you can support preschoolers' early writing skills
Take Dictation
Help children connect their ideas with words by writing down what they say and reading the words back to the child, like this educator does with a child’s colorful artwork.
Model Writing
Label and narrate your own writing to make the act of writing visible to children. Listen as this educator describes the lines used to form the letter “D.” After writing, the educator invites children to comment on the features of the uppercase and lowercase letters.
Promote Writing
Provide a variety of materials, and encourage children’s independent writing. Here, children have access to crayons, colored pencils, and markers, as well as different colors, sizes, and types of paper.
CLASSROOM STRATEGIES
Support Name Writing
Name Writing is a strategy that uses children’s natural interest in their own name to encourage letter writing.
This strategy can be used as part of a daily sign-in routine, or during other routines, such as having children add their name to a class job list.
SUPPORTING EARLY WRITING SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS
Wave
Illustrated by Suzy Lee, this wordless book shows a child playing in the tumbling waves. It invites readers to think of their own words to go along with the story.
SUPPORTING EARLY WRITING SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS
Alma and How She Got Her Name
Written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, this book is about a young girl who notices how long her name is and learns the meaning of each of her names.
SUPPORTING EARLY WRITING SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS
A Letter to Amy
Written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats, this story is about a boy named Peter who writes a letter inviting his friend to his birthday party. The story is filled with different writing and print images.
Activity Cards for Preschool Classrooms
Part of the STREAMin3 curriculum, these activity cards provide simple and fun ways to support children's early writing skills
Messages
Write a message with blank spaces and prompt children to fill in the missing words.
Get Our Resource Guide
Includes questions and activities to guide your use of the videos, book suggestions, and activity cards featured for each of the Core Skills
