Journal Writing

It may seem odd to you that kindergarten students write in a journal, but it is something that we do nearly everyday.  At first, the pages may have a basic drawing and on some pages you will see where I have helped the student try to write a sentence.  Throughout the year the drawings become more advanced and your child will start to draw letters, then words using inventive spelling and eventually they will be able to write on their own. 

Each child is at a different level and that is okay.  I try to get them to learn something new each day.  Each day I do a lesson teaching them how to write and how to use a "magic line" if they just can't figure out how to sound out a word.  I explain to the kids that their writing is called "kid writing" and mine is "grown-up writing".  I don't want them to think that their writing is wrong, but just different.  The goal is to get a child to feel free to write and express themselves without the pressure of it being perfect.  I think that you will enjoy seeing what your child was thinking about at this young age.  It is also interesting to see the progress that they make throughout their kindergarten year.

Some of what journal writing teaches:

• how to read from left to right
• how to read and write
• how to spell and sound out words
• how to use correct punctuation
• how the spoken word can be put into words

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