Emergent Literacy: Writing - Children's Learning Institute

From the Guidelines
Emergent Literacy: Writing
Connect to Your Classroom Activities
The activities in this section can be used to help children work towards achieving
outcomes in the five skill areas within this domain:
• Motivation to Write
• Independently Conveys Meaning
• Forms Letter Skills
• Concepts About Print Skills
Motivation to Write
• Identify a pretend play activity where you could integrate print materials
and opportunities for writing in your classroom.
• Come up with three ideas for engaging children in creating class-made
books. Consider books as a way for children to extend experiences with
classroom themes, field trips, literature, science projects, and other
interests.
• Take an inventory of the children’s writing space and materials in your
classroom. What could you modify or add to create more opportunities for
writing?
Independently Conveys Meaning
• How could you encourage independent writing in small groups?
• How could you encourage independent writing during play? Think of three
common play themes in your classroom and determine how you could
integrate writing activities in a meaningful way.
• Incorporate a regular graphing activity into a current or upcoming
classroom theme to encourage children to write their name.
Forms Letter Skills
• Develop a small group activity based on children’s interests where you will
model the formation of letters and allow children opportunities to write.
Use your Pre-K Guidelines for ideas.
• Implement a class newsletter or daily news activity where children can
dictate stories about their day, contribute writings and drawings and make
headings and captions.
• Take an inventory of the print in your classroom environment. Upon which
items, furniture, or areas would it be beneficial for children to have labels
placed?
Connect to Your Classroom: Emergent Literacy: Writing Page 1 of 2
© 2008 Texas Education Agency and the University of Texas System

Connect to Your Classroom Activities, continued
Concepts about Print Skills
• Write a thank you letter with your class after field trips or special visitors.
“Think Aloud” as you write and look for opportunities to allow the children
to participate.
• Conduct a small group activity where you dictate stories for the children.
Ask them to tell you the beginning, middle and end of the story.
• Evaluate your methods for formally and informally assessing children’s
writing development throughout the year. If you don’t already do so,
consider keeping a portfolio for each child to illustrate his/her growth.
Connect to Your Classroom: Emergent Literacy: Writing Page 2 of 2
© 2008 Texas Education Agency and the University of Texas System