Embedded Files
WHAT IS WRITING AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Writing is a form of communication and expression! The earlier students understand writing skills, the more effective their skills will be later on. Studies have shown that students who master writing skills early, struggle less in literacy and communication. Writing instruction encompasses more than just handwriting, but also includes planning, organization, and writing strategies. Even early learners can begin to understand creating ideas and organizing thoughts.
TYPES OF WRITING FOR ELEMENTARY
Narrative: A narrative writing tells a story, whether it be about a person, place, or thing. Common narratives contain a beginning, middle, and an end, focusing on a concept, idea, or plot. Storybooks, fairy tales, and nursery rhymes are all examples of narrative writings.
Informative: An informative writing is nonfiction writing that shares factual information about something. Informative writing is found in textbooks, reference books, and newspapers. This type of writing is organized so that the reader can quickly find information.
Opinion: In an opinion writing, the author shares their opinions or preferences. Reasons and thoughts are included, along with information to prove or support the author's point. Opinion writing can be found in newspapers, reviews, and magazines.
WRITING SKILLS
Here are some skills that your child can continue to work on in their writing this summer:
Word Spacing
Directionality (Left to Right, Top to Bottom)
Capitalization (their name, first words in sentences, proper nouns)
Ending Punctuation (periods, question marks, explanation points)
Complete Sentences
Commas
Quotation Marks
Apostrophes
ACTIVITIES TO PRACTICE WRITING
Here are some ideas to keep your child writing this summer. Each of them will provide the opportunity to practice conventions-capitals, punctuation, etc.
Write a journal! Students can practice writing narrative, opinion, and informative writing pieces by writing about their summer adventures. Which activity was the best? (Opinion) What did you do this week? (Narrative) How do you ride a bike? (Informative)
Write a letter (email) to a friend!
Send a postcard from vacation.
Write a recipe of something you make.
Create a craft and write the steps.
Write the steps of how to build something out of Legos.
Make a Summer Bucket List!
Play some games, watch some movies, or do some activities-then write an opinion writing, sharing which was the best and explaining why!
Write a story about one of your stuffed animals!
RESOURCES FOR WRITING
Organizing Ideas is one of the first steps to writing. Here are some graphic organizers from Reading Rockets to help when brainstorming! Click on the picture or links to expand/print the organizers.
Click below on the links to more printable writing papers and prompts to give your students a jumping off point!
Printable Writing Pages and Prompts
50 Prompts for Elementary Students
WRITING ACTIVITIES FOR EARLY LEARNERS
Letter Writing: Early learners can practice writing their letters! Here are some fun ways to make this practice more exciting!
Rainbow Write: Write a letter on paper with pencil, then trace over with different colors to make a rainbow.
Multi-Sensory Writing: Write letters in shaving cream, sand, playdough, slime, rice, etc.
Practice writing in chalk on the sidewalk, marker on the window or in the tub, or writing in the air with your finger.
Play Follow the Leader or Simon Says with Writing: Draw a straight line from the top line to the bottom line. Pick up your pencil and draw a line on the dotted line going through the straight line. What letter did you draw?
Kid Writing: Kid Writing is a excellent way to practice writing skills with your early learners.
1.) Students are given an idea to respond to or create one on their own.
2.) They draw a picture. *This helps the child remember what they are thinking about!
3.) Students then write. This can be a word, a phrase, or a short sentence. Students work to write the word or words on their own, practicing sounding out the words and listening for the letters. **Parents/Teachers can help with sounding out, but not by providing the letters needed.
4.) After the child is done, then they read the sentence back, having the adult Adult Writing underneath their Kid Writing. This allows the child to see the correct spellings, spacing, and punctuation and compare that to what they wrote.
This exercise gives students an opportunity to work independently or with minimal help, while still working on their conventions-capitals, punctuation, letter formation, and word spacing. It also helps develop their creative thinking and expression, allowing them to come up with ideas and express them using pictures and letters.
Click on the paper to open printable!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse