Learning Center Blog Hop Series: Writing Center

​PreK Partner has another great blog hop planned for you today.  This week we are highlighting the Writing Center in preschool.

Emergent writing in the early childhood classroom is an essential part of literacy development in young children.  The phrase writing in preschool does not refer to preschoolers writing words or stories.  It means giving children the opportunity to use a wide range of writing tools, that will build their knowledge of the written word.
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​Our writing center is set up in a way that children are able to deliver their ideas through illustrations and attempts at printing.

Children need to understand the purpose of writing.
Why do we do it?
It is done for functional reasons like…

• develop fine motor skills by using the different writing tools available.
• to communicate ideas through drawings and beginning writing.
• to make list (remember to do things)
• to give directions
• to express appreciation
• to preserve memories
• associate that letters make up words.
• associate print reading.

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 Learn about the E-Workshop Unlock the World of Language and Literacy
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​Anything and everything that will promote writing and drawing!

What to write on:

• Write and wipe cards
• Mini chalkboards and chalk
• White board with dry erasable markers
• A variety of paper-lined, unlined, colored, plain, small, large, seasonal papers and theme based papers.
• Clipboards
• Index cards
• Notebooks
• Sticky Notes

What to write with:
Pens
Pencils
Colored Pencils
Markers
fat
fine
Crayons
Crayon Rocks
Chalk
Dry Erase Markers
Gel Pens
Milk Pens
Permanent Markers

What to make books with:

• Hole Punches
• Two Hole Punch
• Rubber Bands
• Craft Sticks
• Stapler
• Colored Tape

Story starters or prompts to help promote early attempts at writing letters, words and storytelling.

• Stencils
• Letter Stamps
• Word Picture Cards
• Children’s Name Cards
• Letter Formation Rings
• Number Formation Rings
• Picture Stickers
• Letter Stickers
• Shape Stickers

Teachers need to be encouraging about all attempts at writing in the center.  When a child says “Look I spelled my name.” and shows you a paper with many of the letters on it, you focus on the excitement of the child and of the learning.  “Yes you did I see many of the letters in your name.”  “Identifying the letters to the child.” 
 
As you are engaged with the children and their writing make comments on what you see.  “I see that you are writing _______.”  Or “I see that you are drawing _________.”  “I like how you are using all of that color for the _______.”  Never comment on what is missing or incorrect about their writing or drawing. 
 
Use open-ended questions as you are engaged with the children, this will help spark other ideas for their drawing or writing.    
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Children need to know that the marks they make on paper are important to us.  A great way to do this is to create a frame for each child.
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