Our Class Experience

Reinforcing Concepts of Print and Writing Conventions

Stage of Literacy Development:

Stage 0: Foundation for Literacy
Stage 1: Beginning Literacy

Ages:

3-6

Grade Range:

PreK K

Food Groups:

Primary:
Concepts of Print, Writing Conventions

Activity Description

Preparation:

1. Set up chart paper and markers

Implementation:

1. Remind students of a class experience everyone has recently shared
    a. Use pictures to activate knowledge if desired
2. Ask students to share events and memories of the experience
    a. You may wish to jot these down on chart paper
3. Have students orally organize the ideas in a sequential manner
    a. For example, ask students to tell you which of the events you discussed happened first
    b. If desired, note the order by recording a number beside the idea
4. Once ideas have been organized, choose 4-6 main ideas to record as sentences
    a. Ask different students to generate a complete thought to represent one of the ideas
    b. Explain that you will be recording that complete thought, and it will be a sentence
5. Model how you would generate the text, noting important print concepts
    a. For example, you start at the top of the page and go left to right, you leave spaces between words
6. Read over the text
7. Explain that you will be editing the text together to make sure you have written it correctly
8. Model checking for writing conventions, such as capitalization and punctuation
    a. Read the first sentence, asking students how they know that it is the beginning of the sentence
        • Explain that you used a capital letter to show the beginning of the sentence
    b. When you get to the end of the first sentence, ask students how you have shown that you reached
    the end
        • Explain that we show the end of a sentence using a period
9. Continue to work through the text with students, having them help you identify where capitals and periods have been placed
    a. Note other conventions or special vocabulary as desired
10. Re-read the edited text, praising students for their excellent awareness of how we write!

Adaptations For

English Language Learners/ESL:

- Provide pictures of actual shared experience
- Use basic language during teacher instruction

LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:

- Provide short and simple instructions
- Emphasize the main ideas (punctuation and capitalization)

Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:

- Inclusion of all students through common, shared experience

Differentiated Instruction:

- Use peer assisted learning by having students recall the shared experience in pairs before asking students to share their memories with the group
- Use visuals

Related References

Source:
Trehearne, M.P., Healy, L.H., Cantalini-Williams, M. & Moore, J.L. (2000). Kindergarten Teachers Resource Book. Scarborough: Nelson Thomson Learning.

Evidence:
Pullen, P. C. & Justice, L. M. (2003). Enhancing phonological awareness, print awareness, and oral language skills in preschool children. Intervention in School and Clinic, 39, 87-98.

Activity Objective

The goal of Our Class Experience: Reinforcing Concepts of Print and Writing Conventions is to reinforce print concepts and basic writing conventions through collectively writing about a shared class experience.

What You Need

Prep Time:

5 minutes
- Set up chart paper and markers

Task Time:

30 minutes
- Teacher leads shared writing about class experience

Materials Required:

Teacher:
- Chart paper
- Markers

Optional:
- Pictures of class experience
- Paper and drawing supplies for students

What You Do

Teacher Role:

Direct instruction:
- while explaining print concepts and writing conventions

Modeling:
- while showing how you would capture the shared class experience in writing

Student Grouping:

Whole class:
- during shared writing of class experience

Assessment Ideas:

- Make anecdotal observations about the concepts of print that students know and are able to identify in writing

Quick Tips

Activity Extensions:

- Invite students to help edit other pieces of whole group writing by adding proper punctuation and capitalization

- Use this activity to teach other print concepts, such as titles or the use of commas

- Have students illustrate their fondest memory of the experience
  a. If appropriate, invite students to try to write 
  1-2 sentences describing their picture and edit 
  their work for capitalization, punctuation, and 
  spelling