How might implementing writing conferences and journaling impact writing ability and growth?

Seminar Title

How might implementing writing conferences and journaling impact writing ability and growth?

Writing

Kindergarten

Kindergarten

Writing

Writing

"I don't know how to write!" "I don't know what to write about!" Have you heard these words before? Are you looking to make connections with your students while engaging their interest in writing? Then journaling and writing conferencing with your students is for you! This study focuses on writing conferencing through journal writing. Even if your students are just drawing pictures, that is a beginning stage of writing. Practicing writing everyday, giving students the choice of what to write about, and developing goals through conferencing with my students each week has helped them to communicate through writing. As a kindergarten teacher, I always found that my biggest struggle was to teach writing, and my study has helped me to become a better writing teacher and my students to develop a love for writing.

How might implementing writing conferences and journaling impact writing ability and growth? Through my study, I had my students journal each day along with the supports of conferencing and using writing folders. The best way to assess writing is to observe them each day as they are writing, to look at writing samples, and to interact with them during writing conferences. By conferencing with students individually, we are able to develop writing goals for them to work on that are at their ability level. It also helps to build relationships by getting to know their interests. By writing often and with purpose, students grow as thinkers. When students experience this, they gain confidence and writing becomes exciting to them. Writing makes students read like writers, and with practice it develops their voice A child's writing is a pathway to reading success. Through my research, I found many connections between reading and writing. The more successful students are as writers, the better readers they become. Knowing the stages of writing children are performing at is important in developing young spellers. It is important to let them write at their developmental stage and not help them with spelling. Teaching students the strategies and encouraging independent writing is key. According to Lucy Caulkins, the main goal is to teach the writer, not the writing. When you teach the writer through the conference, you are helping the student go from where they are currently in their writing, to working towards a goal the teacher believes they can achieve based on ability (Caulkins, L. (2013). Writing Pathways: Performance assessments and learning progressions. Portsmouth, NH: Heinmann). Taking the time to build and develop writing routines and procedures plays a big role in how students become writers as well. Look at the child's strengths, point out their knowledge and build from there. Overall, through the findings of my study, I have seen growth in overall writing ability. I also was able to see the attitudes towards writing turn more positive. One-on-one conferences have been especially helpful in increasing my students literacy skills because I was able to help the students with their individual needs. By having real conversations about a writing piece and connecting with one another and the writing, students are more engaged in the writing process. Journaling everyday has provided them with opportunities to practice their writing skills and goals.