Strengthening Early Writing Through Foundational Skills with Amy Siracusano
In this episode, we sit down with writing expert and longtime educator Amy Siracusano to unpack what early writing instruction should look like—and why so many teachers struggle with it. From handwriting and stroke formation to moving students from oral language to letters, words, and eventually sentences, Amy brings clarity to a process that often feels overwhelming in K–2 classrooms.
Together, we explore why writing has been left out of the Science of Reading conversation, how foundational skills set students up for success, and practical ways teachers can support young writers without frustration or shutdowns. Amy shares actionable steps, classroom routines, and scaffolds that make writing more accessible, especially for multilingual learners and students who need more explicit support.
Whether you're a classroom teacher, coach, or administrator, this episode will give you a clearer path for building confident writers—starting with the essential skills that matter most.
In This Episode, We Cover:
Why writing often feels harder to teach than reading
The essential role of handwriting, paper, posture, and pencil grip
How to teach letter formation and why it must be explicit
Moving from letters → sounds → words → sentences
How oral language strengthens writing (and how to build it daily)
Practical scaffolds for dictation and beginning sentence-writing
Strategies for preventing shutdown and supporting overwhelmed writers
What to do if your school doesn’t have a handwriting curriculum
How to help multilingual learners build writing confidence
What “picture story, word story” is and why it works
Why structured topics support early writers more than free choice
Simple ways to assess writing readiness and automaticity
What gives hope for the future of writing instruction
Resources Mentioned
University of Iowa Handwriting Resources: LIFTER & CLIFTER
The Handwriting Collaborative (Kathleen Wright)
Research from Virginia Berninger, Louisa Moats, William Van Cleave, and Steve Graham
Connect With Amy Siracusano
Website: knowbetterdobetterliteracy.com
Email: Amy at …. siracusano@gmail.com
Want More??
Explore more Science of Reading PD, decodables, small-group planning tools, coaching sessions, and literacy resources at Route2Reading inside the Literacy Edventures Membership.
