Kindergarten Writing Centers
A teacher friend once told me that kindergarten writing is a treasure unlocked. And I couldn’t agree more! Throughout the year, our kinder kiddos create amazing stories and scenarios - and we get a front-row seat at all that goes on in their little heads. It’s so fun to see students’ writing grow from the beginning of the year to the end. But we can’t get there without practicing.
Handwriting is one of those concepts that are vital for kids to learn in kindergarten, but it sure can be tricky. Learning to write can be a real source of frustration for kids, and like most things, it only gets better with practice.
We want handwriting lessons to be fun, engaging, and effective - more than just giving our kids some blank lines (which is great for freewriting!) Usually, at this age, they need a bit more assistance to get going. That’s why I’ve whipped up FOUR amazing kindergarten handwriting activities that are quick and easy for you - and fun and effective for them!
Circle & Write
This is a fun handwriting activity because it allows kids to reflect on their favorite things. Simply print out the Circle & Write paper and grab some pencils. Pass out one page to each student (or rather, each student can get four copies of each page, depending on skill level and amount of time).
Students will follow the directions and circle two items in the box. Then they’ll finish the sentence by writing the words to the items they circled. This activity can also provide an opportunity for the class to share what they circled as they talk about their favorite things.
To make a literacy center out of this activity, simply laminate the pages for future use (or slide them through a dry-erase pocket), set out some dry-erase markers, and let the students write! This is particularly good for partner work since they can discuss their choices with one another when they’re done writing.
Draw & Write
Draw & Write is a great introduction activity for story writing. In this activity, students draw a picture and then write the word that describes it. It introduces them to the idea that we can write stories (or words, in this case) to ideas that we draw.
For this activity, you’ll just need the Draw & Write a paper and some pencils. Students can add color with crayons or colored pencils if desired. They simply draw a picture of the word inside the box and then write the word on the line.
Sentence Starters
I don’t know one teacher (or student!) who doesn’t love some good sentence starters. They’re a great way to encourage students to develop an idea, all the while giving them a little assistance when they need it. For this activity, you’ll need some lined paper, sentence starters, and pencils.
Students choose one image card and one sentence starter card. Students look at their image card and their sentence starter card and write their choice on lined paper. For example, if a student chooses the lion image and the “I like” sentence starter, they write “I like a lion” on their lined paper. This activity can be done over and over as many times as you’d like, depending on the amount of practice they need.
Squiggle Story
Now it’s time for a bit of imagination! Squiggle Story is a way to get kids thinking outside the box. All you’ll need is copies of my Squiggle Story sheet, pencils, and crayons.
Each child gets a Squiggle Story sheet. He or she looks at the image inside the square and adds to that image to make a picture, making sure they’re adding plenty of detail. When their picture is finished, students write a story about it below. This activity is a great introduction to writing stories and gives them a chance to become an author (an illustrator!) of their own.
Handwriting is such an important aspect of kindergarten, and fun activities like this will help you access the author in all of your students!
