Kid Writing: Getting Started on the Road to Literacy

[Notes from a session with Michele Walden-Bell, Dina Portnoy, Diane Waff (Philadelphia Writing Project)]

Website: https://kidwriting.homestead.com/

Reading and writing are interconnected. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/raising-readers-writers-and-spellers/201703/landmark-study-finds-better-path-reading-success

Program Research Questions

• What are the effects of integrating KW literacy practices and professional development on teacher practice and student writing and literacy learning?
• What are the achievement gains made by children in KW classrooms?
  WHat lessons are learned about engaging parents with KW? WHat supports do parents need to become engaged?
• What lessons are learned about coaching teachers in KW and about school practices to support KW?
• What lessons do we learn about sustaining the program beyond the treatment years?

KidWriting fits within a balanced literacy approach.

Main Components

Step 1: Kids draw their story. Teachers talk

Step 2: Kid writing. Children write on their own

Strategies that are employed:

1. The magic line
2. Stretching through
3. Kid crowns

Step 3: Adult writing (Adult might pick a word or two to teach into conventional spelling, and write the word under the invented spelling) {{Not editing. Not fixing. Teaching.}}

Step 4: Mini lesson and share

Content: Kindergarteners focus on adding problem to their story. Focus on craft and content, in addition to foundational skills.

Kindergarten: (45-60 minutes every day)

1. Phonics/word work as a warmup.
2. Kids start drawing
3. Kids engage in writing
4. Come back at the end for a mini lesson based upon the writing that occurred during the workshop. (Literature craft lessons based on reading literature)
1. Select 3 students to share (author’s chair)
2. Praise, praise, push (Two things that celebrate a kid’s work, AND offer a teaching point)
1. Example: Push could be adding a word to the word wall.

Marking Guidelines from Philadelphia schools:

https://www.philasd.org/curriculum/curriculum-and-instruction/marking-guidelines/

*NWP is collecting anchor papers to help provide a way to think deeper about the “scoring” of writing at these levels.

Program Research Findings:

• Children applied their KW skills to other subject areas.
• KW increased teachers’ expectations of students and students’ writing capabilities.
• KW enabled teachers to address the needs of all students in their classrooms, including ELL and lower level students.
• Parents were eager to learn ways of supporting students learning at home.

Idea: Family literacy mornings (6 times a year): Breakfast with parents:

We’ll provide breakfast and share ways you can help your child.

First thing in the morning on a school day.