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A child holding an alphabet book - she learned her letters while making it!

Writing

Writing Teaches Early Literacy!

Reading and writing go hand in hand. Writing—scribbling at first—helps children make the connection between the spoken and printed word.

How Can Writing Develop Early Literacy Skills?

  • As children see print used in their daily lives, they begin to recognize that those printed letters stand for spoken words.

  • Writing helps children learn the purpose of reading – that printed letters can communicate information.

  • Children who scribble, draw, and do crafts are practicing coordination and exercising their hand and finger muscles. This develops the fine motor control needed in order to hold a pencil and write letters and words.

What Kind of Writing?

You are your child's first role model; they will learn by watching you!kids building writing skills while having fun!

  • When you write lists or notes, show them to your child and talk about what you're doing.

  • Scribbles: let them hold and use thick crayons, pencils, or markers. As they grow, encourage them to make strokes that will later form letters: straight lines, curves, and circles.

  • Drawing: draw pictures for your child, and encourage them to draw their own pictures. Provide blank unlined paper for them to draw on as they please.

  • Name Fun: Play with the sounds and letters of their name. Point out letters you see and have your child find others. Write their name, saying the letters out loud as you point to each. Help your child write their name in uppercase letters and repeat their sounds.

  • Word Writing: help them label parts of pictures or write captions for them.

Putting it into Action

  • Make it easy for your child to draw/write by setting up a craft area for them.

  • Give your child opportunities to use other art supplies like washable finger paints, chalk, playdough, even safety scissors. These build fine motor skills too.

  • Let them experiment with what they write/draw on as well: different kinds of paper, cardboard, the sidewalk. Make or get washable crayons they can use on themselves or on the tub during bath time.

  • Provide coloring pages and pages with simple tracing activities.

  • Write favorite words for them to see: dog, cat, Mom, Dad, etc.

  • Use a chalkboard or magnetic letters on the fridge to write family messages; help your child write their own messages too.

  • When your child is ready to write letters, start with them in uppercase.

  • Display your child's drawings and writing around the house: on your fridge, etc.

Here are several examples of using Writing to help build early literacy skills:

  • When you go grocery shopping or have errands to run, write out a list and ask your child to add to it. As you complete it, have your child check the item off.

  • Talk to your child about what they draw: ask questions and respond to what they say. Make up stories together about the picture.

  • Ask your child to label parts of their drawings. This will also help them understand that words stand for things.

  • Suggest drawing a story: three pictures for the beginning, middle, and end. Have your child tell you the story so you can write out captions for the pictures.

  • Draw a picture yourself and tell your child about it, then ask them to draw one for you. You can trade pictures back and forth like a conversation.

  • Encourage your child to “sign” their name on their drawings. Even if it starts out as a scribble, they are learning that they can write something to represent their name. Later, they will be able to write their initials, then the complete name.

Sources:

Saroj Ghoting
Every Child Ready to Read 2nd Edition

Preschool Events
Mon, Nov 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Nov 18, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Nov 19, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Nov 19, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Nov 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, Nov 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Nov 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Nov 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Nov 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Nov 19, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Nov 19, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Nov 20, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Nov 21, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Nov 21, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Nov 21, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Nov 21, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Fri, Nov 22, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Hobart Branch Library - Children's Area

Sat, Nov 23, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Nov 25, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Nov 26, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Nov 26, 10:30am - 10:50am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Nov 26, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Nov 26, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Nov 26, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Nov 26, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Nov 27, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 03, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Children's Program Room

Tue, Dec 03, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 03, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 03, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Dec 03, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 03, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 03, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 03, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 03, 12:00pm - 12:40pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Dec 05, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Dec 05, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Dec 05, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, Dec 05, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Munster Branch Library - Children's Area

Sat, Dec 07, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Dec 07, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Dec 09, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Dec 09, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Dec 09, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 10, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, Dec 10, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Dec 10, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 10, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 10, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Dec 11, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Dec 11, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Dec 12, 1:30pm - 2:15pm
Munster - Children's Program Room

Sat, Dec 14, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Dec 14, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Family Events
Sat, Nov 16, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville Branch - Children's Area

Sat, Nov 16, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Tue, Nov 19, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Nov 20, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A

Sat, Nov 23, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Sat, Nov 23, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Nov 25, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Wed, Nov 27, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Nov 27, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 03, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Dec 04, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Dec 05, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Munster Branch Library - Children's Area

Sat, Dec 07, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Dec 07, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room D
This event is full

Mon, Dec 09, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Wed, Dec 11, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Dec 11, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Dec 14, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Dec 14, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A
This event is full

Sat, Dec 14, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Sat, Dec 14, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Sat, Dec 14, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Hobart - Large Meeting Room

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