How Do I Write…? Scaffolding Preschoolers' Early Writing Skills

Abstract

Providing young children with rich writing experiences can lay a foundation for literacy learning. This article presents a framework for individualizing early writing instruction in the preschool classroom.Sonia Q. Cabell is a research scientist at

Reliability and validity of the Writing Resources and Interactions in Teaching Environments (WRITE) for preschool classrooms

“…Spelling is focused on orthography, recognizing that letters represent sounds and the ability to identify and write the sounds in words (Bear, Invernizzi, Templeton, & Johnston, 2008). Teachers support these skills when they scaffold children by offering letter names to pair with the sounds children have generated, by asking about letters and letter sounds children hear as they write, or by encouraging invented spelling (Cabell, Tortorelli, & Gerde, 2013;Gerde, Bingham, & Wasik, 2012;Neuman et al, 2000).…”

RETRACTED: Literacy lessons learnt from parents after attending a seven-week Home-School Partnership Programme

“…Chohan (2011) explains that pre-writing skills are best learned when children are allowed to organise and convey their thoughts. Cabel, Tortorelli and Gerde (2013) expound that young children who are exposed to pre-writing experiences are provided with a rich foundation for literacy learning. A foundation for literacy learning includes an understanding of writing on a page from left to right, drawings and sound awareness.…”

“…Furthermore, Cabel et al (2013) state that children's drawings are their writing and that this process helps young children to figure out how writing works in an informal manner. Children often represent salient sounds or the sounds that are the most prominent because of the way they feel in the child's mouth.…”

“…The following week they had to show their books to the whole group. This increased their sense of independence and usefulness (Cabel et al 2013). Two parents mentioned that making your own books was economical:…”

Early Writers in Northern Communities: Ways Teachers Might View and Reflect on Writers’ Representations

“…In their article, "How do I write…? ", Cabell, Tortorelli and Gerde (2013) have a table with suggestions for scaffolding young children's writing using individualized strategies. I particularly like the description of how Marvin is playing doctor in a dramatic play centre and signing prescriptions (interesting to note that Marvin's idea of key aspects of a doctor or healer's role is likely to be socio-culturally determined!)…”