Drawing and scribbling lay the foundations for writing. Writing starts with scribbling and drawing then moves onto the formation of letters and words that convey a message.
Download the Writing printable resource
Curriculum
Early Years Learning Framework (ELYF)
- Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- Children are confident and involved learners
- Children are effective communicators
- Creates written texts that include at least 2 related ideas and correct simple sentences. (ENE-CWT-01)
- Produces all lower-case and upper-case letters to create texts. (ENE-HANDW-01)
Families
Read (2 mins)
Literacy is best learnt through typical situations that are engaging, meaningful and fun.
Children’s writing moves from conveying simple to more complex ideas.
Encourage the early writer to:
- Make marks that represent writing including lines, squiggles, letters or numbers.
- Use their fingers (e.g. unbutton their clothes, tie shoe laces) to strengthen fine motor skills as this assists with their writing.
Writing is used to persuade, inform and entertain.
Explore (10 mins)
Some ideas for learning in the everyday:
- Drawing in sand.
- Painting with water.
- Write letters in the air.
- Write a postcard to a family member.
- Set up a shoebox – fill it with different types of pens, textas, crayons, paper. Encourage children to write and draw often.
- Write a shopping list for this week’s grocery shop.
- Warm up for writing by singing songs like Incy Wincy Spider and Open Shut Them.
Teachers
Reflect (30 mins)
Reflect on your knowledge and practice. Consider the EYLF, NSW Syllabus and LPs:
- Where have these children come from?
- Where are you taking them?
Think about the learning that happens in your classroom that builds the knowledge and skills for writing.
What do you expect from the early learner?
What do you want parents to know about writing?
How is writing used across the curriculum?
Consider this skill – What are the connections between literacy and numeracy?
This is an opportunity to share what writing looks like in your classroom.
Engage (45 mins)
Engage in a learning conversation with parents. Suggested conversation starters:
- Is there anything in the video that challenged your thinking
about learning? - What foundational writing skills did you see in the video?
- How are the children:
- Practising their skills?
- Testing their ideas?
- Building their knowledge?
- What opportunity can you create or do you have at home that develops writing?