Reading for the Love of It Conference

 

The first presentation I attended (and sat at the very front row) was with Miriam Trehearne entitled "Learning to Write and Loving It!"

Here are some of Miriam's thoughts that resonated with me:

 

• We want students to love to write!
• It's in the early years that you can really make a difference.
• Writing (including drawing) helps children to make sense of their world. It helps them to think! It also develops letter recognition, phonics, print awareness, phonological awareness, oral language, and comprehension.
• Children are developmentally ready to begin writing as early as three years old.
• Have a morning message for kids to write, rather than teachers.
• Have books everywhere!
• Provide many varied opportunities for students to engage with writing (surveys, brainstorms, letters, books, etc.).
• What's needed to become a writer: fluent letter recognition, phonological awareness, and oral language.
• Celebrate writing successes! 2 Praises and a Prompt.
• Get children to wonder about things and write about them.
• A writing workshop consists of: mini lessons, writing, writing conferences, and author share.
• It's important to allow children to "incubate their ideas" and talk about them before writing them down.
• When you give students real reasons to write, they will want to write, love to write, and write more.
• Writing helps the children believe in themselves as writers...

Of course I bought her book and she even signed it for me. How lucky is that, I feel like I met with a Kindergarten Rock Star!!