//Gradually Releasing Students into Reading and Writing Independently//
- By: Myrandah Staub
- Jun 24, 2016
- 3 min read
Starting in Kindergarten, we begin to prepare students to become independent readers and writers. But, how do you help a child who walks in on the first day of school (not knowing what a letter or sound is) to be able to read words and write sentences?
Kindergarten is huge developmental year for children. According to NAEYC ,during this year kindergartners are expected to:
Enjoy being read to and themselves retell simple narrative stories or informational texts
Use descriptive language to explain and explore
Recognize letters and letter-sound matches
Show familiarity with rhyming and beginning sounds
Understand left-to-right and top-to-bottom orientation and familiar concepts of print
Match spoken words with written ones
Begin to write letters of the alphabet and some high-frequency words
And SO MUCH MORE!
In many kindergarten classrooms, the whole first half of the year is the repetition and practice of letter recognition and phonemic awareness. After mastering these skills, children quickly blossom from here on out!
Throughout the entire school year educators should be modeling reading and writing skills for their students. A great way to demonstrate writing is by using an easel with a large sheet of paper that is half blank and half lined. Have the students gather around the easel and allow them to help you create a story. During this time the educator is modeling the following skills:
Segmenting
Spacing
Using capitalization
Using punctuation
Writing left to right
How to hold a utensil
How to brainstorm
Illustrating an image
I found this picture on google images. Though there isn't a section to illustrate a picture, notice how the students are gathered around the easel and how the teacher is modeling the structure of a letter for the students.
Encouraging Independence
Below are several steps educators take in helping children to develop reading skills, scaffolding students to write, and gradually releasing the responsibility of comprehension to the kids.
How can we help children develop reading skills?
Provide many opportunities for children to explore different types of books
Help students to build their vocabulary skills
Word Walls
Reading aloud to students
Allow many opportunities for children to read independently and to someone
Encourage families to read at home with their children
How can we scaffold readers to be effective writers?
Modeling all of the skills that I mentioned previously while in whole group
Teaching students how to use their resources such as a word wall, dictionary, or words around the room
Working to improve their understanding of phonological patterns
Teach students how to organize their thoughts
Provide students daily with numerous opportunities to write
How can we gradually release the responsibility of comprehension to the kids?
Discuss the main idea and story line of a text when reading aloud during whole group
Guided reading
Teaching students how to close read
Helping them to develop metacognition skills
Graphic organizers
Thoughts
There are many different approaches that you can take in helping your students to become critical and creative thinkers. These are just a few simple steps that we as educators can take to help create well-rounded readers and writing without our classrooms.
How do you encourage independence in your classroom?
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