1. A study on learning how to write in kindergarten by: Kelsey Wiska
I’m An Author Now!
A study on learning how to write in kindergarten
by: Kelsey Wiska

2. The Five W’s Who: Mrs. Spicer’s kindergarten classroom
Made up of 20 individuals
What: Writer’s Workshop
Lucy Calkins Writer’s Workshop Program
Students split into 3 writing groups:
Blue-High
Red- Medium
Yellow-Low
Where: Concord Elementary School
When: Approximately 11:00-11:40 am
Mini-lesson: minutes
Individual writing time: minutes
After workshop share: 5-10 minutes
Why: After observing how Writer’s Workshop is implemented into the kindergarten classroom, I am curious as to how it molds children into effective writers.

3. Research: Round 1
Statement 1: Students get up and move a lot during writing time.
Question 1: What is going on during writing time?

4. Research: Round 1 Research: Video Recording & Observation.
Video record was taken during both the mini-lesson and individual writing time.
Results: Students that are not writing are either at the drinking fountain or walking around the room.

5. Research: Round 2
Statement: After assessing the data from round 1, the majority of students who are not writing are out of their seats.
Question 2: How do students who are out of their seat during writing time explain what they’re doing?

6. Research: Round 2 Research: Anecdotal Notes & Survey
After taking notes marking the children’s comments and conversations during writing time, I heard many negative comments such as “I hate writing” from various students. From this, I then posed a survey to the class in which I asked, “Do you like writing?”, before starting writer’s workshop.
Results:

7. Research: Round 3
Statement: From the survey results, a majority of the students indicated a dislike for writing and an overwhelming majority of students in the yellow group indicated a dislike for writing.
Question 3: Why did the student’s who answered “no” dislike writing?

8. Research: Round 3 Research: Individual conferencing
I chose to work individually with each of the children who said they disliked writing time. During our conference, we would work on their individual writing piece together. After our conference, I simply asked them if they liked writing.
Results: After being asked “do you like writing” after each individual conference, all of the children responded “yes.”

9. Research: Round 3 Continued
Student X: September
individual writing piece.
Student X: October conference
writing piece.

10. Professional Literature:
…And With A Light Touch
Avery, Carol. -- And with a Light Touch: Learning about Reading, Writing, and Teaching with First Graders. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, Print.
Lucy Calkin’s Writer’s Workshop
Calkins, Lucy. "Small Moments: Personal Narrative Writing." Units of Study for Primary Writing: A Yearlong Curriculum. Portsmouth, NH: FirstHand, N. pag. Print.
"In-Class Writing Instruction with Lucy Calkins [5,810 Views]." TeacherTube. Heinemann Publishing, Web. 11 Nov
Strategies That Work
Harvey, Stephanie, and Anne Goudvis. "Chapter 3: Effective Comprehension Instruction." Strategies That Work: Teaching Comprehension to Enhance Understanding. York, Me.: Stenhouse, N. pag. Print.

11. Conclusions:
I realize kids who have negative attitudes about writing often avoid writing or view writing as “difficult.”
I find that a teacher can foster a positive view of writing from children who view it negatively by writing with them in individual conferences.
I think when teachers find various ways to check in with young writers, as well as their peers, when they place them in groups they figure out their behaviors and learn more about the kids processes of learning.

12. A Very Special Thank You To:
Mrs. Spicer
Dr. Kyle Shanton
The Albion College Education Department
Concord Elementary School