Once Upon First Grade Writing

Once upon a time… How first graders learn to write.

What You Need To Know

Writing is not easy. Children have to combine memory (recalling words), reading skills, and fine motor skills as they learn to use pen and paper. And then there’s spelling! There’s a lot going on, but for parents wondering if their first grader is ready, don’t be too concerned. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Writing is a process which children learn over a long period.

Here are some of the skills which your child may possess at the start of First Grade:

• Naming objects and labeling them.
• Collecting information and sharing it.
• Staying focused.
• Writing a story in chronological order.
• Expressing themselves more clearly by speaking than writing.
• Accept feedback, and make small changes by adding text or correcting errors.

By the end of First Grade, most children at the standard level will be able to:

• Communicate in writing.
• Revise writing, adding text in the middle of a sentence, not just at the end.
• Choose the words and language they use.
• Use punctuation and capitalization (though not every time).
• Reread for sense and meaning.

How You Can Help

Learning to write takes time. At this stage, children are still developing the muscles in their hands which enable them to guide pens and pencils accurately. They are also developing their storytelling skills, so parents should look for opportunities for children to write. Birthday cards, thank you letters, supermarket lists, journals, and stories are all great ways to encourage writing. You’re right at the start of a lifelong process. Even as adults, we try to improve the way we write. So don’t worry too much about your first grader’s spelling, just enjoy the act of creation which your child is starting to learn.

For more information on what happens in First Grade writing, please see the full article:

http://www.education.com/reference/article/first_grade_writing/