One of the most important things children will learn in Kindergarten is letter names and sounds, as this is the foundation for reading and writing words. We have been working on this since the beginning of the year, using a program called Fundations to learn letters a few at a time. Each letter has an associated picture and key word to help students remember the sound. Perhaps you have heard your child saying t, top, /t/  or b, bat, /b/. We have finished almost all of the letters and now know enough to begin blending sounds to read simple words such as cat and bat.  

Children have also been eagerly applying this knowledge to their writing. I encourage them to try to write independently by stretching words, or saying them very slowly, writing  any sounds they hear. For some children it is easier to hear the sounds if a classmate stretches the word, and helping a friend is a fantastic way to learn.   At first glance it is sometimes challenging to read what has been written (I have years of practice!), but most often when I ask a child to tell me what they wrote I can begin to pick out corresponding sounds. With time, as children hear more and more sounds and begin to leave spaces between words, it becomes much easier to read what has been written.  After writing we spend a few minutes sharing work and celebrating the effort and growth of each child. 

Writing has become a favorite time of the day for many, with some even choosing to write during choice time. This is hard work and requires a lot of effort from students. Everyone should feel proud of their growth!