Standard 3: Critical Reading and Writing

Students will apply critical thinking skills to reading and writing.

Student Actions 

Teacher Actions 

• Students will draw, tell, and write using emergent writing to tell a story.
• Students will draw, tell, and write using emergent writing to share information.
• Students will draw, tell, or write using emergent writing to express an opinion.

Students at this level require guidance and support during instructional opportunities for this objective.

• Teachers model drawing, telling, and using  emergent writing. (i.e. scribbles, letter like forms, random letters, beginning sounds, letter sound correspondence..etc)
• Teachers read and provide examples of stories.
• Teachers model writing a story.
• Teachers provide opportunities for students to use emergent writing  to tell a story.
• Teachers monitor and provide opportunities for students to receive feedback about student’s writing.
• Teachers model drawing, telling, and using  emergent writing. (i.e. scribbles, letter like forms, random letters, beginning sounds, letter sound correspondence..etc)
• Teachers read and provide examples of writing that shares information.
• Teachers model writing to share information.
• Teachers provide opportunities for students to use emergent writing  to share information.
• Teachers monitor and provide opportunities for students to receive feedback about student’s writing.
• Teachers model drawing, telling, and using  emergent writing. (i.e. scribbles, letter like forms, random letters, beginning sounds, letter sound correspondence..etc)
• Teachers read and provide examples of writing that shows how to express an opinion.
• Teachers model writing  that expresses an opinion.
• Teachers provide opportunities for students to use emergent writing to express an opinion.
• Teachers monitor and provide opportunities for students to receive feedback about student’s writing.

Supporting Resource

Teacher Insights

Reading Rockets:  Looking At Writing - K (webpage)

Reading Rockets:  How to Teach Writing in Kindergarten (webpage)

Literacy Essentials & Reading Network:  How Do I Teach Emergent Writing?

• The purpose of this standard is for students to begin the experience of organizing their thoughts and ideas and placing those thoughts and ideas on paper.  

• For kindergarten, students should end their writing journey by telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end.  

• Stories can be drawings, drawings with labels, or drawings with dictation.

• In kindergarten, students will be introduced to three types of genres: narrative, informative, and opinion writing.

• The expectation is not independence. Students will still need teacher guidance and support.

• Students ‘write’ through a continuum, or progression. For example, a beginning narrative for a kindergarten writer may begin with one picture with no labels, then move toward a beginning picture and an end picture with labels.

•  Guided drawing lessons relevant to stories or themes being taught can help students develop more recognizable drawings and provide opportunities for modeling labeling, or writing about pictures. 

Due to recursive nature of the standards, it is essential that teachers are aware of how all objectives within and between strands work together for optimal instruction.