Shirlene Law What do you think of when you hear the phrase “writing in preschool?” For some, the word “writing” conjures up visions of dotted worksheets with repetitive alphabet letters. Others may think of the squiggles and lines and circles drawn on notepads and chalkboards throughout their classrooms. For many teachers, the bigger question becomes, “Is teaching writing developmentally appropriate in preschool and, if so, how?” Just like reading great books, engaging in rich conversations, understanding the concepts of the alphabet, and strong foundational language skills matter, writing is a critical component of the early childhood Language Arts curriculum. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has described appropriate writing practices in early childhood in the book, D evelopmentally Appropriate Practice, 3rd Edition . 1 The following focus areas provide guidelines and suggestions from NAEYC for su...
