Ruby Likes Zebras

Indeed  Ruby likes zebras. She told us so herself.
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In TK I try to find ways to "write" with children. My students are learning their letters, sounds and many, who started a year in a second language ,are sorting out how to express ideas in words. We know "play" with writing is a stage the children progress through naturally, if everything is optimal, but I noticed next to no one in the writing center ever playing writing letters or words even with a lot of "suggesting." In other words-children were not happily making letters or trying out writing-and I think in large measure that was a consideration of this class and the second language-for one thing. Fear of making a mistake too.

So I started to brainstorm just how to create a little play together. We have one five minute letter paper we do together each day for the letter of the week. It's an opportunity to write the letter-on lines-looking at upper and lowercase examples and tracing , then trying it with a picture that starts with that letter. Bound together by years end this makes a really nice journal. So I decided we would flip the page for a fast ELD lesson. And basically some play into writing. It has been marvelous to watch.

On this day, yesterday, the student selected was Ruby. Each child gets "their day" in a month. I said...Ruby likes and she quickly said, "zebras."
And so then I wrote on a small paper up front "Ruby likes zebras."

Then I tried to draw a zebra while children laughed. And told me they needed black markers today because zebras are black and white. And I told them where they come from and we looked on the map. And they told me they come from zoos. And I told them they have a point of origin. And they told me that they look like a horse. And I told them that I never saw anyone ride a zebra. And they told me that Maya has. And I told them that the stripes are camouflage. And they told me that zebras eat chickens. And I told them their teeth are not pointed they are flat.

And then we started the project which (with fat Crayola markers donated by my step mom) took a few minutes. This daily work evolves and changes but serves as a moment in time to capture present TK writing in my room, as I work to build enjoyment and ease into a 'writing process." Drawing, meaning, symbols, letters are all one thing right now driven oftentimes by talking. And so as they work we are a chatty bunch.