Writing fundamentals and practical approaches for emergent and early writing skills instruction in preschool and first grade in the LAC region

Group Submission Type: Pre-conference Workshop

Description of Session

The main learning goal of this workshop is for participants to increase their knowledge in the fundamentals of writing skills and instruction in an interactive setting. They will learn to implement strategies to develop emergent and early writing skills of children in preschool and first grade, how to incorporate early writing in the curriculum, pedagogical plans or other programs. The contents and methodology are geared towards the LAC region context. Resources for the workshop are based not only on the theoretical evidence but also on the feedback and lessons learned during the capacity development sessions carried out by the USAID/LAC Reads Capacity Program over 6 years with particular attention on how to best support educators, teacher education institutions, and other stakeholders working with low resourced contexts where there have been few learning opportunities for children to develop early literacy skills. The workshop most innovative aspect lies on the instruction to develop writing skills in children at the preschool level.
Writing instruction is critical in early education classrooms. Writing is an effective tool for humans to express their feelings, develop their creativity and to communicate in various ways with different people, to convince others” (UNESCO, 2016). Over the last 7 years the USAID/LAC Reads Capacity Program has prepared evidence-based resources in the region with the tools to develop early literacy skills from an early age through the primary school years. In the LAC Region, writing is undertaught and understudied (LAC Reads key stakeholder analysis; Hall 2015) and the program has created innovative ways to produce pedagogical materials and professional development in early writing to fill this gap.
• Main topics: a) fundamentals of early writing; b) the learning continuum; c) steps to writing development; d) emergent writing development and early writing skills in first grade. There will be a short presentation followed by group practice, short demonstration videos, and group discussion.
• The first half will address emergent writing skills at the preschool level and the second half will focus on first grade.
• Participants will learn and practice selected strategies and undergo a process where they reflect on their own writing skills.
• They will practice how use and consult the latest resources in early writing in Spanish, learn how to incorporate them in teacher professional development, in the preschool and primary curriculum or other pedagogical programs to support early literacy.
• At the end of the workshop participants will be able to find at least one or more ways they can promote writing skills instruction in their professional context. They will also learn the basics of how to build and use a "writing corner" for children to learn and practice.

Sub Unit

• Pre-Conference Workshops, Book launches, and Visual Art Exhibits / Pre-Conference Workshop

Workshop Organizer

• Analice Schwartz, Juarez & Associates,Inc.

Presenters

• Tania Patricia Santisteban López, Juarez & Associates

• Raquel Montenegro, Academia Guatemalteca de la Lengua