When my daughter was a preschooler, she would dictate stories to me, and I’d write the text for her. Other times I’d help her write a sentence, one word at a time. Book making in preschool was slow, painstaking work. By the time she got through one word, she’d forget what she wanted to say in the first place.
Sometimes you read a book that inspires you to change your thinking. For me, that book was called Already Ready: Nurturing Writers in Preschool and Kindergarten by Katie Wood Ray and Matt Glover. I was left pondering, what does it mean to be a writer in preschool?
What I took away from these authors are two important ideas. First, preschoolers have stories to tell just as we all do. Second, when preschoolers put pen to the paper, they are not pretending to write, rather they are writers.
Looking back, I realize that I was holding the reigns too tightly and not appreciating the skills my daughter had as a preschool writer. Why didn’t I embrace her as a writer and let her lead the way? When she dictated her stories and I wrote the words for her, what message was I conveying to her?
Why Book Making in Preschool is Good Practice
The main point of book making for preschoolers is “to develop an image of themselves as capable writers” (Wood & Glover, 118). When we embrace preschoolers where they’re at and let them take charge of their writing lives, they will start to believe in themselves as writers.
Let’s point out the importance of the phrase, “book making.” The verb “making” is the best word choice, because it sends the message that everyone is capable. Some preschoolers scribble, while others can draw people with detailed faces. Some preschoolers can’t write a letter, while others can write words. Book “making” vs. “writing” is all inclusive. Every preschooler can make books, regardless of where they are in their writing development.
What Book Making in Preschool Looks Like
Book making in preschool looks like free choice, playfulness, social experiences, sharing, conversing, and supporting.
First of all, in book making children are given a choice to write. “It’s child-initiated and teacher-supported” (Wood & Glover, 110).
Second, preschoolers bring a sense of playfulness to their book making, which is developmentally appropriate. “Children should play “writer” and make books with the same verve that they play “baker” and bake cakes or play “pilot” and fly the plane” (Ray & Glover, 109).
After visiting the playground and reading the rules for play sign, my son decided to make a safety rules book. (I wish I had been listening to him make his book, because I had trouble figuring out what he wrote on most of the pages.)
Book making is also a social experience. Interactions with peers (or siblings for homeschoolers) can motivate them to write. If they see their friend, (or sister,) writing a book, then they’ll want to, too.
Sometimes, teachers/parents share books they’ve made previously and talk about why they made certain writing choices. They share the thinking behind the writing.
At other times, teachers/parents make books right alongside their preschooler and talk about their writing as they go.
Finally, parents/teachers use conversation to support their preschooler as they make books.
How to Get Started with Book Making in Preschool
- Gather materials: Crayons, colored pencils, pencils, markers, pens, paper booklets (4-6 sheets stapled together)
- Set up a writing space.
- Give the invitation to make a book, often. Leave it open-ended, or give a specific topic idea, such as, “We’ve been seeing a lot of birds in our yard lately. Would you like to write a book about the birds you know?”
- Sit down with your preschooler and do some writing, too.
- Ask questions about your preschooler’s book. “What are you writing about today?” “Tell me about your illustration?”
- Talk about what you are doing in your own book.
- Gently give “nudges” to help them grow as writers. For example, “I see you have lots of drawings in your book. Picture books have both pictures and words. What kind of writing can you add to this page?”
- Take time to share your books with each other at the end.
Final Word of Advice
Sometimes your child may say they don’t know what to do. When this happens, I follow the advice from Katie Wood Ray and Matt Glover.
The adults explain to the children that it’s okay not to know how to do everything, reminding them that they are three, or four, so they’re not supposed to know how to do everything. The advice to “just do the best you can ” is usually enough to get children trying, and whatever happens to go on the paper is just what the adults were looking for-a good try that results in writing and illustrating.
(Wood & Glover, 6)
Conclusion
Book making with preschoolers lays the foundation for writing in elementary school. In book making, preschoolers form positive associations with writing, as well as develop early writing skills. Most importantly, book making builds the self image of, “I’m a writer, just like _____.” Like in reading together, making books is another connecting experience for you and your child. Therefore, prioritizing time for book making in your preschooler’s day is well worth the effort.
Your Turn
Do you encourage your preschooler to make books? How do you approach writing with your little one?
Source
Ray, Katie W. & Matt Glover. 2008. Already Ready: Nurturing Writers in Preschool and Kindergarten. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
