Bookmaking: An Engaging Approach to Teaching Writing in the Early Years
With the collaboration of our District Literacy Coordinator, Calico Clark, teachers in qathet School District continuously seek new creative ways to get students engaged in literacy lessons, and one of these innovative approaches is through Bookmaking, exemplified in Ms. Roberts' kindergarten class at Westview Elementary and Mrs. Brockington’s K/1 class at Edgehill Elementary during their morning literacy block.
Every day begins with the class gathering on the carpet and students are invited to read and discuss the morning message. Students notice and fill in missing letters from words as they work on building their awareness of beginning sounds in words. The morning message becomes a fun challenge as kids get engaged, take pride in getting the letters right, and get excited about the short literacy lesson that follows, in what these teachers call the “Writer’s Workshop”.
The objective of a morning “Writer’s Workshop” mini lesson is to teach students one new skill or strategy that will help them become better writers. Currently, in Kindergarten, students are learning what authors always do, and aim to do the same with their own Bookmaking activity. Some of these include:
- Write their name
- Date stamp their book
- Draw an illustration
- Use 3+ colours
- Reread their books
- Start a new book
Jane Brockington’s Gr K/1 students are also busy making books. As their knowledge of words and letters grows, they are now using familiar pattern books as inspiration for their writing. These writers are using their knowledge of high frequency words including: I, my, see, this - and are using them in their writing as they make books during their Writer’s Workshop.
Bookmaking not only excites children about writing, but also sparks their creativity and provides them with something to take pride in. Children know how books work and have strong visions about what they want theirs to look like. They feel proud by applying what they learn, and they genuinely enjoy making things. The best part of Bookmaking lies in granting students full autonomy and the creative freedom to decide whether they continuously work on one book or start a new story each day, just like real authors. Children in Ms. Robert’s and Mrs. Brockington’s classes definitely see themselves as writers!
Bookmaking helps nurture a love for literacy beyond the classroom, and if you’re interested in learning more about the Importance of Making Books, please watch this district-recommended video resource here: https://www.authortoauthor.org/parent-resources-2/