Your Child is Developing..Their Writing Skills

To me, the word 'education' is synonymous with 'family.' In order to ensure a child's success in the classroom, we must ensure cooperation that extends beyond the classroom. How can we help a child feel confident and ready, particularly in their literacy skills?

Two words: Educate. Family.

These two words are both valuable on their own, but together, they are mighty and powerful. In the article, 'Every Mark on the Page: Educating Family and Community Members about Young Children's Writing,' Kate Cusumano discusses why and how we educate families on the "development of early writing, teaching them to view writing in a positive light, rather than from a deficit viewpoint"(9). This a great article as a reference to teach families of what to appropriately expect from their child and teachers in terms of literacy development.

Just as a child needs nurturing to develop physically and emotionally, it is important to keep in mind that the development of their literacy skills can be recognized at different levels as well.

Such signs of growth include knowing and practicing the following:

-Writing from left to right

-Letters have flexible shapes

-Symbols can be used interchangeably

-Spaces are to be left between words

-There are various possible spellings

-A special mark goes at the end

These are just some of the few literacy benchmarks that should not go unrecognized by any members involved in the academic success of the child. Simply put: this can be accomplished through communication! Talk! Discuss! Teach! Learn! :)