Joyful Writing in Pre-K and Kindergarten: Fostering Young Writers
Plan for systematic learning opportunities across the day that harness children’s natural playfulness and curiosity as they build a foundation for writing.
In this 2-day institute for early literacy educators, learn how to bring playful engagement together with oral language and foundational literacy learning to foster young children’s understanding of writing across the day.
Register to participate in-person at Lesley University or virtually!
- Classroom Teachers & Interventionists
- Literacy Collaborative Affiliation Discount available
This two-day institute will offer ways to promote the joy of writing and very early literacy learning with young children. Participants will learn to make links between writing and children’s oral language development, and how to look at young children’s drawing and marks on a page with new eyes, making links to their emerging understandings about how print works. Expect to take away concrete ideas for systematic learning opportunities that link listening, speaking, reading, and writing across the day.
Topics Include:
- Building a community of writers
- Storytelling, conversation, and thinking
- Early writing strategies and concepts about print
- Supporting phonological awareness, phonics, and word study through writing
- Bookmaking, interactive writing, and other invitations to write across the day
- Authentic writing and the writing process
- Contributions of writing to language, literacy, and learning
Registration includes a copy of Joyful Writing in PreK by Fountas & Pinnell or The Writing Minilessons Book, Grade K by Fountas and Pinnell.
You’ll earn 12 professional development hours in this training.
Wendy Vaulton, Associate Director for Reading Recovery & Early Interventions 
Wendy Vaulton is the Associate Director for Reading Recovery and Early Interventions at Lesley University’s Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative. Wendy serves as the Center’s Reading Recovery trainer, supporting teacher leaders in five states. She has experience as an educational researcher, professional developer, and teacher of Reading Recovery. Wendy’s recent research interests include the capacity of improvement science to support systematic, data-informed decision-making for all levels of educational improvement.
Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer
Prior to joining the Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative as a Primary Trainer, Heather was a Kindergarten, first, second, third, and fourth grade classroom teacher in Middletown, CT for 16 years. She was also a Primary Literacy Coordinator for five years where she provided literacy training and coaching to K-5 teachers. In addition, she was a member of the Connecticut Department of Education Common Core State Standards Curriculum Design Team for English Language Arts.
You may choose to attend this training in-person at Lesley University or virtually in real time. Should any of the conditions change and it is determined the training will be offered virtually only, you will be notified as soon as possible. We recommend that you contact us before reserving travel and lodging.
If you choose to attend in-person, the training room will have Lesley University’s HyFlex Classroom Technology to support an engaging learning environment for in-person and virtual participants. If you have questions about in-person or virtual attendance, please email us at CRRLC@lesley.edu.
In-person participants are required to follow the Lesley safety protocols noted on the Requirements & Policies tab.
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
If you cancel your registration prior to the first day of training, you will be charged a $50 processing fee. Email CRRLC@lesley.edu if you have a cancellation or substitution request. Regardless of weather conditions, if the event is held but you cannot attend, you will be billed for the full amount.
Registration Deadline & Shipping Policies
The registration portal closes two business days before the first day of training to allow the minimum amount of time to ship additional training materials (if applicable).
If you register within two weeks before the registration portal closes, you may incur additional fees for expedited shipping. You may still experience delays in receiving your materials.
Requirements for Participation
After the training, you will receive a certificate of attendance for your participation. To receive a complete certificate, participation during the specified times is required. Additional work may be assigned to meet the professional development hours.
On-Site Professional Development
We can deliver this training to your school/district. This option can be delivered virtually or in-person for a group within your school/district. For detailed costs, complete our online form to request this training for your school/district and we will contact you.
Interested in professional learning at your school or district? Schedule a meeting with one of our faculty trainers.
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