Helping first graders develop writing skills is the focus of this paper. The first part of the paper discusses 11 ideas likely to be crucial to any first grade writing program, such as the similarities between learning to talk and writing, and the teacher as the model writer. The second part of the paper outlines creative writing activities according to the nine months of the school year. An outline of seven concepts important in writing programs at all grade levels concludes the paper. (EL)