ERIC Number: EJ1043033
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Nov
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-3301
EISSN: N/A
"I Wish We Could Make Books All Day!" An Observational Study of Kindergarten Children During Writing Workshop
Snyders, Chelsea Sue Bahnson
Early Childhood Education Journal, v42 n6 p405-414 Nov 2014
With the adoption of the Common Core Standards and a renewed emphasis on critical and higher-order thinking skills, exploring the relationship among writing development, self-efficacy beliefs, perseverance, and effort has become essential. The nature of writing workshop not only lends itself to differentiation among students but also provides opportunities to explore authentic texts and tasks. The purpose of this qualitative, multicase study was to explore the development of kindergarten writers within a writing workshop. Research questions focused on writer identity, writing self-efficacy, and growth as kindergarten writers. The participants, two female and one male, were randomly chosen for this study and attended an all-day, 3-days per-week kindergarten program at a public school in the upper Midwest. Student writing interviews, videotaped student-teacher conferences, and student written work served as data sources. The writing workshop framework provided a learning environment that was conducive to the formation of the three children's writing identities. As students engaged in writing mini-lessons, text inquiries, writing, and sharing writing with peers, student writing stamina and engagement increased. Students utilized techniques and strategies of published writers. Students adopted these qualities in their views of themselves as writers. Suggestions for future research included exploring writing self-efficacy in relation to everyday kindergarten experiences, allowing for sharing and feedback, and addressing the ways in which writing workshop might provide for authentic and rigorous instruction and tasks in kindergarten classrooms.
Descriptors: Kindergarten, Young Children, Writing Workshops, Writing Instruction, State Standards, Academic Standards, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills, Writing Improvement, Self Efficacy, Qualitative Research, Case Studies, Identification (Psychology), Interviews, Video Technology, Learner Engagement, Teaching Methods
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Kindergarten; Primary Education; Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A

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