Writing activities that prompt kindergartners to use their imaginations will promote creativity. Ask the students open-ended questions such as, "What would you buy if you were rich?" or, "If you could fly, where would you go?" Have the students add a picture caption to the journal entry. Pictures are a great way for the children to express their thoughts when writing becomes a challenge or frustration. The journal entries should be shared with the class. Have each student read their journal entry aloud to the class and share their picture.
Provide the students with a picture prompt by projecting a large image from a story onto a whiteboard or blank wall. Ask the students to write what they think the story is about in their journal. Each student should have the opportunity to share their story with the class. Once everyone has shared, the teacher should read the story that the picture was chosen from. A follow-up writing activity would involve having the students write about their favorite part of the book.
Children love to share stories about themselves and the important people in their lives. A journal writing activity that will spark interest from kindergartners and foster growth in their writing skills is to ask them to write about something important to them. Teachers can suggest that they write about a person, pet or place they really like. The students should write about a special or fun time or event that they enjoy doing with their special person or at their favorite place. A picture could also be included in their journal entry.
Sight words help build reading and writing skills in early childhood. In kindergarten, students will be exposed to frequently used words and will begin to use them in their everyday writing. A journal writing activity that will demonstrate which sight words a kindergartner knows is, "Words I know, Words I don't know". Use magazine and newspaper clippings as a reference. Each student should write down the words that they know as well as some words that they don't know, but would like to know. Have each student share the words that they know by reading their journal entry. The teacher should also read each word that the kindergartner did not know, breaking down each sound in the word. This activity will support letter formation skills and will encourage students to use the words that they know in their daily journal writing.