Journal writing for kindergarten students, especially on an everyday basis, allows children to focus on language skills, including spelling, grammar and writing ability, from the beginning of their school experience. Journals can also help students develop oral language and speaking skills. Most importantly, journals allow kindergarten students a creative outlet, and if students know the journal entries will remain confidential, solely between teacher and student, they will be willing to share a lot more. Children who cannot write in kindergarten can begin using illustrations in journal entries and eventually make use of both writing and drawings.
Some of the easiest topics for young children to write about are holidays and seasons. These often generate numerous ideas and appeal widely to students. Some examples of journal-entry prompts include, "My favorite thing about Valentine's Day is...," "For my birthday, I..." and "I love summer because...." Kindergarten students may only be able to write a short piece, such as one or two words, so a combination of writing and pictures related to the holiday or season may suffice, depending on the teacher and the school.
Kindergarten students can easily write about things that are familiar to them. However, you must gear topics toward all children. For instance, a journal-entry prompt that requires children to write about their dads may not be practical for some students. Familiar things can also spark more creativity among students. Several topic ideas that relate to familiar things include food a student ate for breakfast, favorite toys, or a description of the student's eyes or hair.
Because some kindergarten students are not able to write, especially early in the school year, teachers can offer children markers, crayons and stickers to tell a story. Students can also use these tools to decorate their journal. If children feel safe using their journal on a daily basis, writing skills will eventually develop. The child will likely feel better about writing and being able to express herself creatively.