Teaching Writing Skills Alongside the Writing Process: Interactive Writing in the Prekindergarten Classroom

ABSTRACT Interactive writing is a powerful instructional strategy in which the teacher and children “share the pen” to construct a collaboratively composed text. Traditionally, articles have been written detailing how the procedure can be implemented in grades kindergarten through two. We contend that interactive writing can also be an effective tool when used in the prekindergarten classroom. In this article, we share the steps of an interactive writing lesson as well as an example of what each step looks like in Mrs. Esquivel's prekindergarten classroom. We then share how teachers of young children might use the strategy in their own settings.