Unit Plan 34 (Grade PreK ELA): Conventions Clinic – Print, Caps, Spacing, Sound Writing

Focus: Capitals (first word/“I”), spaces, end marks; phonetic attempts

Grade Level: PreK

Subject Area: English Language Arts (Print Concepts • Conventions • Emergent Writing)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session (use two short blocks if needed)

I. Introduction

This week is a friendly conventions tune-up. Children practice how print works on a page (left-to-right, top-to-bottom, spaces), begin sentences with a capital letter (including capital I), end sentences with end marks, and try sound spelling (phonetic attempts) to match letters to the sounds they hear in words.

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…

1. Demonstrate print concepts: track text left-to-right, return sweep, and use spaces between words (RF.PK.1).
2. Begin sentences with a capital letter and capitalize I in sentences (L.PK.2).
3. End sentences with an end mark (period for telling; question mark for asking) (L.PK.2).
4. Attempt phonetic spelling by writing one or more letters that represent sounds in spoken words (L.PK.2; supported by RF.PK.1 print routines).
5. Speak and “read back” their writing using complete oral sentences (L.PK.1).

Standards Alignment — PreK

• L.PK.1 Demonstrate command of standard English when speaking (use complete sentences with teacher support).
• L.PK.2 Demonstrate command of capitalization, punctuation, and emergent spelling with guidance.
• RF.PK.1 Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print (directionality, tracking, spaces).

Success Criteria — student language

• “I start with a capital.”
• “I put a space between my words.”
• “I add a period (or question mark).”
• “I wrote the sounds I hear.”
• “I can read my sentence back.”