My Family Book
To develop early writing motivation through personally meaningful book creation.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Literacy
- Learning area: Literacy
- Level: EYFS 2-3
Objectives
- Creates personally meaningful marks
- Dictates sentences
- Understands books are created
- Returns to own book independently
Materials
- Photos of family (requested from home)
- Pre-made blank books
- Mark-making tools
- Glue sticks and scissors
Instructions
Ask families to send in two or three photos of their family. This gives children something personally meaningful to 'write' about — the most powerful motivation for early writing.
Sit with each child individually to create their book. 'Tell me about this photo. Who's this? What are they doing?' Scribe exactly what the child says beneath each photo. Read it back to them.
Let children add their own marks and drawings to each page. 'Would you like to draw something here? You could draw your dog!' Value all mark-making as meaningful addition to their book.
Write the child's name on the cover in front of them: 'This is YOUR book. I'm writing your name — [Name]'s Family. Now you have a go.' Support them to make any marks they can manage.
Share finished books at group time (only with the child's permission). 'Ellie made a book about her family. Shall we read it?' Celebrate the author.
Place family books in the book area for children to revisit independently. You'll observe children 'reading' them to themselves and to friends — this is a critical early literacy behaviour.