Guest Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Hi all I'm setting up a writing area for the first time and would like some ideas for activities and things to put in it! The current area is quite dull and uninspiring. Does anybody have any thoughts they could share? Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_79 Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 hi Peaches, paper in different shapes and colours and a variety of mark making equipement are the obvious starting places. You can also add dictionaries and clipboards, sellotape and staplers for book making. Handwriting pattern cards and letter formation guides are also something that I have found popular and then you add other bits to fit in with your topic. Perhaps display the keywords as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_1027 Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 Hi in our area we have a trolley with 12 plastic boxes in full of different paper, stencils, pens, crayons, chalks, scissors, tape and tracing paper ..so that the children can self select... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_2760 Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 Materials for self selection as continuous provision, Also - we put a small photograph of each child and their name so that the 'writers' can copy each others names - works really well. I also put a small topic related word box there and a picture dictionary. Try to 'theme' it every week or so to fit in with what we are doing. ie: write a letter to Golidilocks (invitations, 'i am' sorry letters, bear shaped paper assorted sizes, related word bank hanging on teddy templates etc) Belair Early Years do a lovely book called 'writing' which has some nice ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_2732 Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 We collect our junk mail and use this as a resource for the children as well. We also have diaries in various sizes, post-its and notebooks with a couple of phones for message writing, appointment making, etc. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 Ditto all of the above, plus stencils, templates, high frequency words and topic words. A display of environmental print is good too if you have the wall space - TESCO carrier bags, crisp packets, kit kat wrappers, school sign, STOP sign etc etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 We also use mini whiteboards in our area, the children love to "write and wipe". Peggy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 We also use mini whiteboards in our area, the children love to "write and wipe". Peggy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 An area of wall space where children can put up their writing/messages etc, and a toy post box. Masking tape is good too as the children find it easier than sellotape. I heard Penny Tassoni talking about emergent writing last year and she advocated encouraging children to fill in all those junk forms you get from credit card comapnies etc, and then letting them pop them in the prepaid envelopes and post them on the way home!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_2732 Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 Yup! That's what I meant by 'junk mail'! Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_3139 Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 So junk mail has a use after all!!! Cant wait for the post man now I still have a member of staff who puts a few pieces of paper on a table with a box of crayons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_2732 Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 I now have to confess that my husband is a printer, in the past 'junk mail' has been all that kept us afloat..... Not any more, so no longer feel guilty about advocating it!!! Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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