Writing Center
The Writing Center will allow students to develop a positive attitude for writing. It will provide authentic experiences with writing. This center lets students understand the connection between spoken words and written words. The students will be involved in spoken and written communication activities. The students will be able to make connections between print and real-life experiences and understand that print has meaning and purpose.
Possible Materials
This center has many possibilities and allows for choice. Below is a list of suggested materials to help get you started:
*Variety of paper (lined/unlined, colored paper, stationery, tablets, journals)
*Shaped notepads
*Envelopes
*Canceled stamps
*Postcards
*Mailbox area
*Writing tools ( pencils, colored pencils, pens, crayons, markers)
*Stencils (letter, shapes, etc.)
*Variety of alphabet resources
*Model of correct letter formation
*Student name cards
*Post-it notes
*Scissors, hole punch, glue stapler, tape
*Adding Machine tape
*Old greeting cards or front of holiday cards
*Letter stamps (alphabet stamps, stamp-a-story)
*Resources ( picture dictionary, word wall, alphabet strips)
*Bin or place for storing journals or finished work
The Writing Center in Action!
The following pictures will show you three different ideas of activities that can be done in this center. This will also show ways of assessing and leveling the activities. This center is a great way for a teacher to use formative assessment to see how the student is using and understanding the writing skills that have been taught. The teacher is able to see how a student is using left to right, return sweep, capitals and punctuation, as well as letter sounds, sight words, and other resources. This center allows the teacher to see what teaching points need to be next for the students.
Row 1: This student used letter stamps to create her own "ABC" booklet. She stamped and traced each letter and then drew a corresponding picture for each letter. This allows the teacher to see that the student understands and connects the letters and sounds to objects.
Row 2: These students created books and free wrote about their topics. This allows the teacher to see their use of inventive spelling and also writing skills. It allows the teacher to see what skills need to be revisited such as spacing and capital/lowercase letter use.
Row 3: This student created a snake and wrote a fact about the snake on it's body. This a neat part of the creativity a student can show at the writing center. Yet it also allows the teacher to assess the student's writing skills.
Additional Ideas and Resources
There are many other ideas that can be included in this center. Below is a list of additional ideas and resources you can turn to.
Ideas:
*Draw a picture
*Build A Sentence
*Story bag
*Message Center
*Make a Book
Resources:
*Literacy Work Stations by Debbie Diller