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TEACHERS.NET GAZETTE
Volume 4 Number 3

COVER STORY
Happy 7th Anniversary Teachers.Net...
ARTICLES
Happy 7th Anniversary Teachers.Net by Dave Melanson
How Not to Get Into College: The Preoccupation with Preparation by Alfie Kohn
No Child Left Behind or Leave the Thinking to Us by Simon Hole
Greetings! - Update from Operation Deep Freeze by LT. Marshall Branch
Technology Reform in Schools by Daisy Marie (Price) Hicks
Special Skills for Classroom Management by Stelios Perdios
Looking for a teaching job? Ten Tips for Job Hunters by LFSmith
Gems of Wisdom from Joy Jones
Featuring Past Author/Illustrator Chat Guests by Kathleen Alape Carpenter, Editor
Editor's e-Picks - March Resources by Kathleen Alape Carpenter, Editor
Spotlight on NEW CD Set - How to Improve Student Achievement from EffectiveTeaching.com
Living Up to David Ruggles by Caroline Edens Bundy
Retirement Career Counseling by Dan Lukiv
Addressing the Shuttle Tragedy by Zanada Maleki
Novel Studies, Help students "switch on" to a novel by Margaret Veitch
Student Stars Become Constellations by Jerry Taylor
Pre-writing Center from Teachers.Net's Early Childhood Chatboard
Odd Facts from the Second Grade Mailring
March Columns
March Regular Features
March Informational Items
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Teacher Feature...

Pre-writing Center

from the Teachers.Net Early Childhood Chatboard
http://teachers.net/mentors/early_childhood


The question posted by C_D_S on the
Teachers.Net Early Childhood Chatboard

I teach public pre-k for 4 year olds, and I was just wondering what things you include in your pre-writing centers. So far I have just given my kids markers, crayons and white drawing paper and let them draw what they want, or I give them a suggestion related to our topic, and I ask them to practice printing their name. However, they are getting bored with it, and I'm looking for some ways to make it more interesting. Any suggestions?
Thanks! C_D_S

Rachel/PK responded:
You can vary what you put out each day or week. Here are some ideas:

  • small chalk boards or white boards
  • rubber stamps and ink pads (especially alphabet letter stamps)
  • stencils
  • colored tape (available through Discount School Supply)
  • scissors
  • assorted stickers
  • envelopes
  • hole punches
  • markers
  • pencils
  • crayons
  • booklets
  • stationery
  • typewriter (my 3's LOVE our typewriter!!!)
  • Magnadoodle/Etch-a-sketch
  • assorted paper
  • glue sticks

I know there is so much more, but that's all I can come up with off the top of my head.

Another fun idea is to make an office area. Have a small table or desk with a calendar hung near it and a play phone, calculator, small receipt books, address books and forms, paper, etc. Rachel

Carol responded:
Rachel you have a wonderful list start.

Think much broader for your writing center. I have materials for making books with the children and their own. Different types of paper and sizes, wallpaper book samples for book covers, staples, glue sticks, yarn, brads.

I have different sizes of clipboards and paper in the writing area but also in the block area, house area and the science/math area.

Each child and staff member has their own journal. They are available throughout the day and especially during journal/individual reading time. We have folders with 3 prongs in them which were donated. You can make jounals using construction paper and copy paper stapled together. It is important the children are given an opportunity to read what they wrote.

It is also important that the staff in the room model how to use the materials in the area and all writing attempts are accepted.


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