Writing Center Ideas

A writing center can be developed using a small table, chairs and a shelf for supplies. Supply the writing center with a variety of materials, which are changed frequently and reflect the current interests of the children. The center will be more usable to the children if the materials are efficiently organized and attractively displayed. Remember to include opportunities for writing in all center areas of the classroom.

Materials for Writing Center

Writing Tools

• Assorted sizes of crayons
• Assorted sizes of markers
• Assorted sizes of pencils
• Colored chalk
• Colored pencils
• Erasers
• Pens

Writing Enhancers

• Chalk and chalkboards
• Cookie cutter letters (used as stencils)
• Erasable tablet
• Flannel board and felt letters
• Magnetic letters and magnetic surface
• Rubber stamps/ink pads
• Sand/salt tray
• Sandpaper letters
• Stencils
• Typewriter and paper
• Wipe-off boards and markers
• Wooden letters

Writing Materials

• Alphabet cards
• Book making materials
• Braille alphabet cards
• Name cards
• Paper in a variety of sizes, textures and colors (lined and unlined)
• Sign language alphabet cards
• Word-picture cards

Resources

• Clipboards
• Hole punch
• Paper clips
• Picture dictionary
• Rulers
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Stickers
• Tape
• Tracing Paper

Real and Found Materials

• Address books
• Appointment pads/books
• Blank forms
• Blueprints
• Calendars/date books
• Carbon paper
• Catalogs
• Counter checks
• Coupons
• Envelopes
• Environmental
• Print/Logos
• Graph paper
• Greeting cards
• Index cards
• Journal books
• "Junk" mail
• Magazines
• Message pads
• Newspapers with large print
• Note pads
• Order forms
• Post cards
• Post-it note pads
• Receipt forms
• Rolodex
• "Stamps"
• Stationery
• Store brochures
• Store sale flyers
• Telephone books

Portable Writing Center Ideas

Almost anything you have can be turned into a portable writing center. Use the ideas below to incorporate writing centers into your daily routine, learning centers, outdoor play, or rest time (use as quiet activities during for children who are not sleeping).

Shoe box, tackle box, tool box, briefcase, backpack, pocket book/purse, bags of any kind (gift, tote, canvas, etc.), lunch box, shoe or jewelry organizers, picnic basket or other baskets, desk organizers, mini drawers, small suitcases, make-up or toiletry bags, and aprons (tool or cooking).

Remember to display the children's writing efforts in the classroom (on the walls, language experience charts and graphs, chart stories, and in class made books). Collecting samples of writing efforts as the year progresses will show children's growth and development.

Pennsylvania Pre-Kindergarten Learning Standards for Early Childhood (Excerpt)

Standard L 1.5: Use different forms of writing such as drawing, letter-like forms, invented spelling and conventional forms

L.15 A  Uses scribbles to communicate in writing

L.15 B  Use recognizable drawings to express thoughts, feelings and ideas

L.15 C  Use letter-like forms, letters or random letter strings to express thoughts, feelings and ideas

L.15 D  Write own name and other meaningful words

L.15 E  Explore letter sound associations while writing

Standard L 1.5: Understand that writing is a way of communicating

L1.5 F  Represent stories and experiences through pictures, scribbles, letter-like forms, dictation, and play

L1.5 G;  Understand that writing serves a variety of purposes

L1.5 H  Approximate writing to communicate effectively for different audiences and purposes