Tuesday, October 18, 2011
New Technique
I have a student with whom I work who struggles with writing. Not only is the process of writing difficult for him, but he also does not like touching the paper. I saw a classroom teacher practicing spelling with her class one day with shaving cream, so I thought that I would give it a try with this student. It has changed his attitude towards working on his writing with me. He will try his best on his spelling words and high frequency words when he is writing with the shaving cream. Yesterday, I also had him write math problems with it and he did so much better. It has taught me so much about this student - that he is a kinesthetic learner. I have been brainstorming other ideas for doing writing tasks that we can intertwine with paper-pencil writing.
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I can remember writing in shaving cream when I was a kid. I loved it too. It was easy to wipe your slate clean and practice practice practice. We also would write in little trays of sand. This can be a messy project, and create storage issues, but it was another way we'd practice. We also used whiteboards. We each had one in our desk and we had to bring in a used sock for an eraser. We all had our own whiteboard marker we were responsible for that we go to keep in our desk. Sometimes just switching the writing medium is refreshing for kids.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ashley and that the utensils that we sometime use can really motivate students. Another idea off of what Ashley said with the whiteboards, it that if you can set it up the correct way I also have students use their Expo markers and write directly on the top of their desk. I know everyone is thinking, "What an idiot?!" But actually the Expo marker wipes clean off with a sock/towel/rag/etc and does not damage the desk. I only use this technique when we are really having a lull or sruggling. You obviously have to preface it with, "This is the only time we get to do this..." My wife who teaches in the middle school (Language Arts) says it is extremely motivating even for middle school kids.
ReplyDeleteSpecial writing pens/pencils/paper/notebooks can also show the student(s) that this is an important activity.
A 5th grade teacher at our school has "Writing Hats" which are a bunch of goofy hats that kids get to wear when they are writing, and is also used for a writing prompt.
Another fun one is to put rice on a cookie sheet. The effect is similar to an etch-a-sketch. Again, it can be messy, but as long as it's a controlled situation, it can be a motivator too.
ReplyDeleteOoh! I like the rice and writing on the desk concept. Both are clever ideas.
ReplyDeleteI have a students who is kind of the same way. I let her use either a pen or colored pencils and she seems to work just fine. We rotate so sometimes she uses her "special" writing tools but then she needs to try a pencil as well. It does the trick for her!
ReplyDeleteI have also used the rice on a cookie sheet and they do go crazy for that!! Playdough is another good one!
All these strategies help to make spelling/writing activities fun for students. I have also used in the past those doodle boards where they write and the writing shows up with the black lines and used washable crayola window crayons to practice their words on a glass window or part of the door. This of course does work easier when working one on one or in small group.
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