Sometimes it can be hard to engage my kindergarten students when it comes to writing. Offering a few simple supplies can help get students excited about writing again and bring out some superstar writers! Here are the supplies I use in my classroom daily to engage writers.
I remember using these super fun Shuttle Pens when I was a child! The Mini Neon Shuttle Pens have made writing so exciting for my students! They love that they can write words in different colors and change the color of the ink whenever they choose! My students get to use the Mini Neon Shuttle Pens as a reward for working hard.
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Another classroom favorite are the Crayola® Glitter Crayons! Sometimes your illustrations just need a little bit of glitter to add the perfect touch. My students love using their Crayola® Glitter Crayons as a special treat when their writing "sparkles"! As I confer with my students during our writing time, I am always watching to see who I can invite to use these glitter-filled crayons. My students will work extra hard to have the privilege of using these. We love how the glitter stays attached to the paper once it has been colored and how it catches the light when we display our writing in the hallway!
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At least once a day, I hear a student say that they are out of ideas to write about. Out of ideas no more! We use the Caption This Photo Cards to help jump start our storytelling ideas. I gather students in small groups or as individuals when I see they are out of ideas to write about and ask each one to select a card from the Caption This Photo Cards box. They study the picture and tell another student a quick story about their card. Many students go on to write about the picture card they selected but some find that looking at the card helps to trigger a memory of their own to write about.
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Each writer in my classroom has their own folder in which to store all their writing for the year. I give each of my students a Color Your Own Doodle Pocket Folder to keep their writing in. Every student gets to color their folder to make it more personalized. It also makes finding them later easier because each student colors their folder so differently. My students get so excited to have a special place to store their writing. They take so much pride in their folders and can't wait to get them out and start writing!
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To encourage my students to stay on track when they are writing, I introduce the Rainbow Clipboards as a special incentive. Students who are caught working hard get to pick a new spot to write and get the chance to use a Rainbow Clipboard of their choosing. I'm always so amazed at how hard my students will work to have a chance to use a clipboard! I added some vinyl stickers to the back so my students can be reminded that they are writing superstars!
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After all my students hard work writing some great ideas down on paper, it is time for them to share their work with others! We use the Buddy Lanyards to help us find a partner to share with. As a teacher, I love that the Buddy Lanyards have a match built into them! Students can either find their food match (burgers and fries, peas and carrots, or milk and cookies) or they can simply match the color of their lanyard card to another student and sit down to share. My students love checking out which lanyard they get to wear each day and try to find their partner right away!
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