Writing
Materials for Children
McGee and Richgels (1996) discuss appropriate writing materials for children:
"Teachers select a variety of writing tools and materials to support their literacy program:
- Writing tools, including colored, medium, and soft lead pencils; pens with a variety of ink colors; and markers, crayons, and chalk in a variety of colors and widths.
- Lined and unlined paper in assorted colors, textures, sizes, and shapes.
- Other writing materials, such as index cards, printed forms, postcards, magic slates, erasable marker boards, chalkboards, and clipboards.
- Bookmaking and greeting-card making materials, such as wallpaper, contact paper, wrapping paper, used greeting cards, staplers, scissors, hole punchers, envelopes, stickers, yarn, and glue.
- A typewriter, one or more computers with word processing programs, and a printer.
In addition to these materials, creative teachers will find many unusual writing materials that appeal to children, such as scented markers, alphabet stamps, and letter-shaped cookie cutters. Children occasionally enjoy using unusual writing surfaces, such as magic slates, pebble board, and scratch-off paper. Office or art supply stores sell many kinds of exciting writing materials that creative teachers can adapt for classroom use." (p. 190)
