Educators today must find ways to maximize student engagement, incorporate common core standards, and meet the current research concerning effective teaching pedagogy. It can be a daunting task! What if you could meet all of these goals by using something that children love? Toys!

Think about all of the times you have seen children pick up a common toy like a slinky, crayons or a ball. What instruction did they need to begin playing with that toy? Probably none. What if we could use a child’s prior knowledge about how a toy works and make a powerful writing connection? Toying With Writing does that and more!

Toying With Writing uses toys as “mental models” to engage children in the writing process. These toys act as concrete metaphors for abstract writing concepts and tap into the natural understanding students have about how toys operate. Once the connection has been made, the toy can act as a memory hook and aide in the recall of critical writing skills.

Toying With Writing workshops allow educators the opportunity to combine student engagement, curriculum, and research into fun and meaningful lessons that students will love!