For Write the Room, students need a clipboard, a pencil, and a recording sheet. Once they have their supplies, they set off and explore the room to find the picture/word/math cards.
Here are some ways you can incorporate Write the Room into your busy day!
In the early primary classroom Write the Room is a perfect way to incorporate movement in your centers. Kids are full of energy so it's important to get them up and moving throughout the day. Students love to explore the classroom so this is a great way to put that enthusiasm to good use. And so much more fun than a worksheet!
In my classroom, I give three choices for centers to do while I am working with reading groups. Write the room is always a top choice!
Primary grade students are famous for this line! They need to stay busy or chaos ensues! Having these write the room activities as a routine and a staple in my classroom makes this question obsolete!
Students each have their own clipboard and access to the recording sheets. Some will do the same hunts over and over because they enjoy them so much! I change them out once a month and they are so excited when I put out the new ones!
Sometimes I use write the room activities to introduce vocabulary for a holiday or theme. It really creates excitement for the topic and I love the buzz! My principal always smiles when he walks by during this activity.
This is also a great spelling words activity. My write the room cards have editable versions so you can enter your own words or math problems to review! For this activity, we needed review on sneaky e words!
Write the room is also a great review game before a test, at the end of a unit of study, or for spiral review through the year. My ink-saving option is seen here printed on colored cardstock.
Write the room is easy to prep once and use year after year!
Step 1: Print, cut, and laminate the color picture cards on white cardstock or use the printer-friendly version with colored cardstock.
Step 2: Print multiple copies of the recording sheet. Each student will need a copy.
Step 3: Place the laminated picture cards around the room or have students hide them for you! Early in the year, I have specific locations for the cards. Later I mix up the card locations.
Step 4: Create a storage container by month with hanging file folders and ziplock bags. You are sure to find a card from 2 months ago and don't want to have to drag out the tub where it goes. It is best to have them all in a central location.
As with all activities, you'll want to discuss your rules and expectations.
Classroom Layout: Are there any sections in the classroom that you don’t want students hunting through? I have a teacher area and that is off-limits for cards. Also, they can't put cards inside or behind things. They need to be easily visible.
Student Directions: How do students get from card to card? Do they have to go in order? My cards are designed to be done in any order.
Can they do it together or ask friends for help? My rule is that you can ask a friend where a card is, but you need to figure out the answer yourself.
And of course NO RUNNING!
Modeling this activity before setting them off on their own will greatly affect the success of this activity.
Show students where the materials (clipboards, recording sheets) and cards are located and how to carry their clipboard and pencil around. Demonstrate how to match the picture on each card and copy the answer onto the recording sheet. Also, model how to get from one card to the next safely.
Sometimes I will pair up high and low students for write the room to help the low students be successful and to slow down the high students.
You can easily switch it up by adding special writing utensils like gel pens, smelly markers, etc.
Who changes the write the room cards?
THE KIDS! I will often use hanging and taking down the cards as an early finisher activity. I use velcro dots to put the words on the wall. The velcro dots make changing out the cards easier, not having to make tons of tape rolls. You can train the students to take the cards down, sort the cards, and put up new cards!
I’ve done the planning for you by putting together a YEAR LONG WRITE THE ROOM BUNDLE! This bundle includes 55 different cards, plenty to change out each week of the year! I have included math and literacy cards in each monthly set mostly geared toward first grade concepts.
Each set of cards has editable options so you can enter your own skills such as vocabulary, sight words, spelling words, math problems, names, etc.
Another great thing about my card sets is that they come with or without backgrounds to save on ink or black and white options for those without access to color printers!
Check out each month's card set in my store by clicking on the picture or the bundle!
