'Every Child a Talker'

'Every Child a Talker'

Language and mark making

Many people assume that the starting point for writing is when a child can write his name. However this is merely the tip of a very large iceberg that begins, you might argue, as soon as the child is born. Mark making, drawing, writing and reading are all closely bound up with a child's communication and language development. In fact you could say that mark making shows us exactly how a child is thinking, and makes visible what they know about reading. In this section we explore ideas for mark making in Early Years settings. These ideas form part of a mark making project in schools in Luton, called 'On Your Marks'. Please feel free to contact Michael with your own ideas and experiences.

Practical ideas for mark making

Role-play and mark making 1: Developmental phases
Mark making and role-play 2: Setting up an exciting and effective role-play area
Mark making and role-play 3: Adult-child interaction
Mark making and role-play 4: stimulating mark making
Developing Fine Motor Skills (Ideas courtesy TES Forum)
Useful reading on mark making
Penguins: Developing fine motor skills, language and mark making
Developing mark making through movement 1: making circles
Developing mark making through movement 2: making waves
Developing mark making through movement 3: making zigzags
Developing children's confidence in mark making and early writing
Mark making and movement: using 'Write Dance'
Mark making and construction role play outdoors