Revealing secrets

[Lara]

Really simple idea, but decided it was worth sharing anyway...

After a spelling test, I worte the names of the children who had gained full marks on a white page using a white pen. Then, at the end of the lesson, I filled in the page with black and the spelling stars names appeared on the board!

The only tricky bit is to focus on where you are writing and whose names you have written as you can't see anything!

Kids loved it though.

Could also be used to "reveal" an answer such as a mystery word.

Lara :-/

[Alison]

What a great idea! I can't wait to try that one out! :o)

[Justin]

Lovely idea - why not fill the page with a colour to write the names (or whatever) and then re-fill with white beofre saving it. Then you have no problem with writing it in the first place.

[Lara]

Ah, but the fun is to write it in front of them - they know you're writing something and they're desperate to know what! ;)

[Justin]

Of course! I wasn't thinking it through.

I can't wait to try it too now.

I am currently enjoying putting all sorts of things on the top layer so that I can erase it bit by bit. I've only recently learned to do that (From this very forum) and I love it.

There must be some way of putting that skill along with the writing in white to do something fun.... what if you wrote into a container ... no, that wouldn't work .... what if you selected the writing using design mode and changed the layer, then .... nah, too fiddley.... As Han* would say "Hmmmm".....




(*If you haven't downloaded and used 'Half for you and half for me' yet you've missed a treat!)

[Lara]

I have recently been using the writing in the same colour as the background trick to reward the more observant children...

One of our literacy warm ups involves the children being given a word and then having to write down one word beginning with each letter of that word (e.g. dog: dig-odd-great). The first child to complete the task shouts stop and then tells the rest of the class the words they came up with.

Recently I have been writing the work int he same colour as the background so that children who are focusing on what I am writing get a head start - only in thought, they tend not to write the words down until the key word has been revealed, just in case they didn't see the letter I was forming.

They love it! :-/

[Laura OHalloran]

I really like this idea Lara and have suggested various different ways of using it to teachers. How about using it with Reception children? - ask them what letter you are writing on the board (use the same colour pen as background) write it large on the screen. The children can write the same letter on individual whiteboards, on paper or just tell you the answer. Reveal the letter by changing the colour of the background.

I also like the idea of using it as positive reinforcement, for example... when you have asked your children to tidy up write down the names of children who are being particularly helpful.... then reveal the names and explain why you've written them giving them a team point/merit point etc.

Any more suggestions of ways to use this fab idea?

Laura

:D

[Margaret Allen]

Hi


I have recently been sharing this idea a lots of teachers all over the place. I call it magic writing and I ought to credit you with it, Lara.

So I thought resurrecting it from the dim and distant past would be good.

In the meantime, oh one with the good ideas, what else can you share?

[clap] +wave+ :D