Word Rack

 I have mentioned that Quinn has started writing on her own and is constantly asking me how to spell things.  In an effort to encourage her independence I set her up with a little writing rack.  I found this board with grooves in it somewhere on a walk near a construction site.  You could also glue another piece of wood onto a board to make a ledge and get the same effect. 

I used some watercolored papers and chalk (crayon melts when laminated) and wrote the names of our family members and her favorite dolls/animals.  Now she can write their names without needing my help PLUS it encourages her prereading skills as she identifies each name in print before writing it.  She is doing great with it!