A collection of games and activities designed to help children improve their writing skills.

Alphabetic letters are ubiquitous, multivalent, and largely ignored. Playful Letters reveals their important cultural contributions through Alphabetics—a new interpretive model for understanding artistic production that attends to the signifying interplay of the graphemic, phonemic, lexical, and material capacities of letters. A key period for examining this interplay is the century and a half after the invention of printing, with its unique media ecology of print, manuscript, sound, and image. Drawing on Shakespeare, anthropomorphic typography, figured letters, and Cyrillic pedagogy and politics, this book explores the ways in which alphabetic thinking and writing inform literature and the visual arts, and it develops reading strategies for the “letterature” that underwrites such cultural production. Playful Letters begins with early modern engagements with the alphabet and the human body—an intersection where letterature emerges with startling force. The linking of letters and typography with bodies produced a new kind of literacy. In turn, educational habits that shaped letter learning and writing permeated the interrelated practices of typography, orthography, and poetry. These mutually informing processes render visible the persistent crumbling of words into letters and their reconstitution into narrative, poetry, and image. In addition to providing a rich history of literary and artistic alphabetic interrogation in early modern Western Europe and Russia, Playful Letters contributes to the continuous story of how people use new technologies and media to reflect on older forms, including the alphabet itself.

Building on the cyclical nature of learning, this lively handbook describes open-ended play ideas to inspire children in their writing. Children learn the skills needed for writing and reading on a continuum, over time and at different ages. Teachers, caregivers, and parents will find 150 activities to stimulate the minds of budding wordsmiths.

Drawing on extensive experience in teaching creative writing and a lifetime of free artistic expression, Roberta Allen, novelist, short story writer, and author of "Fast Fiction, " has created a unique book of writing exercises packed with hundreds of verbal directives and visual cues.

This edited volume combines cutting-edge research on feminist and intersectional writing methodologies with explorations of links between academic and creative writing practices. Contributors discuss what it means for academic writing processes to explore intersectional in-between spaces between monolithic identity markers and power differentials such as gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality and nationality. How does such a frame change academic writing? How does it make it pertinent to explore new synergies between academic and creative writing? In answer to these questions, the book offers theories, methodologies, political and ethical considerations, as well as reflections on writing strategies. Suggestions for writing exercises, developed against the background of the contributors' individual and joint teaching practices, will inspire readers to engage in alternative writing practices themselves.

Step into the enchanting realm of literature with "Whimsical Words: A Playful Exploration of Literature" by Kirthikayeni. This captivating workbook brings the magic of Shakespeare's world to life through riddles and puzzles. Dive into Shakespeare's works, decipher intricate riddles, unravel cryptic quotes, and explore the secrets of his beloved characters. It's not just a playful adventure; it's a valuable tool for competitive exams like NET/SET, sharpening critical thinking skills with expert insights. Delight in solving each puzzle, marvel at profound revelations, and discover joyous learning. Unleash your passion for Shakespeare's works and embark on an unforgettable literary adventure

Who knew handwriting could be so much fun? Noted author Rachelle Doorley, the creative force behind Tinkerlab, presents 22 fun step-by-step projects that guide kids in cursive creativity using an array of different materials—piper cleaners, yarn, aluminum foil, polymer clay, icing, and more. As many educators will attest, writing in cursive provides cognitive benefits in spelling, memory, reading comprehension, language skills, and overall academic confidence. Practicing cursive carries similar benefits when drawing; once you learn the basic shapes, you can play with it by creating your own personal style. Creative Adventures in Cursive shows you how to use cursive as a wonderful means of self-expression with these and more photo-illustrated projects: Create your own bullet journal Embroider initials on a cloth napkin Paint inspiring messages on rocks Write your name in 3-D with yarn and pipe cleaners Craft a foil doorplate with repousse (pushed up) letters Make a pop-up greeting card Cursive is fun, and the adventure begins here.