Interactive Writing Sharing the Keyboard!

The computer can be a powerful tool for interactive writing. It provides for easy editing and immediate publishing of work. Students are all able to see the text, read the print and do not have pens to distract them. Interactive writing using word processing also allows for modeling of basic word processing skills in an authentic setting.

Claris Impact is one of the most convenient word processing applications to use for interactive writing because changing text color can be done in one simple step.

1. Open Claris Impact
   
2. Click on "Create a new Blank Document" and on "Report", then OK
3. Make text bold, by clicking on the letter B on the horizontal tool bar.
4. Click on Text in the menu bar, highlight Font and hold the mouse button down. You will see a list of fonts. Scroll down and highlight the font you want to use.
   (Good Font choices for young children are Avant Garde and Moderne.)
   
5. Click on Text in the menu bar, highlight Size and hold the mouse button down. You will see a list of font sizes. Scroll down and highlight 36.
   
6. Tear off the text color palate. Click and hold on the color wheel next to the letter A on the horizontal tool bar. Drag the mouse diagonally down across the color palate. When you see the outline of a box, let go of the mouse. Now you can click on the palate and drag it anywhere you want to on the screen.
7. Now you are ready to start your Interactive Writing. As children write (type) the text color can be changed with a single click of the mouse.Each child clicks the cursor in the color palate on their color, then begins typing.