GB2413112A

GB2413112A - Aid for the teaching of writing.

Info

Publication number: GB2413112A
Application number: GB0507361A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anne Simon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-13
Filing date: 2005-04-12
Publication date: 2005-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-12
Also published as: GB0408170D0; GB0507361D0; GB2413112B

Abstract

A device for providing instruction and improvement to a person's writing, or for use by a child who is learning to write, has a work surface 6 which can be written on directly or on which writing material 20 can be placed, retention means 10 for the writing material, and further retention means 8,12 to allow instruction materials 16 to be attached. The retention means used and/or the position of the instruction material is selected depending on whether the person is right or left handed. The device has indication markings 18 (16,18 figure 1) with which a sheet of paper 20 and/or instruction material can be aligned so that it is provided at the appropriate orientation. The device has pockets 24 for pens, pencils, etc. The device provides a defined work area for each child working at a group table.

Description

241311 2 Teaching Device lihe Invention to which this application relates

is the provision of a teaching apparatus which can be used by any child to advantage particularly, but not exclusively, by children who may have special needs in terms of learning, and in particular, learning in terms of writing and/or reading.

( onventionally, classrooms tend to have an open plan arrangement which means that a group of children can all sit at the same table and share the space which is available on the table. While, in theory, this may appear to be a common sense approach in that it provides the ability for children to socialise and interact around the table in a group format, a problem which is experienced is that no child has their own distinct work place. '[This is in contrast to the historic procedure whereby each child had their own desk and therefore had their own distinct workplace. It has been found that due to the lack of the distinct workspace, certain skills such as reading and/or writing, have been more difficult to teach effectively. It is believed that this is at least partly due to the fact that the child no longer has their own work area and therefore does not, in many cases, address a book or a writing pad in the correct or uniform way in each case. Because of this, the child does not have practisc at writing in a uniform manner in each occasion and, this lack of correct practice, can lead to the child writing in an incorrect manner. It is also found that by writing an incorrect manner, so the child's ability to use words and letters and generally comprehend written material is adversely affected.

The aim of the present invention is to provide means and apparatus which can be used to provide a defined work area for each child whilst still allowing a group table to be used and, in . @ . e a.

e ee. 2 e..DTD: addition, allow the child, by using their work area, to improve their writing, Icttcr and word comprehension.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a writing improvement device, said device having a substantially planar surface defining a work area, retention means provided for selective use for the reception and retcution of instructing material, said work area including a surface to be written on or to rcccivc sheet material to be written on and wherein at least one marking is provided on said work area surface to indicate the proper orientation of the said sheet material and/or instructing material with respect to the work surface.

In one embodiment, the material which is provided in the retention means is provided to be copied and/or provide instruction to the child using the device.

Typically, a plurality of retention means are provided with one being provided for the substrate which is to be written on and which is located substantially at the contra of the device with the other of said retention means provided to the left and/or right of said first retention means.

In a preferred embodiment, the device includes three retention means, said second and third retention means being located on either side of the first retention means which is provided to retain the writing substrate. Typically, the second and third retention means are provided to be selectively usable to receive and retain the teaching aids instructions.

The selective use of the second and third retention means, in one embodiment, is as a result of the identification of whether the child using the device is right or left handed such that, for example, if the child is right handed then the retention means to e e e e e 3 see e the left hand side is used and if the child is left handed the rctenton means to the right of the device is used.

I'ypically, the indication marking provided on the surface of the device Include a line with which an edge of the writing substrate can be aligned.

In one cmbodimcut, the indication marking includes a line for orientation calf the writing material for use by a child who is right handed and a second distinct and angularly displaced line for use for the alignment of the writing substrate when the child using the device is left handed.

I'ypically the first and second lines will be differentiated from each other either by colour and/or size of line and/or type of line.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of practicing writing, said method comprising the steps of defining a work area provided as part of a device, providing a substrate to be written on by the child learning to write, providing teaching instructions, identifying whether the child is left handed or right handed, placing the writing substrate into a rctainng means located substantially centrally of the work surface, selectively positioning the to the left or right of the retaining means on the work surface dependent on whether the child Is left or right handed, and aligning the writing substrate with first or second indication markings provided on the work area, said first or second indicating markings indicating the proper position of the writing substrate with respect to use by a right or left handed child respectively.

Typically, the device is formed of a relatively planar material one side of which forms the work area surface. The retaining means e e c e e.

e e eve ace e e t 4 e e e e can then be attached to the work surface. If required, a handle can be provided to allow the device to be carried to different locations for use and, other means for identifying the ownership of the device can be provided.

In one embodiment, the surface of the device acts as the substrate such as to receive markers and be relatively easily wiped clean thereafter.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates the device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates the device of Figure 1 in orientation for use by a child who is right handed; and Figure 3 illustrates the device according to Figure 1 orientated for use by a child who is left handed.

Referring firstly to l;igure 1 there is illustrated a device 2 in accordance wit the invention in one embodiment. 'lihe device comprises a base 4 which is relatively planar and is typically covered in a vinyl or other suitable protective material. The top surface 6 of the same, acts as a work area. Provided on said work surface are first, second and third retaining means 8, 10.

12 respectively. The first retaining means 10, is mounted substantially centrally of the work surface and towards the top edge thereof. The second and third retaining means 8, 12, are positioned to the right and left of the retention means 10 respectively.

..

ë 5.. . . Also provided on the work area are indication markings 16, 18 but this could equally be some other form of mechanical indication. The purpose of these indications 16, 18, are to provide for the correct location of the writing substrate which is to be used by the child. In this case, the indication means 16 arc provided and located on the work surface so as to provide alignment means for the writing substrate such as a sheet of paper for a child who is right handed and the indication means 18 are located to provide alignment for the writing material for a child who is to use the device who is left handed.

Figure 2 illustrates the device in use for a child who is right handed and it will be seen that the device includes instruction materials 16 which are provided on the work surface 6 and held In position by the retaining means 8 to the left of the retention means 10. The retention means 10 have the sheet of paper 20 to be used positioned in alignment with the indication means 16 and it will therefore be seen that the writing material is angled at the optimum position for use by a child who is right handed and, furthermore, the retention of the instruction material in the position shown, ensures that the child can easily view the same.

Iigure 3 illustrates the device for use by a child who is left handed and, in this case, the instruction material 16 is provided On the retention means 12 to the right of the retention means 10 and the writing material 20 is aligned with the indication means 18 ' n the work surface to provide the correct alignment of the writing material for use by a child who is left handed.

The writing device also includes a carry handle 22 which allows the device, when not in use, to be picked up and carried by the child either from classroom to classroom or from the school to h-'mc. Furthermore, pockets 24 or other means can be provided to allow the reception of pens, pencils, identity means * e tee e e c e e 6 e. e e e e and the like to be provided. Preferably, the work surface is provided of a material which allows the same to be relatively easily wiped clean and therefore kept in good condition.

The present invention therefore provides a device which allows, firstly, the clear definition of a work space, with the work space being unique and solely for use by a single child and it is believed that this is of particular benefit to children who may have difficulty in learning as it quite clearly defines their work area and, when the device is placed onto a surface, quite clearly indicates to the child that they are required to undertake work.

The use of the device also ensures that when the same is being used, the paper 20 which is to be written on, is correctly aligned for the child with regard to the child's approach to the device and the angular adjustment of the writing material depending on whether that child is right or left handed. This correct alignment ensures that the child writes at the same angle on each Occasion which in itself is important and furthermore, ensures that they have ongoing practice in writing at the correct angle depending whether they are right or left handed. Finally, by locating the teaching materials to the left or right of the writing material depending on whether the child is right or left handed so it can be ensured that the child is always provided with the maximum ability to read the teaching materials and utilise the same. All of these features individually are of benefit to the child and when provided in combination, represent a highly effective device.

Claims

r.e a e..

> e 7 e-. e e Claims 1. A writing improvement device, said device having a substantially planar surface defining a work area, retention means pr-,vidcd for selective use for the reception and retention of instructing material, said work area including a surface to be written on or to receive sheet material to be written on and wherein at least one marking is provided on said work area surface to indicate the proper orientation of the said sheet material and/or instructing material with respect to the work surface.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the instructing material is provided to be copied and/or provide instructions to the person using the device.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of retention means are provided, a first retention means provided for the sheet material substrate to be written on and which is located substantially at the centre of the work area and at least one further retention means provided to the left and/or right of said first retention means.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the device includes three rctcution means' said second and third retention means being located on either side of the first retention means.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the second and third retention means arc provided to be selectively usable to receive and retain the instruction material.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the selected use of the second or third retention means is as a result of the : i; if: ':. a.: :: a: Q. () identification of whether the person using the device is right or left handed.

7. i\ device according to claim G wherein if the person using the device is right handed then the retention means to the left hand side is used and if the person is left handed the retention means to the right hand side of the device is used.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein an indication marking provided on the surface of the device includes a line with which an edge of the sheet material substrate can be aligned when the person using the device is left handed and a second line with which the substrate can be aligned when the person using the device is right handed.

9 device according to claim 8 wherein the said first and second lines are each provided as part of rectangular outline markings.

A device according to claim 9 wherein the rectangular outline markings have a common corner point location and are angularly offset with respect to each other on the work area.

11 A device according to claim 9 wherein the first and second lines are differentiated from each other by colour and/or size and/or type of line.

12. A method of practicing writing, said method comprising the steps of defining a work area provided as part of a device, providing a substrate to be written on by the person learning to write, providing instruction material, identifying whether the person is right handed or left handed, placing the writing substrate into a retaining means located substantially centrally of the work surface, selectively positioning the instructing material e se e e e e e e e I 8 8 e 8 e c 9 se. e 8 e to the left or right of the retaining means on the work surface dependent can whether the child is right or left handed, and wherein the writing substrate is aligned with a first or second indication marking provided on the work area, said first or second indicating markings indicating the proper position of the writing substrate with respect to use by a right or left handed person respectively.