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How to make a writing frame
using Microsoft Word
If you have an RM Window Box with ClassMate, make
sure you are logged in as Manager.
Start Word and open a new document.
Click on View > Toolbars. Make sure the Forms
box is ticked.
This will display a toolbar like this:
Click the Frame tool 
and drag out a writing frame on the page.
Write the heading text into your writing frame.
This is the text that should guide the children's writing, for example
'This is what I already knew ...'
Move to the area of the page you would like the children write upon.
Insert a text form field. Click this icon: 
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This will create a grey box like
this one. This is a text field, an area on the document where the
children will be able to type. |
You can decide how much the children are able
to type by setting the properties of each field. Rest the mouse pointer
on the grey box and click with the right mouse button.
Select Properties ...
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Another box will appear
like this one. Make sure the Type box is set to 'Regular Text' and
in the Maximum length box enter the number of characters you want
the children to be able to type. Click OK to finish.
You have now created a text form field. To test it out, you have
to put the document in what is called 'protected' mode. |
To do this click this symbol: 
You can now type ONLY in the grey box. Click the
padlock again to return the document to normal mode.
Add more instructions and text fields to complete
the writing frame.
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You can add extra boxes, pictures and Word Art to make the writing
frame more attractive to use.
When the frame is complete you need to save it. The way you save
the document will make a great difference to how the children
are able to use it.
First you must protect the document before you save it. This
will ensure that when the children open the document to write
into it they will only be able to type in the text fields you
have set up.
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To do
this click Tools and Protect Document ...
Then make sure you click in the Forms button. |
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Saving as a template
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Another
feature of Word that can help you manage writing frames is the facility
to save a document as a template.
Once a document has been created as a template, a copy of the document
is created each time the template is opened. When children save
their work, they cannot overwrite the original document. |
To save as a template, click File > Save as ...
In the Save as type box , click Document template
(*.dot)
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