LITERACY: Writing & the ABC’s

1. LITERACY: Writing & the ABC’s Ways to Learn the ABC’s … without holding a pencil!

2. As a child begins to use drawings to represent different ideas, they are beginning to write. • Straight lines and circles begin to represent items in their lives.

3. PRE-WRITING Activities • Two skills are needed before a child can successfully write manuscript: • Small muscle coordination • Hand-eye coordination

4. SMALL MUSCLE Activities: • Any activities where the child is using their fingers will help to develop these small muscles. • Needed to hold a pencil and make basic strokes • Some examples of activities are: • Puzzles - building blocks, play dough, clay, rubber stamps, magnet letters, small cars and trucks, crayons, etc.

5. EYE-HAND Coordination • The allows the child’s hand to react to what the eye sees. • These activities will help the child to develop writing skills: • Drawing, tracing, cutting, painting, pasting, finger paints, typing (key boards) lacing cards, stringing items, etc. • Try it……

6. Handwriting

7. Child’s Name • TAKE THE TIME AND EFFORT TO LEARN HOW TO SPELL THE CHILD’S NAME CORRECTLY! • ALWAYS CONFIRM THE SPELLING OF A NAME UNTIL YOU HAVE IT MEMORIZED!

8. MANUSCRIPT WRITING • ZANER BLOSER • First they learn curved and straight lines • Second they learn round letters (O, C) and curved letters (S, D). • Curved letters that have intersections (B, R) • Letters with diagonal lines (K, X) and horizontal lines (L, H) • litoadcefgjqusbhprnvywkxz 12345678910 • Letters made with letters and circles are easiest

9. Make writing & letters FUN! • The majority of preschool children lack the small muscle control and eye-hand coordination, at first, for traditional writing methods. • Provide a variety of ABC activities for the children. • Early Writing/ABC activities: • Sensory letter activities • Games, songs, books • Label on items • Word and letter recognition in familiar names and signs

10. Handwriting Test • Today is your handwriting test on correct printing. • Write the entire Alphabet, numbers 1-10 and Your First and Last Name – Correctly!