Pre-writing skills: Why and how should we develop these.
Sometimes we take, being able to write, for granted and forgetting what we had to develop to put us in a position to write.
We had to develop fine motor skills to put our muscles in such a position that we can hold a pencil. Then we had to train these muscles to move in a certain way. Today's post is about different activities we as teacher can do to firstly develop fine motor skills and then to do pre-writing skills.
How do we develop our fine motor skills.
- We play with clay, we roll little balls, we role snakes etc.
- Pick up small items like beads
- Do stringing.
- Shread paper into smaller pieces.
- Pick up sticks.
- Play with clothes pegs.
- Paste dots
This list can go on and on and on, but the main thing is that children should use the finger- and hand muscles as much as possible to develop these muscles.
But now, after these muscles has been developed, what activities can then be done to train these muscles to do certain movements.
We focus here on Pre-writing skills.
- Firstly make sure that children can draw this shapes according to their age. It is possible that some children can draw these shapes when they are much younger. Remember that this is just a guideline and not the norm.
- Tracing practice: Here cards/sheets are given and children then trace the patterns.
- A lot of tracing practices can be given. The medium can differ, sometimes use dots, pens, fibre pens, clothespeg with wool and paint, earbuds. It is all about teaching the hand muscles that they must move in a certain way.
Here is an interesting image I found, showing how much and what types of activities contributes to pre-writing skills, that begins in preschool
After the pre-writing skills are in place, then, and only then can the teaching of letter formation take place.
Remember to make learning fun. While having fun learning can still take place.
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Great post about the process of writing. You started with fine motor skills which is so important for writing. That is why you would be great in working with special needs children who need the fundamentals to do the everyday things we do. You are a great teacher who knows how to teach!
I hope your return to school was easier than anticipated. It is always hard to go back to work, learning your young with someone else. I hated it when I had my daughter and felt bad about leaving her. Best wishes @tanyaschutte!
Thank you @cabbagepatch for your beautiful comment. The return was't that bad, maybe because I new we have a wonderful nanny who has looked after my oldest two for the last two years and she will take care off this one like she was her own. She always says that if they are naughty we shouldn't blame them, rather blame her because she is their "Damara" mom. She is an old Damara lady from the north of Namibia. My kids love her to bits so it makes our drive to school each day easier knowing that they are in her capable hands. It will never be easy to leave them, and I will honestly, if I receive an offer equalling my current salary, but providing me the opportunity to work from home, take it.
May you have a wonderful day!
Thank you!
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Thank you!