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 4 TAKE THE TIME AND EFFORT TO LEARN HOW TO SPELL THE CHILD’S NAME CORRECTLY! 4 ALWAYS CONFIRM THE SPELLING OF A NAME UNTIL YOU HAVE IT MEMORIZED!

8. MANUSCRIPT WRITING 4 ZANER BLOSER 4 First they learn curved and straight lines 4 Second they learn round letters (O, C) and curved letters (S, D). 4 Curved letters that have intersections (B, R) 4 Letters with diagonal lines (K, X) and horizontal lines (L, H)  litoadcefgjqusbhprnvywkxz 12345678910 4 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 4 Today is your handwriting test on correct printing. 4 Write the entire Alphabet, numbers 1-10 and Your First and Last Name – Correctly!

11. REVERSALS:  Young children will often reverse letters or write parts of the letter backwards.  The order of a while word may be reversed.  This is normal and should not be a concern.

12. ? Left or Right Handed ?  About 10% of all children use their left hand.  Watch and see which had is preferred.  Help the child by providing left-handed scissors and allowing them to set on end of table so left arm has room to work.