LITERACY: Writing & the ABC’s Ways to Learn the ABC’s … without holding a pencil! Georgia CTAE Resource Network Instructional Resources Office July 2009

 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.

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

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

HAND-EYE Coordination  This 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.

…don’t rush ….  The majority of preschool children lack the small muscle control and eye-hand coordination to use lined paper.  With practice AND maturity, children will learn the correct letter size, spacing and line quality.

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.

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

Make writing & letters FUN!  Provide a variety of ABC activities for the children  Early Writing/ABC activities: Sensory letter activities Games, songs, books Labels on items Word and letter recognition in familiar names and signs