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Right now, we’re diving deep into why you don’t want positive motor journals and what you are able to do as a substitute.
We’ll cowl these three matters:
- The developmental phases of writing
- Correct letter formation
- Genuine alternatives for creating positive motor abilities
Plus, I’ll reply a few of your burning questions on the finish of this put up, maintain studying!
What Are Superb Motor Journals?
Superb motor journals are primarily notebooks that some lecturers use to maintain observe of their scholar’s positive motor talent growth utilizing issues like stickers, tape, and tearing paper.
I’ll be trustworthy with you, when positive motor journals first appeared on the early childhood scene a number of years in the past, each fiber in my being screamed, “NO, NO, NO!”
I imply, since when did positive motor abilities and occupational remedy strategies take priority over little one growth? Who’s steering this ship?
Right here’s the underside line: Superb motor journals are a handwriting fad, not a finest observe. They’re synthetic, not genuine methods to develop these abilities. My motto is, “Flat is boring, 3-D is enjoyable,” and positive motor journals are as flat because it will get.
Handwriting vs. Writing
So, let’s begin with the developmental phases of writing. Right here’s the factor: There’s an enormous distinction between handwriting and writing – they’re not the identical!
Handwriting is forming the letters of the alphabet accurately, from the highest down. Writing is placing your individual ideas and concepts on paper.
The one prerequisite for kids to attract or write authentically is that they’ve entry to paper and writing instruments like crayons and pencils. Interval. Full Cease.
In her e-book, Already Prepared, creator Katie Wooden Ray says younger youngsters are prepared to jot down their ideas for actual causes. Why would we wish them to attend?
That’s ignoring little one growth. It’s like educating youngsters to determine uppercase letters first, then lowercase, then the sounds the letters make. Younger youngsters’s brains don’t work in a linear means.
And to take a quote from my e-book, Train Smarter: Literacy Methods for Early Childhood Academics,”After we don’t train the best way youngsters study, we’re setting them up for failure.”
Phases of Writing: Ages 2-3 Years
The developmental phases of writing range tremendously amongst youngsters, so a one-size-fits-all strategy might not be efficient. Some youngsters might not be prepared for the actions in positive motor journals, whereas others might discover them too straightforward and never difficult sufficient.
Right here’s a quick take a look at the everyday developmental phases of writing for preschoolers ages 3-5:
Scribbling (Ages 2-3)
Makes random marks and features with none particular shapes or kinds. The kid would possibly scribble in a left-to-right movement or randomly throughout the web page – assume twister writing.
This stage represents the kid’s early makes an attempt to speak by writing.
Managed Scribbling (Ages 3-4)
At this stage the scribbles turn out to be extra managed. Kids would possibly start to imitate writing by making zigzaggy strains or loops.
Kids start to to grasp that writing is a type of communication. They could inform tales about their scribbles, exhibiting the start of narrative abilities.
Mock Letters (Ages 3-4)
Kids produce letter-like kinds that resemble precise letters however are usually not but true letters. These mock letters typically include acquainted shapes equivalent to circles and features.
Kids acknowledge letters have distinct shapes they usually use these shapes when writing at this stage. They start to grasp that letters are part of writing phrases.
Phases of Writing: Ages 4-5 Years
Letter Strings (Ages 4-5)
Strings of random letters or letter-like shapes. Kids typically string collectively a sequence of letters with out spacing and with little regard for precise phrases.
Kids are experimenting with letters and starting to grasp that letters can kind phrases. This stage is essential for creating letter recognition and familiarity with the alphabet.
Transitional Writing (Ages 4-5)
Kids begin writing letters which might be extra recognizable and will try to jot down acquainted phrases.
This stage reveals youngsters are creating an understanding of the connection between sounds and letters (phonemic consciousness). They start to know that writing represents spoken language.
Lastly, you’ll start to see Typical Writing in youngsters ages 5 and up.
Correct Letter Formation
It’s true, forming the letters of alphabet accurately is necessary, however this may be achieved by quite a lot of actions that don’t essentially require a positive motor journal. For instance, training writing letters in sand or shaving cream could be simply as efficient.
I’ve heard the argument, “How will they study correct letter formation if I don’t use positive motor journals?” The reply? Via modeling and reinforcing every day!
Modeling through the morning message is essential. Reinforce with letter formation songs.
I like the alphabet songs from HeidiSongs. These songs train uppercase, lowercase, and letter sounds . You’ll be shocked what number of of your college students will begin singing these songs whereas writing.
Infuse your classroom with genuine alternatives for writing. Have paper and clipboards in your blocks and dramatic play facilities. Encourage writing/drawing observations and knowledge assortment within the science heart. And naturally, there are numerous methods to assist writing in your writing and or artwork heart.
For instance, when children are “writing” an order within the dramatic play heart, you don’t cease them as a result of they haven’t realized to jot down the letters accurately but, proper? That might be ridiculous!
Genuine Superb Motor Actions
Lastly, let’s speak about genuine alternatives for creating positive motor abilities. Other than positive motor journals, there are numerous methods to your college students to make use of stickers, gap punches, scissors, or tear tape in your classroom.
Have a look at your every day schedule and consider all of the genuine alternatives to your children to develop positive motor abilities:
- Play dough
- Sensory bins
- Gap punch
- Manipulating puzzle items
- Stringing beads
- Squeezing liquid glue
- … and even Potato Heads
Actions like writing letters in sand or shaving cream can be simply as efficient.
These actions not solely assist with positive motor abilities but in addition present a extra significant and interesting expertise for kids. These are way more developmentally applicable than flat positive motor journals. We would like younger youngsters to study by play and hands-on experiences, as a result of analysis reveals that it’s how they study finest.
Questions About Not Utilizing Superb Motor Journals
Now, let’s get to a few of your burning questions!
“They’ll write or draw freely within the writing heart, so positive motor journals can’t damage, proper?”
Newsflash! Just a little little bit of one thing synthetic will not be okay. We should always keep away from actions that waste priceless classroom time. As a substitute, we must always deal with extra priceless alternatives for genuine studying.
“How will I maintain observe of scholars’ positive motor progress if I don’t use positive motor journals?”
That’s what scholar portfolios are for. You need to use an envelope for documenting tearing and reducing abilities. Simply place the torn paper or reducing samples into an envelope, label with the kid’s identify and date, and place of their portfolio.
“I do positive motor journals as a result of my children love them.”
Certain, children love sweet and soda too. Simply because they prefer it doesn’t imply it’s good for them. If you happen to requested them in the event that they’d reasonably do a positive motor journal or play in a sensory bin, which do you assume they’d select?
“How will they be prepared for kindergarten if I don’t do positive motor journals?”
If we needed to rank what kindergarten lecturers search for on the primary day of college, #1 could be to take a seat and take heed to a narrative, #2 could be following instructions. Certain, positive motor abilities are necessary, however they don’t rank as excessive on the record.
Because the saying goes, “It’s a must to Maslow earlier than you possibly can Bloom!” Let’s not lose sight of the youngsters in entrance of us and their present wants.
There are many other ways to develop positive motor abilities that could be more practical and interesting than positive motor journals. So don’t really feel pressured to make use of positive motor journals, deal with little one growth first.
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