The “write” stuff
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The older kids have really been into writing today. They have made list and graphs galore. This is how children become better writers. I can throw dot to dot in front of them all day, but if they aren’t ready— they aren’t ready.
Here is an article that discusses the “stages of writing” if you are interested.
http://staffweb.wwcsd.net/goodwinm/Writingstages.htm
And here are some ideas to help your child build stronger fine motor skills from some of my friends on a message board.
Here are some of Maureens ideas!
I have already mentioned some of the things we do in art to encourage the
three finger pincher grip such as gluing. We also do an activity called pin
pricking. You get a large push pin, a small piece of carpet with low pile and
a variety of shapes traced on 2″ squares of construction paper. The child
puts one of the squares on the carpet and punches holes on the line all the
way around. Then he can punch out the shape if he has his holes close enough.
Older children enjoy that one. Some children prefer to use this method for
cutting out their countries when the make maps if they don’t have the skill
yet to cut with scissors. We use tiny “ink” stamps, and instead of ink pads,
I have them use waterproof magic markers to scrape the stamp side and use
that “ink” on the stamp. We always have a variety of necklace making
materials with cut straws and pony beads in seasonal colors. Both boys and
girls enjoy making these.
three finger pincher grip such as gluing. We also do an activity called pin
pricking. You get a large push pin, a small piece of carpet with low pile and
a variety of shapes traced on 2″ squares of construction paper. The child
puts one of the squares on the carpet and punches holes on the line all the
way around. Then he can punch out the shape if he has his holes close enough.
Older children enjoy that one. Some children prefer to use this method for
cutting out their countries when the make maps if they don’t have the skill
yet to cut with scissors. We use tiny “ink” stamps, and instead of ink pads,
I have them use waterproof magic markers to scrape the stamp side and use
that “ink” on the stamp. We always have a variety of necklace making
materials with cut straws and pony beads in seasonal colors. Both boys and
girls enjoy making these.
We have another area in the room that is full of fine motor activities. For
grasping(we always have our actities set out on shelves from left to right
with easier to more challenging arranged across a shelf), I have out now a
small bowl of yellow and green pompons on a round paint tray with 10
indentions and a strawberry huller. Then I have a tray with four dividers and
a container full of four different green and yellow beads and the child takes
tweezers and takes each bead at a time to sort and put in the appropriate
divider. Then I have a large baster that the child bastes water from one
container to another. The next one is is an eyedroper with a bottle of
colored water that the child drops a bead of colored water on one of those
round soap suction things. (The suction part looks like tiny mushrooms where
the beads of water sit on). You can also precede the eyedropper using small
beads instead of water and tweezers where they can form different designs on
the soap dish. That is what I have out now for grasping.
I also have out one of those square plastic boards that have the “nails” on
them and the child stretches rubber bands across the “nails” to make designs.
We have a mini screwdriver that turns the screws into four holes of a
predrilled board. We have a water activity that uses a hand held child sized
egg beater for making bubbles(We have already had out the whisking)They have
to hold the part that turns the beaters using those three fingers. We have
tiny Avon type bottles of various sizes and shapes where they need to
match the lids to the bottles and screw those on. We also have out polishing
where they have to use their pincher fingers for putting the polish on the
mirror, shoe, brass, silver, etc as well as use the small fabirc mitt to wipe
the polish off the object. When they spill their bowl of beads on the floor,
they get plenty of practice picking those up!(as well as helpful friends
getting practice). When they pour liquids like water for their drink at
snack, they use two hands, the fingers from one hand holding the handle and
the other hand for balancing the glass pitcher.
them and the child stretches rubber bands across the “nails” to make designs.
We have a mini screwdriver that turns the screws into four holes of a
predrilled board. We have a water activity that uses a hand held child sized
egg beater for making bubbles(We have already had out the whisking)They have
to hold the part that turns the beaters using those three fingers. We have
tiny Avon type bottles of various sizes and shapes where they need to
match the lids to the bottles and screw those on. We also have out polishing
where they have to use their pincher fingers for putting the polish on the
mirror, shoe, brass, silver, etc as well as use the small fabirc mitt to wipe
the polish off the object. When they spill their bowl of beads on the floor,
they get plenty of practice picking those up!(as well as helpful friends
getting practice). When they pour liquids like water for their drink at
snack, they use two hands, the fingers from one hand holding the handle and
the other hand for balancing the glass pitcher.
From another friend:
I agree with the last poster concerning developing fine motor
skills. Also, one thing that I tried with a child (and it
worked) was to have him hold a cotton ball in his fist, then
grasp the pencil, crayon,or marker, while still holding the
cotton ball. I got this idea years ago from either T-net or a
teacher’s website.
skills. Also, one thing that I tried with a child (and it
worked) was to have him hold a cotton ball in his fist, then
grasp the pencil, crayon,or marker, while still holding the
cotton ball. I got this idea years ago from either T-net or a
teacher’s website.
I hope you found some fun things you can do at home to help your child become a better writer!
What is the association thingie?
There are 750 homes in the state that are licensed. Well, 749 since the lady fed her kids windex. ugh… IT will be an association to bind them together for support and to raise the quality of homes. We will be non profit… do you still have your grant?
I will have to check and see if they are doing that this year. We all got an email from the ceo saying no raises, no bonus…