LITERACY: Writing & the ABC’s

Ways to Learn the ABC’s …

without holding a pencil!

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.

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.

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……

HandwritingHandwriting

Child’s NameChild’s Name TAKE THE TIME AND EFFORT TO

LEARN HOW TO SPELL THE CHILD’S NAME CORRECTLY!

ALWAYS CONFIRM THE SPELLING OF A NAME UNTIL YOU HAVE IT MEMORIZED!

MANUSCRIPT WRITING

ZANER BLOSER First they learn curved and straight lines Second they learn round letters (O, C) and curved

letters (S, D). Curved letters that have intersections (B, R) Letters with diagonal lines (K, X) and horizontal

lines (L, H) litoadcefgjqusbhprnvywkxz 12345678910 Letters made with letters and circles are easiest

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

Handwriting TestHandwriting TestToday is your handwriting test Today is your handwriting test

on correct printing.on correct printing.Write the entire Alphabet, Write the entire Alphabet,

numbers 1-10 and Your First numbers 1-10 and Your First and Last Name – Correctly!and Last Name – Correctly!