PPH letter and name writing

I wanted to add this article to the blog this week as it sums up my beliefs on and the way I teach letter and name writing in Pre-Primary. 

NAME AND LETTER WRITING PRACTISE
By Traci Geiser
Updated on Dec 6, 2013


A young child begins her/his journey of reading and writing as she/he learns to read and write her first word. For most children, that first word is her/his name. But just how do preschoolers make the jump to writing their names and the other letters of the alphabet? And is there a right and wrong way to teach your child to write?


“Ideally, the first materials used are not markers and pencils but materials that allow children to strengthen the muscles in their hands needed to properly hold writing implements," says Mara Guckian, early childhood specialist and managing editor for Teacher Created Resources. "We add a tactile (kinesthetic) component when we practice shaping the letters with different materials. Shaping letters with dough, tracing them on textured paper cutouts, and writing in the sand or salt trays all help children internalize the shape of the letter, while developing their fine motor skills.”
Young children learn best when they are taught using a multi-sensory approach, involving as many senses as possible. Try a few of these hands-on letter formation and name writing activities for beginning writers and your child will have all the skills she needs as a beginning writer.
Letter Formation
Try a few of these fun activities to help your beginning writer learn the correct strokes when writing the letters of the alphabet:


Air Writing. Have your child write letters in the air first. These large muscle movements will help your child process what she/he is writing and make it more likely to stick. As she/he writes the letter, have them say the letter name or the directions for writing the letter. For example, for the letter T, she might say, “Start at the top, go straight down. Pick up your pencil and cross it.”
Foamy Fun. While your child is in the tub, spray a bit of shaving cream on the side of the tub or wall. On a hot day this is also fun to do outside, and your patio table will sparkle when you're done! Allow your child to practise writing letters, and then erase and try another set. A playful challenge will get your child even more excited to write.
Kitchen Tracing. Pour a small amount of sand or salt in a cake pan or baking dish. Allow your child to practise tracing letters without the pressure of more permanent writing utensils such as markers and crayons. If they make a mistake, they can simply erase what they have written and try again.
Paint Practice.For a non-messy alternative to fingerpaint, put a bit of fingerpaint inside a quart or gallon zipper bag. Remove the air, seal the bag and double the seal with some masking or duct tape. Your child can practice tracing letters on the outside of the bag, manipulating the paint with no mess or cleanup!
Sand Writing. Write the letters of your child’s name on a sheet of sandpaper. Allow her/him to trace the letters with their finger for a tactile name experience!
Trace the Name. When she/he is ready to begin writing their name, write the letters in large letters on a big sheet of paper. Have your child first trace the letters with her finger several times, then the eraser side of the pencil, and then the pencil. Use a dab of paint on the end of her pointer finger to add a bit of colour and even more multi-sensory practice tracing over the letters.
Learn Your Letters. When she/he is ready to move to paper, give them large sheets of paper and show them the strokes to make different letters. If you can give the letters human characteristics, it will be even more fun! (For example, a letter E is a straight line with a hat, a belt and a shoe.
The exciting journey of reading and writing begins with the alphabet. Give your child a great start to a lifetime of writing by providing hands-on experiences with writing. These playful interactions will go a long way in creating a positive attitude about writing for your child!


These last couple of weeks in Pre-Primary we have been focusing on the formations of our first group of letter sounds and of course our names. Young children find it easier to have ago at writing their names in their upper case letters first. Don't be concerned as this is normal writing and tracing development. It's a lot easier to write D,P,B then d, p, b. Through lots of repetition and letter study they soon learn the "school way" of forming the letters. 
• Happy reading:) 

Miss Horrocks.