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Buda, TX Area Workshop | Thursday, August 26
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
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Rave Reviews | | Thank you for another wonderful session! The information you have shared with us has made communicating with parents so much more comfortable. I now can confidently explain to parents why we do what we do at preschool!
CC
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Wonderful workshop! As a new teacher, I feel that this workshop provided me with some very practical, creative activities that will truly make a difference in the classroom. The very entertaining speaker kept me engaged the entire length of the workshop.
Houston Workshop Participant |
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Is Johnny or Suzy Ready to Learn Handwriting?
With a new school year about to begin, many early childhood teachers and parents may be wondering if their young children are ready to begin learning the skill of handwriting. Since readiness for learning handwriting occurs at different ages for different children, educators and parents need to be aware of prerequisite competencies for handwriting readiness. I recommend children possess the following prerequisites in order to be set up for success in handwriting skill acquisition:
- Established hand dominance when coloring, drawing, or using a fork (usually emerges between 4.5 - 6 years old)
- Ability to cross the midline
- Ability to use two hands in an activity
- Ability to coordinate eyes and hands together
- Functional pencil grasp
- Recognition of similarities and difference in forms
- Ability to understand directional terms
- Orientation to print
- Recognition of letter forms and sounds
- Ability to copy basic shapes: vertical line, horizontal line, circle, plus sign, slanted lines (forward and backward), square with defined sides, X, triangle with defined corners
- Ability to maintain proper sitting posture
- Interest in handwriting
- Ability to attend to a task for a minimum of one minute (for purposes of receiving formal instruction in handwriting)
Respecting each child in his/her own developmental journey toward handwriting readiness is essential for handwriting skill success! Equally important is the provision of quality handwriting instruction by the educator to ensure establishment of accurate letter formation patterns. Developmental readiness and excellent instruction spell successful handwriting acquisition for children!
More tips on readiness for handwriting to come in future E-Blasts...Write Out of the Box!
Marianne |
| FREE SHIPPING |
Now is the time to stock up on terrific products for your classroom. Enjoy FREE SHIPPING on all product orders of $50.00 or more. Use coupon code "SCHOOL" at the coupon code prompt located at the bottom of your shopping selection page prior to checkout. | |
Click here to register and take advantage of your discount coupon. Offer Expires: September 6, 2010 |
| Featured Products for Your Classroom |  Grab 'n' Go
Shop the Grab 'n' Go section in our online store to find fine motor activities that are ready to use with individuals, at centers, or in small group! All Grab 'n' Go activities include a tool, manipulatives, and a pillow (pom pom) for easy implementation.
Tools and Manipulatives
Frequently alternating unique manipulatives keeps fine motor activities fresh and exciting! Children simultaneously build fine motor and cognitive skills when participating in sorting, matching, or stacking activities used with our tripod development tools for science, math, social studies, and of course, pre-writing.
Art Tools 
Squeeze Droppers and Pipettes are only two of the fun and useful products you will find in our Art Tools section. Both the droppers and pipettes will work well with the Teacher Feature activity below.
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| Teacher Feature | Tripod Squeeze Drop!
One of the kid's favorite fine motor activities is transferring colored water into a suctioned soap dish placed upside down with the suction cups facing up. I find these at the grocery store. Put the activity on a tray to catch the overflow, and set it up with the cup on the left. Always encourage left to right activities. When finished, they just turn it over onto a nearby paper towel which absorbs the liquid, then start all over again. Be prepared for this to be a popular activity.
Submitted by:
Lynn Johnson, Kindergarten Teacher
Wildwood Christian Academy
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Congratulations to Lynn for submitting her idea and receiving a coupon for an extra special discount in our online store!
Do you have a terrific fine motor activity that you would like to share with other teachers? Send a description and a jpeg picture (if possible) of your activity to mgibbs@writeoutofthebox.com and we will send you a coupon just for taking the time to submit your idea. |
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