Students are asked to carefully practice forming the letters in their name first thing every day in Kindergarten. If they make a mistake printing, students simply start the process again. Making improvement and giving our best effort is important to learning. We celebrate each child’s progress and talk about the “best letter.” Sometimes, we choose one letter to practice making again until the brain and fingers make the connection. Repetition builds control and confidence until efficient letter forms become automatic.
A child’s name is the first and most important word they will ever learn to write. Once the child gains mastery over these letter formations, they will have internalized many handwriting principals and other letters will be easier to form efficiently.
Your child’s Friday Folder this week will contain two name cards showing how we have been practicing to form the letters. These “name tickets” as we call them will allow your child to continue their practice at home. Please post these name cards around your home, perhaps one on the refrigerator and one copy in the area where your child likes to write and draw. With daily practice at home and at school you’ll be amazed at how quickly your child’s ability to form letters improves.
- While good handwriting is not the most important focus for young writers, learning to automatically control letter forms within a growing number of high- frequency words frees the child to focus more energy into expressing their ideas in daily writing.
- We honor and celebrate all children’s initial writing explorations and understand that small muscle coordination varies greatly from child to child. Kindergarten letter formation instruction is always positive, individualized, and encouraging. It is integrated into real writing activities so the children are motivated.
Incorrect muscle memories can be hard to unlearn later. Our aim is to encourage efficient letter forms right from the start – beginning with the student’s name.
Check out some pictures of our class rocking their alphabet chart routine at “Teacher Time” during Literacy Centers below.
