Maria Montessori was actually a huge advocate for teaching writing before reading. I am not as strict here about order of operations or even about the tools we use to get the job done. What I care most about in exposing toddlers and young children to the beginning stages of writing is that they feel empowered, successful and inspired to do more. Some children do love worksheets and coloring books. I think there is certainly a place for those, particularly when building skills in following directions, working on strokes, lines and basic shapes and other important foundations of early writing. In my classrooms and now in my home, I love to offer a variety of opportunities for writing.
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| One of the first words a child learns recognize, to spell and to write is his/her name. |
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| I like to provide a variety of materials and methods for learning this! We use songs/music, letter manipulatives and more traditional writing materials as well. |
I have a vivid memory of learning to write my name. I remember the song my mother made up with me to remember the spelling and I remember practicing the letters on a small memo pad in my babysitter's basement one afternoon after kindergarten was through. Some of my favorite days of teaching were the ones I was able to witness and share in the success of a student learning to write his name for the very first time--not because I had drilled and enforced tracing and connecting dots and copying--but because he decided he felt ready and pursued the challenge independently. What I did do in the background is provide a variety of toys, tools, tasks and materials to help build those tiny muscles in the hand, strengthen the larger muscles in the core and upper body, develop the necessary hand-eye coordination, and prepare my students for independence and success. These are the core values of the Montessori method of teaching writing as well. She felt strongly that all of the early activities of infancy and toddler-hood were either directly or indirectly aimed at preparing the child's hand for writing. She did not feel children needed adult direction in learning the skills of writing as much as they needed opportunities to naturally prepare for and achieve the skill.
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| Multi-sensory exploration of letters is an important part of pre-writing--check out some of our favorite alphabet activities here |
As a parent now, I share the joy and excitement of seeing S grow into the stage of noticing shapes he creates when he scribbles. He is seeing that he can make a circle and a circle can represent a mouth or a pool or a whale... The process of realizing that shapes and symbols can represent objects is one of the earliest stages that will lead to understanding that letters can make words! Whether we realize it or not, early tasks like transferring, doing puzzles, painting, even learning to use buttons and other fasteners--all prepare our children for the later task of writing! I would add in that gross motor development through plenty of outdoor play, music and movement and a variety of physical activity opportunities also prepare early writers by strengthening their core and upper body for the vital task of being able to sit and maneuver a writing utensil efficiently.
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| A current peek at our art/writing center: I have a plastic caddie readily stocked with a variety of writing utensils, accessories, journals and notebooks for writing. I swap out materials like types of paper (right now it's homemade letterhead with S's name and address), chalk/chalkboard tablet, recycled materials for crafting, scrap paper for cutting practice and collage, paints to bring to the easel or for table work... I always stock crayons, markers, colored pencils and art mats. |
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| A closer peek at our writing caddie |
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| I am in love with these Ticonderoga brand golf pencils with erasers! Perfect size for growing hands and no frustration over not being able to readily erase a mistake. |
What to Write With:
There are many opinions about writing utensils with pre-writers. Some folks say to start with wider utensils that have a softer medium for immediate success--like crayons or markers. Some say to start with wider or triangular grip pencils. Some say to wait until the child's hand is ready to hold a standard pencil properly before introducing pencils at all. Others suggest supportive devices like grips and cushions. There are tools to support early grasps (like giant crayons that fit into a toddler's closed fist), and folks who strongly believe against these as they feel children should first perfect the pincer grasp before being introduced to writing utensils. Some folks prefer not to introduce pens until children have mastered pencils as they are harder use, requiring a perfect angle to produce ink. I say, offer and observe. If your child appears frustrated by a particular tool, offer support or an alternative. If your child is fascinated by your pen, offer him his own!
- pencils: standard, golf pencils (these are great for little hands and even come with erasers now, who knew?), wide pencils, triangular grip pencils, mechanical pencils
- colored pencils
- crayons
- markers
- pens
- charcoal pencils, oil pastels, chalk, bingo dabbers, creamy crayons/slick stix, window crayons, bath crayons, dry erase markers--it's starting to sound like art class now, but art is an early writer's best friend!
- paint & paint brushes, Q-tips, toothbrushes, sponges
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| I love getting creative with vertical art and writing opportunities. Peeling and sticking stickers is a great way to practice fine motor skills. A sheet of easel paper/craft paper and an envelope to hold some stickers plus a bit of masking tape is all you need to set up this invitation to peel and stick! |
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| Easels are a more traditional vertical work setup. I like to keep an old t-shirt accessible as well for covering up clothes before painting and I especially like using our easel (which was a great gift from Bubby that is easily transportable) in our kitchen so S can paint over an easy to clean floor while I cook! |
What to Write On:
- paper--lots of it, scrap paper, white paper, lined paper, graph paper, primary composition paper*, notebooks, memo pads, legal pads in smaller sizes (great for smaller hands), easel paper, butcher paper/craft paper, construction paper, sticky notes, index cards, binders with loose-leaf paper, small clip boards with paper cut to size or similar sized notepad, blank cards & envelopes
- recycled notebooks, office pads/forms, shopping lists, postcards, greeting cards, junk mail, envelopes--these are especially great for integrating writing activities into dramatic play (Through dramatic play, even a tiny cashier can write receipts, a young doctor can write patient charts and prescriptions, your budding librarian can stamp and write book slips, your little police officer can write tickets, your aspiring mail carrier can write and package letters, and your chef-to-be can take orders and write menus!)
- sentence strips & index cards can be used to write words early spellers are asking how to spell/copy or words/names you wish to familiarize them with. I am a huge supporter of a print-rich environment even for pre-readers. Labels are not just for clothing! S and I will often search signs in public for letters that are in his name--this is a great activity for waiting in long lines!
- chalk boards/dry erase boards and magnetic doodle boards--these are great in tablet size for seated use or traveling and also great for vertical use in a larger format. I love chalk board contact paper and there are also chalk board paints available if you're feeling adventurous enough to offer up a wall!
- disposable paper tablecloths--we are not yet at the homework phase of parenthood, but how cool would it be to be able to support your young scholars while including/occupying your scholars-in-training? With the drop of a simple disposable paper tablecloth you can provide a writing surface for math problems or spelling words, a doodle surface for your scribblers, and a clean surface beneath it just in time for dinner! No need to dispose of it after one use, either--just fold it away in your homework bin for next time. This is also a great accessory and activity for your next house party!
- blank books, albums, sketch books, journals--nothing feels as good as being published! Let your little writer be her own author and illustrator--you can even craft your own book using cardstock/cardboard and paper.
* Primary composition paper can be purchased in notebook form or loose leaf form. You can even do a google image search and print a variety of free templates off the internet. It provides wider lines, sometimes color coded to help early writers form letters, and I favor the versions with a blank space for illustrations. Alternatively, regular lined paper can be used with two lines at a time for early writers who require more space for letter formation.
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| Got a budding architect? Sneak some graph paper and crayons/colored pencils next to his Legos and watch him design his own blue prints or capture a favorite building through art before it gets taken apart and put away. |
Where to Write:
- Take a seat, stand right up or get down on the ground! Children should be seated at a table or desk that is an appropriate size to support their stature. It is hard to write when you can't reach the table! In instances when a properly sized seating scenario is not available, I prefer to offer standing opportunities (as in standing to write at a table that is of the appropriate height) or working on the floor (on the tummy, elbows bent) or vertical opportunities (at an easel, on paper on the wall, on a chalkboard or white board, or you can even make your own table-top easel)
- lap desks are great for homes that are short on space or furniture! I see them frequently at craft supply stores and even secondhand shops. Plus, they are easily transportable
- Don't forget the kitchen sink! or rather, the bathtub--yes the tub is a great place for writing with bath crayons or markers or paints or in shaving cream or sending secret messages through steamy mirrors, doors and windows...
- Get off my back! Practicing letters on each other's backs is currently one of our favorite bedtime activities. S loves to use his finger to spell his name on my back (even though he's not actually forming letters yet) and I love to spell his name or the write the ABCs or "I love you" on his back. Bonus: it's super relaxing and usually puts even the wildest of wild things to sleep afterward.
- the sidewalk--just grab some chalk and go! No pavement? No problem--grab a stick and hit the dirt or sand!
- screen time: there are a variety of great apps for practicing early writing skills and never underestimate the value of a simple word processing program for practicing letters and words through typing
Accessories & Accoutrements:
And last, but not least, a list of items worth honorable mention--both traditional and less traditional:
- shaving cream, finger paint, play dough, clay, sand, salt/sugar or cornmeal are all great mediums for practicing lines, shapes, letters and words
- recycled computer keyboards, calculators, phones--these are great for letter and number recognition and a fabulous addition to dramatic play setups
- alphabet manipulatives in a variety of forms--blocks, stamps, foam, felt, beads, puzzles, games, cookie cutters, alphabet pasta or cookies, scrabble tiles
- magnetic letters and magnet board, vertical magnetic surface (washer/dryer, fridge, door) or cookie sheet--I'm giving these manipulatives a league of their own because I love them so much!
- pencil boxes and pouches for writing on the go
- stickers, stamps, scissors, tape, glue, erasers, pencil sharpeners
- recycled magazines for cutting out pictures, words and letters
- scrap paper for cutting/tearing
- posters and artwork with the alphabet and later, words--you can even make your own (and enlist your early writers' help!)
- dry erase pouches or sheet protectors to turn your favorite coloring pages or worksheets into a reusable activity
- baskets, trays, recycled jars/cans, boxes and containers for storing materials
- magnets, tacks, clothes pins/string, picture frames, albums, binders or blank books for putting writing on display
- books, books, and more books--let's not forget that brother from another mother, reading together!
I'm sure I left things out and that there are many more that could be added. And suffice it to say that you do not need all of this! I do not keep all of our writing materials out at one time (that would be overwhelming) and many times it can be helpful even with what is out to select just a few crayons or pencils at a time, the necessary amount of paper, and a plastic tray or basket for carrying those materials to a work space. While I keep our writing and art supplies generally in one area, I sometimes sneak writing opportunities into other areas. I rarely leave home without a pencil pouch containing a small notepad and something to write with--you never know when something will be worth writing down on the go (or on the stop and wait...)! And my last bit of advice toward giving our early writers a great start: let them see you write! Whether it's a shopping list, a to-do list, birthday cards or lunch box notes, wish lists (a great tool for the little one who wants everything at the store) or just getting down and scribbling together (this NEVER stops being fun), write often and write together!
Additional Resources:
Here are some more great reads on writing!
- http://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-preschool/43985-montessori-materials-used-to-teach-writing-to-montessori-preschool-students/
- http://therapymommy.blogspot.com/2011/08/prewriting-shapes.html
- The Write Start: A Guide to Nurturing Writing At Every Stage from Scribbling to Forming Letters and Writing Stories by Jennifer Hallissy
I also recommend checking out the information and books about the curriculum method, Handwriting Without Tears
Happy writing, and until then--most importantly--happy playing!
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