Learning the alphabet is such a big step for preschoolers, as is understanding how to write letters. It doesn’t come easily or naturally to all or any children, which is why I’m sharing five fun techniques to teach letters at your preschool center that is writing.
I have to be truthful here. I think that writing worksheets have a location in preschool, but typically not during the writing center. I’ll leave a set out of letter formation worksheets, but they are used infrequently, that is ok. There are plenty alternative methods to show writing to preschoolers without traditional tracing!
The thing is that, a preschool writing center isn’t just for learning letter formation. It’s also about using writing to communicate.
The objective of a writing center is to:
- Communicate ideas on paper via drawings and letters
- Associate print with meaning
- Develop motor that is fine utilizing the various materials
- Practice left to progression that is right reading and writing
- Develop eye-hand coordination
- Figure out how to form letters
The thing is that a lot of the learning that takes place at a writing center is about emergent reading because reading and writing are incredibly interlaced.
5 Ways to Teach Letters at the Writing Center
Since reading and writing are so intertwined, it’s only natural to include a bit that is little of in your writing center along with your literacy center.
Include lots of letter options that are tracing
Many preschoolers are not interested in letters that are tracing. (Unless they curently have a mature pencil grasp, but until then i enjoy use my fine motor journals to encourage the pincer grasp). But, preschoolers can sometimes be enticed with some fun tools that are tracing!
They are three of our less-traditional favorites:
Include lots of alphabet toys that encourage fine motor skills
At the center that is writing not everything has got to be about holding a writing utensil. In reality, your preschooler will resist tracing until they will have fairly developed motor that is fine. (They will certainly still want to consider scribbling and drawing, during this period, just not so much interest in tracing).
To combat an pencil that is immature, be sure to include lots of letter activities that will develop fine motor skills.
Here are some of our activities that are go-to
Include lots of name writing options
Preschoolers are obsessed with their names that are own and additionally they enjoy writing their names more than simply letters. So, make sure to offer an abundance of ways in order for them to spell and write https://essaywritersite.com/buy-essay-online their names.
Here are my ideas that are favorite
Include materials for story writing
Preschoolers love telling stories, but sometimes it is burdensome for them to create stories. Setting up your preschool center that is writing that they usually have lots of inspiration is helpful. Add thematic pictures to the center that is writing as well as word cards, and lot of fun and new writing materials. (These Early Learning Language Learning Cards are a life saver!)
Sometimes I’ll offer only thematic colors of markers and crayons into the writing center like blue, purple, and gray for winter. I love to offer stickers and small components of paper for gluing and tearing. And my preschoolers get real books to write their stories in. Target usually has packs of eight booklets for $3 around back-to-school time, but you can try these Blank Booklets for Writing and Sketching if you’re not near a Target store .
Include a lot of letter formation activities
Not activities that are just tracing. But activities where children get to apply letter forms. Where they get to shape the letters (while taking care of motor that is fine, of course), and mold them.
Learning letters comes naturally as children strive to form letters. That’s why we include sand trays and hole punching. Preschoolers can practice letters that are writing the atmosphere, or have your child try writing with her feet. Use play dough to produce letters. It’s all about forming letters.
Need Some Printables for Your Preschool Writing Center?
Add these to your preschool center that is writing. They’re not your traditional tracing sheets, but rather all of the letter formation fun with no worksheet.
I am Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home mama of five! I am the master and creator of be home more Educator, an internet site about intentional teaching and learning that is purposeful the early childhood years. I’ve taught range of levels, including preschool and college, and a small amount of almost everything in between. Right now, my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction