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anniemm
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 5:24pm | IP Logged
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I searched the archives for information on this, but didn't find what I was looking for. Please forgive me if I'm being redundant!
I am a much less experienced mom than most of you, and I came across this board when my husband and I decided that homeschooling would be our path. You all have been a great encouragement to me, and even though I have a couple of years before we officially start school, I have gleaned many great ideas from you!
That being said, my oldest daughter is 3 years old and I am struggling with being sure she has the stimulation she needs. She has been acting out more than usual lately (which honestly isn't much, but enough to alert me that something is going on). After some observation, my husband gave me a great perspective. He compared her to a German Shepherd Dog (stick with me here, lol!),gentle, very smart, easy to train, but gets destructive if there isn't enough stimulation.  I do nip the dicipline issues in the bud, but I also think she needs something more than what she's getting.
She's very routine oriented and quick to learn. Lately, she has started to draw letters - that actually look like letters. So, I was thinking that maybe someone could give me some suggestions on how to foster that interest in learning to write for such a young child, or really any other suggestions on how to deal with the situation! 
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Andrea
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Mama to four little girls (04), (05), (07), (09),& my 1st little guy 11/11
www.hiswillmypeace.com
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Celeste
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 6:23pm | IP Logged
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One of my favorite books for learning to write (and read) is Montessori Read and Write by Lynne Lawrence. It has so many great ideas not only for writing and reading activities, but for understanding what's going on within the child. It helped me expand my notion of language arts education--that things like stringing beads, sewing a seam, and pouring water are important activities in the process. They develop the child's attention, fine motor skills, sense of logical sequence--and usually the children love doing them.
This is the edition I have; this seems to be the one available.
Some ideas:
sandpaper letters
letters printed on cardstock, with holes punched in them for sewing.
playdough shaped into sausages to form into letters
a shallow tray of sand or salt cornmeal for writing letters with fingers
fun and unusual ways to form letters--like fingerpainging them, writing them in the air, painting them, gluing them, drawing them. . . .
Preliminary writing exercises: pouring exercises; preparing food, like bananas; manipulating playdough or clay; and so on
Lots and lots of great ideas!
(Your girls have beautiful names; and FOCUS--awesome!)
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Celeste
Mother of five. Daughters.
Perchik: Do you have children?
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P: Five?
T: Daughters.
P: Girls should learn, too. Girls are people!
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doris
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Celeste took the words right out of my mouth. The Lawrence book is excellent.
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Home educating in London, UK with dd (2000) ds (2002), dd (2004), ds (2008) and dd (2011).
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Jennifer
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I have two favorites for this age group. First is Treasured Time with your Toddler by Jan Brennan. Each week of the year is given a theme. Then she includes books, songs, recipes, and activities to go along with that theme. Second is, Learning Through All Five Sneses: A Language Development Activity Book. Basically this is an alphabet activity book. Experience the letter "A".
Read poem: Animals, Just Like Me
Alphabet Card "A"
Mystery Bag with Alligator inside
Apples for snack
Sing "America"
Do all kinds of Actions
Make Applesauce
Make paper Airplane
Teach children how to cut Apples
Create Apple prints
This type of play at home can really stimulate the child's creativity. I tend to keep this very low key. I read over the letter in advance and then incorporate the activities and discussions into our day without my children knowing it is all preplanned.
A favorite website of mine is Handwriting Worksheets. At this site you can choose the size and style of writing and then make up your own worksheets with your own words. I start with my child's first name and then add the middle name and last name. I make a page with siblings names, pets names, all kinds of favorites. I print out five at a time - one for each day of week. I have used this website for my two older kids who now have great penmanship; currently my 6 year old and 3 year old are doing these worksheets.
Jennifer
Camp Homeschool
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cfa83
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| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 1:37am | IP Logged
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Go for it Andrea! These are all great ideas. 
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Linda
Married to an incredible man, mother to 6 precious (and I mean precious) children: Grace, Michael, John, Faith, Hope and Andrew
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: handwriting
