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Early literacy includes the development of early writing skills
Early literacy includes the development of early writing skills
Young children in an early learning classroom start to develop the background knowledge and skills for learning how to write.
Forming letters correctly and aligning them properly on paper can be a difficult task for young children and children with disabilities.
In addition, preschoolers are learning the foundations of the prewriting stage, which involves planning for writing through generating and organizing ideas and story sequencing.
Low, mid and high technology tools are available to support the growth and development of early writing skills.
Pre-Writing
Pre-Writing
Capturing and organizing ideas
Capturing and organizing ideas
There are a variety of low and mid tech solutions to help children develop the background knowledge to support prewriting activities.
Story blocks (above): Use clear sticky paper to adhere pictures to wooden or cardboard blocks and let children sequence them to recreate a familiar story, or tell a new one! These can also support students who are non-verbal engage in storytelling activities.
Use audio recorders: Allow young children to capture their ideas through audio (such as using the voice recorder on an iPhone or iPad). Learning how to use audio recorders and speech-to-text apps at a young age can further support students with fine motor or other physical disabilities as they enter elementary and secondary school.
Thinking "mind" maps (below): Do a whole class activity to map out a story on large easel paper, or collect information from a group activity. Great for visual learners to see alternate representations of information.
RESOURCE: Check out Thinking Maps PreK-Kindergarten Pinterest page for suggested thinking map ideas
Early Writing
Early Writing
Drafting
Drafting
There are a variety of low tech solutions to help children develop the background knowledge to support letter and word formation.
Printed letters (above): Add pre-printed alphabet letters of various fonts into your writing center, along with other materials for writing. Many children will initially seek out the letters that they know (such as letters in their name), or try to spell words they know (like “MOM” or “YOU”). By providing the materials and leaving this activity open-ended, it allows children to explore the alphabet at their own pace and in a way that makes sense to them.
Letter stamps: Using rubber or foam letter stamps can provide support for children who have decreased arm strength or muscle fatigue, and young children who have not yet developed the fine motor development to write letters. They can use letter stamps to begin to sequence them and form words.
Word banks (below): Provide other low tech solutions like sentence strips, printed words or word starters in a writing area.
Fine Motor Support & Practice
Fine Motor Support & Practice
RESOURCE: Pencil Grips
Helps young children learn proper finger positioning as they are learning to hold a pencil for writing. Can also assist children with fine motor struggles or hand fatigue when writing, and may also help to improve handwriting legibility.
RESOURCE: Little Writer - The Tracing App for Kids
Fun and engaging app for young children to use to practice early writing skills by tracing letters, numbers, shapes and small words.
RESOURCE: Write my name
The app helps young children learn how to write their name, trace uppercase and lowercase letters, and begin writing sight words.
The tracing apps can also can help make the task of writing their name accessible to children with fine motor challenges as they can start by tracing with their fingers.
REFERENCES
REFERENCES
Dell, A. (2017). Assistive Technology in the Classroom (What's New in Special Education), Pearson Education. Kindle Edition.
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