Writing

is a medium of human communication where thoughts and concepts are visibly expressed in order for the message to be read (M Bester, 2017)

The beginning stages of writing - of human beings - are hugely influenced by the skills and lessons taught in the foundation phase.

For example (to name a few):

o Teachers encourage children to express themselves through scribbling.

o Reading time - the awareness that authors write books.

o Role-play writing situations in the fantasy corner (writing a grocery list, writing letters, giving a parking ticket etc.)

o The step-by-step teaching of ABC’s.

o Teaching capital and lowercase letters.

Drawing as preparation of learning to write

The relationship between a size of a tall tree figure and a car on the road in a drawn picture, is important in later helping learners to distinguish between capital and lowercase letters; with regards to identifying the letter size and spacing.

When learners draw circles to represent human heads, wheels and the centre of a flower, they are unknowingly practicing writing the letter “o” and other letters such as “b”, “d”, “g”, “p” and “q” that have a circle shape in them.