Teaching writing in the Foundation Phase
According to the CAPS document, handwriting is a skill which learners cannot discover for themselves. Learning how to write includes the development of letters, words, and numerals. The learners need to be taught, how to form the letters. It is crucial that learners grasp the skills of handwriting so that they use the correct pencil grip to form the letters, The learners will need to be taught the starting point, size, shape, direction of movement and how letters are situated on the lines.
What writing means in the Foundation Phase?
Handwriting is a type of communication where thoughts and concepts are visibly expressed. When children are being taught how to write, neatness and correctness should not be exaggerated. Young children should be encouraged to write in any form or way.
The stages of writing
There are 3 different stages of handwriting:
• The scribbling stage: this is the beginning of drawing and writing. It can be controlled or uncontrolled.
• Pre-schematic stage: able to draw recognizable forms and objects
• Schematic Stage: when children are able to draw pictures, and they begin to use the alphabet as part of their drawing
Uncontrolled Scibbling
Schematic Stage
Controlled Scribbling
The different skills needed to master handwriting:
Before attempting any formal handwriting, certain development has to be taken into place and the learner will go through different stages of development. This will enable the learner’s ability to copy and draw or write patterns and letters correctly. Learners need to be able to master their muscle development. Such as fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination and being able to form basic writing characteristics. Perceptual skills also have a major impact as learners need to be able to spot similarities and differences of the shape, size, and direction of the letters or numbers. While learning to write, the correct posture needs to be taken into consideration, as this has a major impact on the learners writing skills.
The teaching of handwriting:
No method has been done to prove which method is better than the other. Every method has its own rules and features. Each learner should develop individual handwriting styles.
1. Teaching handwriting using THRASS
THRASS means Teaching Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Skills.THRASS is suited for learners in Grades 1-3. Capital and small letters are learned simultaneously and identified by name. Learners will learn the different sounds of each letter. Each learner receives a laminated chart that contains pictures for each sound as well as a laminated chart with the formation of the letter.
This method helps make learners aware of linear sequence while they also master visual, auditory and tactile skills all at the same time. This will also help identify small and capital letters of the alphabet. Learners need to learn different concepts such as beginning, middle, first, last and between. While teaching the THRASS method, questioning the learners is very important. You can ask many different questions about where you locate a certain letter on the laminated chart.
2. Teaching handwriting using the traditional method
The first form of writing that is taught is printing, because this type of writing is easy to read and write, and most picture books and other educational material is all printed. Using print requires less muscle control than cursive.
Grade 1:
- Formal teaching of print small letters and as many capital letters as possible.
- Forming of numbers
Grade 2:
- Completion of formal teaching of print
- Completing all capital letters not taught in Grade 1
- Preparatory exercise and writing patterns that precede cursive handwriting
- Formal teaching of cursive handwriting, which include small letters as well as capital letters
- Continuation of number formation.
Grade 3:
- Cursive writing, including all small and capital letters.
3. The D'Nealian Method
This is a programme developed by a teacher. This method uses mainly print charcters in a simplified form of cursive writing. In this method, print has the same slant as cursive, which are formed in a contineous motion. The letters have been designed so that they are easily linked in order to make the transition form print to cursive writing easier.
Step-by-step teaching of a letter:
- The teacher should use chalk, or tape to form the letter or number on the floor.
- The learners learn the name of the letter or number, by saying it out loud.
- The learners can then walk on the letter or number to learn the correct formation of it.
- While they are walking they need to repeat the name of the letter or number.
When teaching a single letter or number, this can be done by using tactile ideas or using the traditional classroom method. If using a tactile method, this can be done in the sandpit, or with paint, cotton wool, be creative. The more fun children have the more they will remember what that letter or number is.
