My Dear Friends,
I get shaky and queasy just thinking about what all of you are going through now. "No singing in kindergarten" was the straw that broke this camel's back!
We WILL figure this out and things are GOING TO GET BETTER! In the meantime, on my blog this week I thought it might be helpful to focus on basic skills (pencil grip, cutting, glueing, etc.) that could help those of you who are doing in class teaching, those of you who are doing distance instruction, and everyone in between. I think these strategies could also be meaningful if shared with your parents.
One day at a time...You know I love you and your sweet children!
Dr. Jean
It's important to encourage children to use the correct pencil grip when they begin to write. Here are tips for teachers and parents in class, online, anytime!!!
Silly Band
Give children a silly band (or rubber band) to go around their wrist. Pick up your pencil and then slip the end of the silly band around the pencil. Explain when you go in the car you wear your seat belt, and when you write you need to put a seat belt around your pencil. Then you’ll have mom and dad in the front seat and the kids in the back seat!
Pompom
Place a pompom or cotton ball in a child's hand. Demonstrate how to put pinky and ring man to “sleep” on the pompom before picking up the pencil.
Writing Bracelet
String a bead or jingle bell to a piece of yarn or string to make a bracelet. Make it loose enough so it can slide easily on and off a child’s wrist. While writing the child wears the bracelet and holds the bead in her hand.
Bird’s Beak
Point the pencil away from you. Make a bird’s beak by opening and closing your index finger and thumb. Use your beak to pick up the point of the pencil and then flip it back.
Pencil Grip(Melissa Connelly)
Teach children to hold their crayon or pencil correctly with this trick.
Draw a smiley face on their hand as shown. When they use their pincer fingers their hand will always be smiling at them.
Pencil Grip Song (Tune: “Where Is Thumbkin?”)
Where is Pointer?
On the top.
Ready to write.
Start at the top.
Where is Thumbkin?
On the side.
Ready to help
Your pencil glide.
Where is Tallman?
On the bottom.
Keeps the letters
Where you want ‘em
Want a free download of this song. Here you go!
http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2017/08_Aug_css/index.html