tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988931737585001828.post1690863695037636642..comments2023-08-12T02:17:30.200-07:00Comments on Children Grow, Children Explore, Children Learn: Writing & SpellingDebbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132185749852282347noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988931737585001828.post-61293532541224493982011-02-07T10:43:11.000-08:002011-02-07T10:43:11.000-08:00C is in first grade. He has used Handwriting With...C is in first grade. He has used Handwriting Without Tears for the past three years. He still makes mistakes and writes the occasional letter backwards. I don't worry about it, but I will ask him to review his work to find errors; he always finds them. He doesn't always form his letters the proper way (he may start a letter at the bottom), but his handwriting is neat and legible.Christy Killoranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07159841014641280973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988931737585001828.post-35581293113055028432011-02-06T23:39:54.235-08:002011-02-06T23:39:54.235-08:00Well done on the letter formations. I have onlyjus...Well done on the letter formations. I have onlyjust now started to remind K of the correct way to form her letters, if she has them the wrong way round. I think you want the writing to be fun especially so early on.Kyliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974687027083973218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988931737585001828.post-32139237234498472832011-02-06T20:52:12.253-08:002011-02-06T20:52:12.253-08:00We have worked through the Kumon workbooks many ti...We have worked through the Kumon workbooks many times, which was a free time or boredom breaker for Selena. I have seen children who do great with learning to write freely as Leah mentioned, while I have also seen children who needed the more structured learning as Phyllis mentioned. <br /><br />Right now we are just letting Selena explore, what she remembers from the Kumon workbooks, and what she discovers in her scribbles. I do feel we will use some sort of a more formal writing program, but that will all depend upon Selena, right now for her age, I think she is doing great with her writing, while some letters are not perfect, we again have to address the motor skills that are still developing. I will say that I like what Joyful Learner had to say, sometimes it truly does depend on the child. Spelling is the same way here, I often spell words for Selena when she asks, while other times she just tries on her own. Many times again she surprises her and I both with her spelling abilities, other times it is hit and miss, but it is the effort that she puts into learning those sounds and interpreting what she hears.Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132185749852282347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988931737585001828.post-27376688441837231202011-02-06T19:37:32.777-08:002011-02-06T19:37:32.777-08:00I could see both points of view. I've seen kid...I could see both points of view. I've seen kids who write well very naturally without much intervention. Some kids need more guidance and when bad habits are formed, it's very difficult to break. I try to take a balanced approach. I show her how the letters are formed and give her opportunities to practice but in no way demand perfection. I give her a great deal of freedom once she knows the basics. Oddly enough, she's been substituting the upper case letter B for the lower case b in her writing. I think it's less confusing that way for her. Also, with spelling, I give her the correct spelling when asked for but I also allow her to use invented spelling when she can. You have to know your child and see what she or she responds to best.Joyful Learnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06428785096597190176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988931737585001828.post-78700856701987193212011-02-06T17:07:31.023-08:002011-02-06T17:07:31.023-08:00Phyllis' comment is interesting. I let all my...Phyllis' comment is interesting. I let all my children free write, when they were first learning their letters, and so far it's turned out okay. My older children all write normally, if not always neatly, now.An Almost Unschooling Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07784076035361200243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988931737585001828.post-10317816001700214532011-02-06T10:04:49.588-08:002011-02-06T10:04:49.588-08:00I recommend iwrite app which K had fun learning ho...I recommend iwrite app which K had fun learning how to form letters correctly.Joyful Learnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06428785096597190176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988931737585001828.post-26976469509003746962011-02-06T08:18:56.657-08:002011-02-06T08:18:56.657-08:00It would be better if you taught her how to make t...It would be better if you taught her how to make the letters first rather than her discovering how to make them. I let my now 13 year old son make his letters the way he wanted to at first and we are still struggling over his handwriting as the incorrect letter formations are were so ingrained by the time I got to teaching him the correct way, that he couldn't switch. I wish someone had told me.Phyllishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09217282962233011656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988931737585001828.post-66700280047067440142011-02-06T08:17:37.936-08:002011-02-06T08:17:37.936-08:00This is great that Selena experiments with writing...This is great that Selena experiments with writing. Anna's writing resembles Selena's very much even though they have constant writing practice in school.Natalie PlanetSmartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03531558038661679151noreply@blogger.com