Learning To Write


writing IHaving a niece that is only 2 months older than Evan and in preschool sometimes leaves the door open to comparisons. As she is learning to write her letters there have been some comments about how Evan hasn’t even begun to draw lines and circles, much less attempt to create the marks needed for letters. I was a bit worried, I’ll admit.

writing 2But the worry didn’t need to last long. Last Christmas my mom got Evan several coloring and activity books. The kinds with mazes and connect the dots and little pictures to color. They also had pages with letters and numbers written out in dotted lines to be traced and copied. Evan asked me once what they were for, I explained, and he shrugged.

writing CUntil recently. I keep the activity books on the shelf with his crayons and coloring paper for him to get down whenever he wants. The last few days he has been very interested in using his activity books, especially the pages with letters to trace. He has begun tracing up a storm, carefully following the dotted lines to form letters and numbers all on his own. Without any coaching, worksheets, or gold stars he is teaching himself to print for nothing more than the joy in doing so.

As proud of him as I am, and trust me I really am proud and excited, it is kind of nice to have some bragging rights. Or at least to have one less thing for people to assume Evan can’t learn unless he is in school too.

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Published by: Summer on February 4th, 2008 | Filed under homeschooling, kids



7 Responses to “Learning To Write”

  1. christine Says:
    February 4th, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    Ooooohhhhhhh … we’ve had the same thing happen over here. The neighbor, who is in 4K, can write her name. She’s younger than Presh … who still cannot make a “P” without tracing or much assistance. Heck, some days she can’t even pick out the “P” from the refrigerator magnets!

    Yet, take it from a mother of three that has homeschooled all this time … don’t give a FLIP! Right now, you should just focus on giving him lots of ways to get better at manipulating crayons and pencils. It should be exactly what you are doing - fun with lots of lines and swoops and swirlies! You’re doing so much more for him than he could ever do at preschool. He might be forced to learn to write his name … yet he would miss out on all of the (insert your entire blog here!).

    Fight that little nagging when you hear about the preschoolers writing their names. It absolutely does not give them some sort of academic edge.

    Just smile and say, “Wow! Check them out!” Then stop talking.

    And now I will put away my cheerleader skirt and pom poms so I can go eat some lunch.

    christine’s last blog post..Bye Brainhell

  2. Andy Bailey Says:
    February 4th, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    I don’t have children but I was one in a family of 6 other children and my mother was a child minder looking after up to 7 more so I’ve seen my fair share!

    one thing that my father used get annoyed about was the parents of a child that used to stay with us that could write his name in joined up writing a year before my little brother, they used to brag like crazy! that is, until a year later when my brother was top of the class and the kid wasn’t!

    Andy Bailey’s last blog post..Spammers use Top Commentators vulnerability to hijack top list

  3. Lisa Says:
    February 5th, 2008 at 4:45 pm

    As I have learned with my kids, they will do it when they are good and ready.

    Lisa’s last blog post..Carnival of Travel Guide

  4. Chrissy at Toddlebits Says:
    February 7th, 2008 at 8:47 pm

    And, it’s going to be so much more meaningful to him because he’s doing it because he wants to and not for some stupid stickers (”stupid” is a bit harsh, but I sorta have a thing against stickers).

    Way to go little guy!

    Chrissy at Toddlebits’s last blog post..Lazy Mom’s Blog

  5. Summer Says:
    February 7th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
    You’re absolutely right! Internal motivation feels so much better than external motivation.
  6. Best of February Says:
    March 1st, 2008 at 10:15 pm

    [...] Jewelry For You!Learning To WriteOn My OwnNightmares It’s My Birthday, You Get The GiftA Rant on Religion, Adoption, and Forcing [...]

  7. Sara Says:
    April 24th, 2008 at 12:31 am

    Yay Evan!!!

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