What is a Line?

Teaching handwriting to young children is challenging. Fine motor skills vary greatly and some children who have been writing from a very young age have a few bad habits that are difficult to undo. We spent the month of September learning a few good habits that will be practiced for the remainder of the year. All letters start being formed at the TOP. Good posture is essential to good handwriting. All letters and numbers can be formed using the four wood pieces we have been learning about.

Today our handwriting workshops was my attempt to draw more attention to the LINES of the letters. First, I wanted the children to understand that there are many types of lines; curvy, straight, squiggly, zigzag, etc... We also have been learning important vocabulary for the types of lines, such as vertical, horizontal, and diagonal. 

As with many lessons in 4K, we begin with a related story. We read a great story about squiggly lines and a little boy who wishes he could write stories like his big sister... she told him that he CAN!! Just write what you know!!

We played with rocks that had lines painted on the top and the challenge was to connect them to make one long line and trace it with our finger.

Next,  the focus was on our familiar wood pieces. The children are getting quite proficient building letters they know and today the challenge was to build letters from memory or peek at the ABC wall for an idea. To make it even more fun and take notice of the individual lines within each letter, we decorated the letters with gems. So pretty!! Bling, bling!!

 This little guy built his lines only using the gems. Wow! So pretty!

During shared writing time, the children each took a turn at the white board drawing the type of line I directed them to draw. For example, 'draw a horizontal line.'

 We also refer to vertical lines as a "zip!"

During center time many of the children were using their own morning message board to practice drawing all kinds of lines. Check out that double zigzag line on the top:)

We also made line sculptures by bending pipe cleaners into different types of lines and poking them into a playdough base. Of course, this was a bunch of fun, but we are building our finger muscles by manipulating the playdough and bending the pipecleaners and this all helps with our readiness for handwriting. This is what learning through play looks like.

I see curves, zigzags, (which use diagonals to be created), horizontal, vertical, and crazy swirly lines.

Please emphasize LINES in your day-to-day activities with your child. Through this simple inquiry about lines, the children are more aware of all the different types of lines and how to make them. They are recognizing them in letters, numbers, shapes, and even in their illustrations. When you are drawing with your child, talk about the lines you are making. The extra reinforcement spills over into school:)

One of our little people made the first letter in his name for the first time today because he noticed that it looked like a zigzag!! 

YeeHaaaa!!