tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post916278743284050205..comments2024-03-17T03:16:28.914-04:00Comments on Toys As Tools Educational Toy Reviews: Review + Giveaway: Crayon Rocks- Less Has Never Been So Much Morejennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07740390517301793433noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-84290170033288014512014-02-10T15:18:50.120-05:002014-02-10T15:18:50.120-05:00Your welcome! I just found your website, and I'...Your welcome! I just found your website, and I've been here 3 hours! The skywriting is a great motivator for kids, it gets them out of their chairs, which is what they usually want. They use many more muscles, and it gets the brain awake. It doesn't contribute to the specific muscle memory, but it helps to imprint on the brain the stroke order and shape of the letter, as you said. I only spend a few minutes on the skywriting, then I go into medium (pun intended) size and texture- practicing the strokes on carpet, sandpaper, whipped cream, pudding, sand, any texture. Another idea is to 'write' with a finger on a cabinet, using the spaces between the drawers as the lines, the finger will feel the spaces and imprint where the lines are. Getting more senses involved means more pathways to the brain. When the child finally starts writing on the paper, the brain has a pretty good idea of the strokes and shape it is going to make. A vibrating pencil can also help the hand and brain learn what to do. Work on a few letters at a time that have a related shape, and get those learned really well before moving to the next set. Don't try to teach easily confused letters at the same time, like 'b' and 'd'.sherylsartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-66516694163659502482014-02-10T14:06:25.158-05:002014-02-10T14:06:25.158-05:00not teaching cursive? wow... I think we are in a...not teaching cursive? wow... I think we are in a transitional period, aren't we? I wonder how we negotiate this issue within our own families and schools. When is the optimal time to learn typing. And maybe we can let go of the Qwerty keyboard now? Wouldn't that be a hoot?Jenn_Choinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-53261811925584128602014-02-10T14:04:26.365-05:002014-02-10T14:04:26.365-05:00Sheryl, So do you think that even though you are n...Sheryl, So do you think that even though you are not writing on paper, then writing in cream, sand, or the air contributes to muscle memory? I thought such tactics would help for stroke order and things like that but would it also help for the actual writing with hands? So for instance, if I had a struggling writer and felt that he was motivated by "sky-writing" and I only had 90 minutes per week to devote to handwriting practice then how would a parent or even a therapist decide what the most optimal breakdown would be? 50% sky-writing and 50% pencil and paper writing? Thanks for even reading this crazy question but I believe that there are more than one way to reach a goal but it's one thing to practice with a crayon and practice with shaving cream. I would do anything if I knew it would help. Thank you for such a great comment!Jenn_Choinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-39385769261866210762014-02-10T13:56:50.503-05:002014-02-10T13:56:50.503-05:00I think alot of schools are cutting down on handwr...I think alot of schools are cutting down on handwriting instruction, figuring that kids will pick it up automatically by practicing writing, which is not the case for many kids. There is alot involved with handwriting, and if diffficulties aren't picked up and corrected/remedied early on, the child will likely struggle with writing the rest of their lives.<br />I am an occupational therapist, and one of the things I do with my kids is teach handwriting with the whole body. This enhances the muscle memory, which is what is required to make writing automatic.We start writing really big in the air, then with a finger on a textured surface such as carpet, then on a chalkboard with lines on it before we start on paper. At each step, repeat the letter several times, saying the strokes out loud, including "Start at the top line..." etc if that is an issue for that child.sherylsartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-70610314386533016322014-02-05T14:48:44.907-05:002014-02-05T14:48:44.907-05:00I ask my child to draw and write his own little st...I ask my child to draw and write his own little stories using creative spelling so he practices his handwriting among other things :)Faye Mcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-83540395333791296782014-02-05T14:47:33.296-05:002014-02-05T14:47:33.296-05:00We're just starting writing and learning print...We're just starting writing and learning printing first. They don't even teach cursive anymore in public schools here. Some kids can't even read if it's not printed; I find that appalling. So we're glad our private school does both in sequence.Faye Mcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578525033396504580.post-70306921976263698312014-02-05T09:48:53.766-05:002014-02-05T09:48:53.766-05:00Writing in schools today: I am pleased with my se...Writing in schools today: I am pleased with my second grader's private school writing program. He has ADHD, Asperger's and probably disgraphia. He learned to print & type in kindergarten (began basic word program). In first grade he began cursive writing which is much easier for him. My work colleagues children are in public school (middle scho same are). Cursive wasn't even fought to their children?!?! They can't even sign their names- much less read cursive writing. My son does well with grotto grips and raised line paper. Excited about crayon rocks to reinforce the grip- he loves drawing painting sculpture etc.The jr litigator's momnoreply@blogger.com