First Meeting of the New Year! January 14: Zion-Concord in Bensenville
New Start Story:
1. Aimee
Walsh shared with us her experiences today with a new family with a Morman
background. They are very excited to be joining her new child care center. Aimee also is happy to announce that Trinity
is adding a new pastor who will be working primarily as the spiritual, on-site
leader of their new worship site at Trinity’s Early Learning Center. Aimee has
already talked to him about this new family and how to reach out to them.
Announcements
1. Concordia
University Early Childhood Conference:
Friday, August 5, 2016
It will be a special celebration of
the 40th anniversary of the Early Childhood program at Concordia.
Doris Knuth is looking for sectional
leaders for the conference. Julie Klopke
is looking for some new vendors. Please
share ideas for both of these areas with Doris or Julie.
2.
A number of the participants
talked about how they are going to celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week at
the end of the month. Discussions
focused not only about the NLSA week theme and activities, but how also how
some of them would be using these events as outreach to their communities.
Topic of the Night: “Handwriting”
1. State Board of Education no longer
promotes the teaching of handwriting through the publication of any state goals
for it. Many public schools are no
longer teaching handwriting as one of their subjects. Very few companies are presently developing
and/or producing handwriting materials due to a lower demand for them as well
as company mergers.
2. Even with technology, there is a need
for individuals to be able to write legibly.
What will our society be like even in five years without basic
handwriting instruction for many of our students?
3. When will the holding a pencil
appropriately be assessed? No
recommendations are currently being given from the state of Illinois or NAEYC.
4. As early childhood professionals we
need to share our rational for promoting developmentally appropriate methods
and materials in the area of handwriting to our families. Many of these families, who often have very
high standards for their children, just want guidance on what to do with their
children at home to promote appropriate handwriting. Share some ideas and research with them
verbally, on-line, in newsletters, etc.
5. “Handwriting Without Tears”-
o
This
program is being used at Zion-Concord, Bensenville and Immanuel, Crystal
Lake. Zion, Hinsdale has also gone
through the training for it.
o
Basic
principles:
o
Use
of appropriate handwriting “vocabulary” (sticks, circles, etc);
o
Use
of wooden“hands-on” sticks and circles
for students to use to make capital letters.
o
Primarily
instruction is learning capital letters
o
Workbooks/sheets
available but expensive
o
Encourages
the use of a variety fine motor activities such as clay
o
Primarily
geared at 4 year olds and above
o
Additional
materials in this program “Mat Man” (hero of this program)
3. “Print
Path”
o
St.
John, Lombard uses some of their website ideas to make their own materials
which are somewhat similar to the manipulatives used with the “Handwriting
Without Tears program.
4. “Zaner
Bloser”
o
Used
by St. Peter, Arlington Heights
o
Promotes
top to bottom strokes
o
Many
materials available but costly
o
Helpful
materials: Smartboard apps and desk
strips
5. “Heidi
Songs”
o
Elements
of it used by St. Philip, Chicago
o
Letters
are learned primarily through the use of large motor activities
o
CDs/DVDs/apps/You
Tube/ Facebook materials & ideas
o
http://www.heidisongs.com/
6. Great materials to use to promote the
fine motor development needed by young
children to have successful development with handwriting:
o
Clay
o
Watercolors
o
Clip
clothespins
o
Melted
crayons
o
“Spacemen”
·
Use
as spacers: large version great for model writing in front of a full group of
students and small versions can be used by individual students at their tables
§ http://www.reallygoodstuff.com/spaceman-deluxe-student-set/p/151977/?gclid=CIjU4PaGq8oCFYOAaQodricNaw
o
Cray
Pas
§ Very sensory and success oriented
§ Can be purchased on Amazon; somewhat
expensive though
o
Spray
bottles with colored water
o
Rock
crayons
§ Helps with pencil grips
§ Looks like jelly beans
§ Can be purchased on Amazon
o
Small
golf pencils (short and light weight)
o
Well
stocked free choice writing centers
7. Related
Handwriting websites:
o
http://intheplayroom.co.us/2015/01/04/fun-ways-work-handwriting-skills/
(lots of ideas both developmental and worksheets, some free and some $)
o
http://www.sugaraunts.com/2013/09/improving-pencil-grasp-with-fine-motor.html
(article on pencil grasps)
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| Bulletin Board |
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| Reading Corner |
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| Art Work |
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