I love reading what everyone has said here. I know the topic is specific to writing letters and numbers, I'd like to add that in a child centered, supportive writing classroom culture, children's drawing is their writing.
All of the thinking together, talking and drawing are the motivators to encourage children to take risks to write and draw. When we send messages to children reminding them that their drawing IS their writing, then we help them have an appropriate entry point to formal writing. Handwriting is when children begin to write symbols that represent the parts of words or numbers, but "writing" really is language, and ideas and the representation of that on paper.
From my experience, when we model that for children through a "think aloud" about our ideas and details in front of children and then we begin sketching out our ideas on paper -(thinking aloud- recalling language, visuals of the pumpkin patch or whatever our idea is and the talking through the details to add) we begin to inspire children to do the same about their own ideas. Yes, at first children may take our ideas and not be original, which is valuable and tells us this child needs some specific encouragement or scaffolding). However, if/when your consistency continues by you intentionally planning a safe space for child approximations and celebrate children where they are, they quickly feel empowered to branch out on their own. That writing culture grows and children begin to WANT to add some formal symbols such as letters or numbers to their work. This writing process leads them to authentic use of and internally motivated use of letters and numbers. Thinking aloud with children around drawing and writing is incredibly powerful.
Writing is fueled by language. Language is represented by drawings and eventually by letters and words. When writing classroom cultures are set where play is at the center, drawing can be designed as the "playful" entry point to writing. It is child driven, process oriented, language based, individualized, exploratory and open to scaffolding as child shows readiness. Drawing is their writing!
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Marti McCloud
Professional Development Specialist and Coach
Early Childhood Academy- NWCC
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-02-2018 07:53 PM
From: Farah Akbar
Subject: Writing letters and numbers
Hi everyone,
At what age do you think it is developmentally appropriate for children to begin learning to write letters and numbers properly?
Thanks!
Farah