Name Writing Practice

Learning to print one's first (and later last) name is an important literacy skill in Kindergarten. 

Making improvement and giving our best effort is important to learning.  We celebrate each child's progress and talk about the "best letter". Sometimes we will choose a letter to practise over and over until the brain and fingers make the connection.  repetition builds control and confidence until efficient letter forms become automatic.

A child's name is the most important word he or she will ever learn to write.  Once the child gains mastery over these letter formations, they will have internalized many handwriting techniques and other letters will be easier to form efficiently.

While good handwriting is not the most important focus for young writers, learning to automatically control letter forms, frees the child to focus more energy into expressing their ideas in daily "personal writing".

We honor and celebrate all children's initial writing explorations and understand that small muscle coordination varies greatly from child to child.  Kindergarten letter formation instruction is always positive, and encouraging.  It is integrated into real writing activities so the children are motivated. 

In your child's backpack tomorrow, you will see  a name card and alphabet printing chart for upper and lower case letters showing how we are teaching your child to form the letters.  Please encourage your child to practise daily at home.  Once your child prints his or her first name correctly, introduce last and middle names and then family member names.

Remind your child how to hold the wiring tool correctly.  Writing tool should be between the thumb and pointer finger, with the remaining 3 fingers under the tool.  Incorrect muscle memories can be hard to unlearn later.  Our aim is to encourage efficient letter forms right from the start, beginning with the child's name.

Thank you so much for your help and support.

Warm Regards,
Mrs. Lai