From September 2016, Junior Infants were introduced we to cursive writing. An intensive pre-writing programme to strengthen finger muscles will take place, prior to any letter formation.
The reasons we have chosen to start cursive handwriting in Junior Infants are as follow:
We develop fine motor skills prior to writing. Fine motor skills are skills that involve a refined use of the small muscles controlling the hand, fingers, and thumb. The term dexterity is commonly used to describe these skills. During the infant and toddler years, children develop basic grasping and manipulation skills, which are refined during the pre-school years. The pre-school child becomes quite adept in self-help, construction, holding grips, and bimanual control tasks requiring the use of both hands. It is important to fully develop fine motor skills before commencing with formal handwriting lessons. This will ensure that when each child is ready they will hold their pencil correctly and enjoy the writing process. We will concentrate on developing gross and fine motor skills in Junior Infants and Senior Infants as pre-writing and writing skills emerge. Fine motor activities include:
We have complied a FAQ section below, to help answer any questions you may have.
Is cursive handwriting not more complicated to learn?
Actually, cursive handwriting requires less movement than print. Also, unlike print all cursive letters start in the same place. Before we begin to form any letters, children will take part in a pre-writing programme to strengthen finger muscles.
Is it not confusing for children to write in a different style to the print they see in books?
The children will learn two alphabets - a reading and writing alphabet. This is common practice in many European countries e.g. France and research shows this is not a major problem.
Surely it must be more difficult for children who struggle with reading and writing?
Again research says not. Cursive handwriting rules out any letter reversals and aids spelling. It is recommended by the British Dyslexia Association.
I don’t write in cursive. How do I help my child?
You can help your child in two very important ways.
Help your child to hold their pencil correctly.
Work on their motor control skills using tip sheet given out at induction.
My child has started to print already. What should I do?
Let them write. Mark making and copying shapes is a stage in learning to write.
As we will be learning to form each new letter together and from scratch, previous experience (or lack of!) is not an issue.
The reasons we have chosen to start cursive handwriting in Junior Infants are as follow:
- Avoids having to learn to write twice
- Cuts out letter reversals (b and d)
- Stops use of capital letters in the middle of words
- Cursive writing is faster and less tiring
- Helps spelling
- Looks lovely when perfected
- Recommended for children with dyslexia
- It is less fine-motor skill intensive
- All the lowercase letters begin in the same place on the baseline
- Spacing within and between words is controlled
- By lifting the pencil between words, the beginning and ending of words is emphasized
- The muscle memory that is mastered first will last a lifetime
We develop fine motor skills prior to writing. Fine motor skills are skills that involve a refined use of the small muscles controlling the hand, fingers, and thumb. The term dexterity is commonly used to describe these skills. During the infant and toddler years, children develop basic grasping and manipulation skills, which are refined during the pre-school years. The pre-school child becomes quite adept in self-help, construction, holding grips, and bimanual control tasks requiring the use of both hands. It is important to fully develop fine motor skills before commencing with formal handwriting lessons. This will ensure that when each child is ready they will hold their pencil correctly and enjoy the writing process. We will concentrate on developing gross and fine motor skills in Junior Infants and Senior Infants as pre-writing and writing skills emerge. Fine motor activities include:
- Development of hand arches http://therapystreetforkids.com/fm-handarches2.html
- Finger and thumb isolation http://therapystreetforkids.com/fm-fingerisolation.html
- Grasp patterns-using peg boards, using pincer grasp to lift objects
- Hand strength-Finger Rhymes e.g. 2 little dickie birds
- In-hand manipulation-stringing beads, using tweezers to pick up objects
- Bilateral coordination-tear strips of paper, roll play dough, game of Simon says
- Hand-Eye coordination- http://www.ot-mom-learning-activities.com/hand-eye-coordination.html
- Sensory Integration (Tactile and proprioceptive awareness)-sand and water play
We have complied a FAQ section below, to help answer any questions you may have.
Is cursive handwriting not more complicated to learn?
Actually, cursive handwriting requires less movement than print. Also, unlike print all cursive letters start in the same place. Before we begin to form any letters, children will take part in a pre-writing programme to strengthen finger muscles.
Is it not confusing for children to write in a different style to the print they see in books?
The children will learn two alphabets - a reading and writing alphabet. This is common practice in many European countries e.g. France and research shows this is not a major problem.
Surely it must be more difficult for children who struggle with reading and writing?
Again research says not. Cursive handwriting rules out any letter reversals and aids spelling. It is recommended by the British Dyslexia Association.
I don’t write in cursive. How do I help my child?
You can help your child in two very important ways.
Help your child to hold their pencil correctly.
Work on their motor control skills using tip sheet given out at induction.
My child has started to print already. What should I do?
Let them write. Mark making and copying shapes is a stage in learning to write.
As we will be learning to form each new letter together and from scratch, previous experience (or lack of!) is not an issue.
