Handwriting Readiness Unit

For the next six weeks starting in November, I will be doing a handwriting readiness unit at circle time.

Six Week Outline

Week One - Movement Fingerplays

Week Two - Activities to support correct direction flow for movement of pencil for both right and
left-handed students

Week Three - Activities to support correct positioning and movement for both right and left-handed students (left-right movement)

Week Four - Activities to support correct positioning and movement for both right and left-handed students (top-down movement)

Week Five - Activities to support correct positioning of paper and holding of writing instrument for both right and left-handed students

Week Six - Activities to support and review (Weeks One - Five) skills to prepare to write

Note: The Montessori Insets for Design are designed to help with handwriting and pencil control. We use them daily at school (one of the most used materials). During the next six weeks I will be directing them to use the insets more to supplement our handwriting readiness unit. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Here is a link to a Montessori Lecture about the handwriting curriculum in a Montessori classroom. This pretty much explains the insets for design, and how it is an essential material in the reading/language curriculum.

Click here to view Margaret Homfray's lecture: Montessori Reading Curriculum - The Insets for Design
The presenter is Margaret Homfray, student and colleague of Maria Montessori. Miss Homfray collaborated with Dr. Montessori in the development of the Montessori reading scheme for English.