Zara’s Writing Project
I just started a writing project with Zara this week.
I was worried about how she still mixes up d and b, writing j and s the other way round, and mixing capital letters and small letters in the same word (i.e. boG instead of dog, or dEb instead of bed), so I thought I should spend an hour each day with her, to get her to do some writing, what better way than to start something like a diary.
I’ll ask her to think about what she wants to write, then help her by
1) making sure she doesn’t mix capital and small letters in the same word,
2) spelling with phonics, or guide her on the spelling of sight words
After she’s finished writing, I’ll tell her the correct way of spelling some of the words that she’s spelled phonatically.
Here are her writing the last 2 days. Since she likes drawing, I ask her to attach a small picture about what she wrote.
25/1 – Both girls played with party poppers (they got from friend) without any adult’s supervision (although I’d told them before hand they can’t play with them on their own and told them what could happen if they did play on their own). I punished both by getting them to stand at the naughty corner, and when they started fighting at the naughty corner, I smacked both. She drew a sorry card for me (and drew herself on the naughty ‘chair). She crossed out the tear, and checked smile, and she said, “Having tears is not good, but smiling is good.”
26/1 – When I went to pick up the girls from school, we saw a mother’s car window being smashed by a thief who wanted to get to the handbag the mother left in the car. I like the smashed window she drew.
I hope by doing this, it’ll help with her writing.
Hi, I read from somewhere that reversing of letters or so-called mirror-writing could be a symptom of dyslexia. I’m not saying that Zara has the condition – but it’s just something to consider. If she still has problem with writing after a few months of practice, it is best to bring her for some testing. I have a friend, whose daughter is very bright and a genius – but the girl still reversed her ‘b’ and ‘d’ and ‘p’ and ‘q’ up to Primary One. I don’t mean to alarm but at least it’s something to be caution about.
More details from here: http://dyslexia.learninginfo.org/symptoms.htm
Hi Eve, thanks for the info.
I used to teach young children i.e. 4 to 7 and I know reversing the letters are pretty common for their age. At this point in time I’m not alarmed or think that Zara has dyslexia, as she doesn’t do this all the time, but occasionally she forgot where the letters are supposed to face. That’s why I thought giving her more ops to write will help.
oh Ashley sometimes write S the other way round too. Same with C 🙁 She also used to mix up b and d. i wonder why? I’ve been giving her handwriting homework and now she is better. Haven’t started her on sentences yet though. Zara is doing great 🙂
You should get her a diary to record her writings.
very well done for a beginner.. she will soon pick up the b and d… keep going my dear girl..
She’s really good la writing sentences and all. Ashley writes her s the other way round….. And she does get her m and w mixed up.,,,
good la u… At least spend time to go through her writing….
Don’t worry about it. Kids at this age will tend to get their letters reversed.
you really a good mommy. No wonder both Z are so smart….
Thanks for sharing on your parenting tips.
My daughter, Shenny also occasionally write letter reversed. Her teacher asked me not to worry, young children tend to like this. After a while, should be ok.
my my..she even wrote shattered’s sound at least even tho the spelling was not right..terrrrerrrrr….
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hehehhe haf to so correction somemore. 😛
she’s good for her age. darien wrote something on the paper .. later on i ask him to read .. he can’t even read his own writing. hahahha. i suppose boys are much slower in the sense. denisha is so so different from him. ah well. 🙂
i like her drawing! thats so meaningful, at least tats what she feel from the bottom of her heart 🙂
i think it’s really great what you are doing, by asking her to write a ‘diary’ of the day’s events. and so cute that she includes illustration. such a great way to practise writing and spelling! 🙂
Such a dedicated mum, I echo debbie’s opinion – no wonder Z&Z are so smart. And Zara has really nice handwriting.
good practice, you are such a gooooooooood mummy!
Reversal of ‘b’ and ‘d’ and ‘p’, ‘6’ and ‘9’ is quite common – my boy shows that too but his kindy teacher says no problem as they are still young.
By the way, Mummy, you forgot the apostrophe (‘) in the phrase ‘Aunty’s car’ in your correction!!! Zara actually got it right 😀
You must praise her for getting it right, ok? I love her handwriting – so cute, esp the curly ‘a’!
Wah! The drawing is so expressive.. I can almost feel the moment!