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Learning to write is something all children have to do even thought the pencil is being replaced by a keyboard
Learning to write is a part of growing up. We start off by scribbling and doodling and this helps us to get used to holding a pencil.

Most young kids are fascinated by just being able to make a mark on a piece of paper.

The Montessori way of teaching reading takes this scribbling a step further and uses the child’s natural love of drawing to help coordinate the arm and hand to prepare it for writing. This is the first step on the road to learning to write. This scribbling and doodling also helps to strengthen the arm and hand muscles. A number of writing problems are caused by hand strength and go away when the hand is stronger.

When learning to write Montessori also uses sandpaper letters. The alphabet letters are made of sandpaper and when the children trace the words they can feel the texture of the sandpaper. This helps to implant the letters on the child’s mind.

Even though the learning to write system is very simple it does take time. The more time the parents put in the faster your child will learn to write. Montessori loves phonics and children do need a background in phonics when learning to write. So with the sandpaper letters, break the words down into phonic sounds so they children can write the phonic sounds they hear.

The problem arises when there are a number of phonic sounds that sound the same but are spelt differently. Now you have to bring in sight words so the children can write the correct word. This all takes time. There is no easy way on the road to learning to write. I was very impressed with the Montessori system and now my daughter write very well.