National Handwriting Day

 Here is a blast from the past for National Handwriting Day:

 Children upon first entering school should, for at least three months, do all writing upon the board. It is the safest and most pedagogical place for the little folks to take initial steps, because writing done there is larger, freer, easier, less exacting than pencil or pen writing.

Counting serves to restrain the tendency of some pupils to scribble and acts as a stimulus to the habitually slow, and thereby regulates extremes in movement.

As a rule, it is best to count for either each down or each up stroke. The use of different expressions that will constantly change the pupils' minds with the various phases of position, form and movement to be acquired, will be found to be effective and productive of good results, provided the rhythm is retained.

Suggestions on the Correlation of Music with Penmanship Practice

The fascinating, stimulating and compelling influence of a good march, two-step, schottische or waltz with a well pronounced rhythm is a generative source in promoting muscular relaxation, freedom and ease, lightness of touch, continuity and fluency in arm movement, uniformity in speed, regularity in spacing, slant and size, confidence and power in execution.
 

The rhythmic response of the arm and hand movements is the result of the reaction to the music stimuli produced by subconscious mental and motor associations and co-ordinations.
 

Rate of speed or tempo of the music, should be well timed or regulated in accordance with age and capacity of the pupils. 

Tenth Regiment March (Youtube)

Title: Manual of Fundamentals in the Teaching of Handwriting in the Public Schools
Authors: Tom Sawyier, Francis Bail Pearson, Ohio. Dept. of Public Instruction
Publisher: The F.J. Heer printing co., 1918
Music - pages 33-35

 

- Funny -

- Pretty -

Rain is Falling

We have just starting incorporating poetry memorization in our homeschool curriculum, starting with our weather studies. Memorizing poetry increases cognitive abilities, builds confidence and develops skills necessary for reading.

I remember enjoying these types of challenges as a young student, but I wasn't too sure how the little voyagers would take to it. NO WORRIES! They loved it! I started them off with this short poem about the rain, and Rosetta had it memorized in about two minutes. That was all the motivation our kindergartner, Saralina needed. It took her a little longer, but you can be sure she is very proud of herself!

Two articles on this topic, which I found interesting: The importance of Memorizing Poetry in Childhood, and Children's Poems.

I found the poem and this cute girl-with-umbrella picture in an old education book and put them on one worksheet. The little voyagers colored them and we hung them over the poem on our practice wall.

For the younger voyagers, I created a printing practice worksheet.

I used the ESL Writing Wizard to create this worksheet.

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Here is a debut video of two of our little voyagers reciting their first poem:

Awesome job, girls!