Handwriting in Early Childhood

Handwriting is an important part of our Language curriculum, which supports speaking, writing, and reading. In Montessori, cursive is the first writing method taught to young children. It is the easiest to learn, presents words as blended sounds, and children don't have to switch to another method of writing. It also reinforces the left-to-right direction of reading. In a Montessori classroom, the act of writing letters is taught in conjunction with the lesson of the sound that letter makes.  

The handwriting lessons in a Montessori environment are taught in steps. The first lesson, Sand Paper Letters, introduces the sound the individual letter makes while the child traces the sand paper letter with the first two fingers of his or her dominant hand.  This use of multiple senses helps the child connect the shape of the letter to its sound. After some practice, the child will create the same letter in a sand tray, then on a chalkboard. All of this prepares the child for the final step of writing with fluid movement on lined paper, connecting letters together to make words.

With the use of the cursive Moveable Alphabet, the child learns to assemble the letter sounds to make words and they observe how to connect the letters to one another. The students practice creating and writing words by using the Moveable Alphabet to form words and then they record their words on paper.

When we model each handwriting step in the classroom, we make sure to move slowly and deliberately so that the child can see the process clearly.  It is important for your child to see you write in cursive. Writing grocery lists, thank you notes, and stories with your child are great ways to practice the art of writing with your child.