Handwriting is an important part of our Language curriculum, which includes speaking, writing, and reading.  At Abintra, we teach the cursive method of writing from the beginning.  Cursive writing corresponds developmentally to the physical and mental needs of the EC child.  Children in a Montessori environment learn cursive in steps.  They begin learning how their sounds correspond with written letters with the Sandpaper Letter lessons, tracing each letter with the first two fingers of their dominant hand and verbalizing the sound the letter makes.  Then they create the same letters in a sand tray, increasing their sense of touch while connecting the shape of the letter to its sound. Next, the letters are written on a chalkboard. After practicing many times with the chalkboard  or whiteboard, the child is introduced to paper and begins to learn how to write in cursive with fluid movement.  The final step in the sequence is to write o...

   Handwriting is an important part of Montessori language arts curriculum. In Lower Elementary, writing is taught through a logical, step-by-step process. Because children differ in their level of coordination and small muscle development essential for writing, they progress as their mastery permits. Students have instruction, practice, and opportunity to improve their writing skills so they can feel proud of neat and quality writing work. The Montessori early childhood curriculum provides preparation for handwriting, such as exercising the pincer grip and practicing mechanical skills of handwriting through several exercises including gripping Knobbed Cylinders, moving the Number Rods, tracing the Sandpaper Letters, and using the Movable Alphabet. Students in Lower Elementary add exercises that require increased dexterity, including pin punching continents, which helps strengthen the hand for controlled writing. Lower Elementary students use penci...

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 prepar...