When I was teaching first grade my teammates would often wonder if the kindergarten teachers could do a bit more with their class. It would be great if the kindergartners could learn the beginnings of how to form their letters and how to hold a pencil properly. We were told that it was a developmental kindergarten and that developmentally children do not have the fine motor skills to hold that pencil correctly or to write on any kind of lined paper. That was all supposed to happen magically in first grade. For many it did. Some children could probably have done it earlier and some could have used more time.
We had the ESL (English as a Second Language) program with children from mostly Asian countries in our classrooms. Surprisingly, these children came in already able to write and draw beautifully. I mentioned this to a kindergarten teacher friend and she said it was because they used chopsticks. Sigh...
When I visited with another teacher friend a week ago and gave her grandchildren a few toys, they wrote thank you notes to me. One grandson is only 3 months older than my 4 year old KC and he actually wrote a beautifully written note.
I thought I'd see what KC could do. Tiffany had a lined white board so we practiced writing 1s and 0s on the lines. Soon we practiced writing her name properly with only the first letter of her name capitalized.
I put dots on the lines so she would know where to start. She was soon making a game of it and making her own dots.
I'm pleased to see KC excited about writing and able to do a little of it. But this is enough. There are too many other things that KC wants to do.
Aside from being a picky eater, there's so much of her mother in her. When playing with a tinker toy set she took out the instruction sheet and then methodically counted out and collected all the pieces she needed first. Only then did she start assembling her tinker toy fairy car.
KC is definitely a mixture of both her parents. It's fun to see when bits of both emerge for us to smile at.
And some times we do have to roll our eyes and laugh too.
We had the ESL (English as a Second Language) program with children from mostly Asian countries in our classrooms. Surprisingly, these children came in already able to write and draw beautifully. I mentioned this to a kindergarten teacher friend and she said it was because they used chopsticks. Sigh...
When I visited with another teacher friend a week ago and gave her grandchildren a few toys, they wrote thank you notes to me. One grandson is only 3 months older than my 4 year old KC and he actually wrote a beautifully written note.
I thought I'd see what KC could do. Tiffany had a lined white board so we practiced writing 1s and 0s on the lines. Soon we practiced writing her name properly with only the first letter of her name capitalized.
I put dots on the lines so she would know where to start. She was soon making a game of it and making her own dots.
I'm pleased to see KC excited about writing and able to do a little of it. But this is enough. There are too many other things that KC wants to do.
Aside from being a picky eater, there's so much of her mother in her. When playing with a tinker toy set she took out the instruction sheet and then methodically counted out and collected all the pieces she needed first. Only then did she start assembling her tinker toy fairy car.
KC is definitely a mixture of both her parents. It's fun to see when bits of both emerge for us to smile at.
And some times we do have to roll our eyes and laugh too.
She sounds quite advanced for her age and a very sharp learner. Isn't it fun to watch the developmental stages of grandchildren? I don't recall being as fascinated as a parent. My son went to Montessori school and they seemed to be able to draw talents from very young children.
ReplyDeleteKC is very talented, it seems. I love that description of her with her tinker toys and the instruction sheet! :-)
ReplyDeleteIf little kids want to learn, teach them, I always say.
ReplyDeleteThat ESL program was great for Naomi.
And of course all three pictures here are priceless!
ReplyDeleteArt looks good in pink. :)
WOW, a tinker toy masterpiece. Little kids are amazing with their skills.
ReplyDeleteManzanita@Wannabuyaduck
Has Tif picked out a Halloween costume for KC, yet? Maria has costumes for Rylan, Julia, her husband and herself all ready to go. They will be dressed as characters from a TV kid show (forgot the title). Every year, it's different. I can't believe how enthusiastic her whole family gets!
ReplyDeleteAs for writing, Rylan knows how to write a zero -- which he keeps calling an oval. lol.
Love those wings on Art and KC!!!
how fun to watch your grandchild develop and compare her with her parents...smart kid of course!
ReplyDeleteI bet you are loving it. She sounds very talented and I´m sure you are very proud of her.
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed at what the little ones can learn if someone takes the time to teach them. It sounds like KC is doing really great.
ReplyDeleteArt and KC look wonderful together. What a joy for you both to spend time with her.
ReplyDeleteI agree children are capable of learning quite early.
My youngest brother started drawing when he was two. He wasn't very good at it yet, but he wanted to do it.
I could read and print before I started school, and was writing short stories when I was 6.
I think (non-teacher, me) it depends on the want-to factor (in-born skill or talent), then on parental help, guidance and encouragement.
KC is so fortunate to have your daughter for her mother!
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
The teaher who suggested chopsticks have something to do with hand writing skills might have been onto something. Both require the development of small motor skills I think.
ReplyDeleteThe thought I had was "do all Asian kids use chopsticks?" If not, there could be no correlation.
I love the fairy tinker mobile.
Dianne
PS my granddaughters can eat with chop sticks.
sounds like you are enjoying your granddaughter! Enjoy this precious time, Kay.
ReplyDeleteNot many children will do what KC did with her tinkertoy set, usually they will just dive in. Heck, I don't even read the instruction book before using a new appliance. She definitely has patience and is very methodical. Our son has three boys and it is interesting to see how different they are even coming from the same set of parents and living in the same household. All different temperaments and skill sets.
ReplyDeleteL.
what a lovely lovely post! thank you, Kay
ReplyDeleteAloha from Waikiki;
Comfort Spiral
> < } } ( ° >
Wow! With those flying wings installed on Art, just think of how many more projects he can start and complete! Tee Hee,
ReplyDeleteDrumMajor
If children show the inclination to more formal learning, then let them, encourage them. Similarly, if a child of 5 or 6 is not yet ready, don't force them.
ReplyDeleteHi Kay!
ReplyDeletein Japan they say " when you see the handwritings, you can see their characters. "
Do you say that in US?
I'm not sure it's true or not though.
by the way thank you for your kind and warm words to me always.
breastfeeding it the best I heard.
but I can't ask someone to take care of my baby son. and I'm worried when I have to stop doing it. probably it's hard for me also him.
how did you do that?
in my mother's case he stopped doing it when I was 3 or 6 months year old, I heard.
because the docter said " stop doing it. " to her for some reason.
Aya: My mother says that all the time. This is another reason why I still think it's bad to stop teaching cursive writing to U.S. children in grade school.
ReplyDeleteIt was easy for me to breast feed my children because I wasn't working outside of the home then. I didn't go back to teaching until my youngest was in 2nd grade.
Our pediatrician told me to try and breast feed my children for as long as I could. I breast fed Tiffany until she was about 10-11 months old. Jon breast fed until 9-10 months. I wanted to breast feed Jon longer, but he saw Tif drinking from a cup and wanted to be like his big sister. My children never drank from a bottle.
Our pediatrician told me that breast milk was the best thing and that I should NOT give juice and only a little water because breast milk gave my baby the best nutrient they needed. I think what he said is still true... at least, that's what I believe.
Art looks SO pleased to be wearing the wings!
ReplyDeleteThat girl likes to have her ducks in a row! Organization and preparation are two good life skills. sounds like she's got them!
ReplyDeleteI just found out Irene has been moved to the high reading group. She was in her mother's reading class and Jill said it was a nightmare! She got done so fast with everything and was bored, and then acted like Jill's little girl instead of her student. So now she's reading the stories she missed to bridge the gap to the higher reading level, and can do them easily and well. But she was the one who told us she didn't like to read because it was work. I guess it's OK now that she's discovered it's easy!
Granddaughters are too funny, and lots of fun!
Hi Kay!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your advice:)
I had thought you breast fed your children longer. because my sister breast feed her son still now even though he is 16 months old.
Today I'm going to bed now.
oyasuminasai!