My 3 1/2 year old son is getting better and better about recognizing the alphabet. He practises writing them too but only a select few. He can spell his brother's name (Ty ~ really difficult eh?) and he's almost able to complete his own name: Zachary. He is really good with recognizing his numbers and can write them out too.

We used to do what we could working with Abby. Since she's been in school, she has gotten so much better. She recognizes letters and can write them. Her problem is that she will occassionally write them backwards.

Wow! Sounds like Zachary is doing great!

I thought of something as I read your post. Please forgive me if this seems inappropriate, since it's not answering your question. I taught kindergarten for 7 years, and I knew many parents who were teaching their children letter formation from age 2 on up. One thing I would suggest (again, I know you didn't ask for my advice, so please forgive me!) is to check to see what handwriting style the elementary school uses and then teach that style to a young child. It's hard for kids to have to "re-learn" letter formation in kindergarten.

Back to your post. . .keep up the great work on helping your son. I have seen the benefits of early childhood learning in the classroom!

That is awesome! My 5 year old starts kindergarten next year and he still can't write anything!! I try and try to work with him but he just doesn't get it!

My three year old knows what a letter is. That is about it. I don't worry about it, he has plenty of time to learn that later. I think only my oldest knew her letters at that age. I think people worry more about their kids know everything younger with the first child, then they realize that they will get it at some point.

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~Happiness is a large family~

My 4 year old does and writing, my 2 year old knows them but we don't do writing with him yet.

~For your 5 year old, a good program to work with him: Handwriting Without Tears, it's helped lots of kids that "don't get it" Also while playing playdoh you can make playdoh letters, my kids LOVE this!

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I am only one, but I am one. I can not do everything, but I can do something. I must not fail to do the something that I can do. -Edward Hale

Christy, That's great he is doing so well! I know from your posts you wont be in the school system your at now but I can share the program my 5 yr old is on at his school. He was great recognizing and writing capitals but not so with lower case. I am amazed though with this program how fast he picked it up.

Its called Fundations as for writing letters instead of saying going up or down they use these terms:

SKY LINE
PLANE LINE
GRASS LINE
WORM LINE

Letter Formation for a

a is a plane line round letter
It starts on the plane line

1. Point to the plane line.
2. Go back on the plane line then down and around on the grass line
3. and up to the plane line.
4. Trace back down to the grass line

I would be happy to send a copy of the orientation for it. If your interested pm me!

Leighann

Leighann, that sounds like a cute program. I will look into it!!! (and my boys are boys so they will love that there is a plane involved!!! ) LOL

Thanks.

mY ds will be 4 Dec.24, he can recognize the letters knows there sounds and writes a few like o, F, L, T,and he can spell his name. I made a song up for him to teach him that. But he loves the leapfrog dvd that has helped. He definately isn't interested in sitting down and writing.

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

Christy,
Your Welcome! It is good to have a head start since according to ds teacher Kindergarten if the new First Grade!