Creative Writing
Presented by Carol Alver
Recently, several state school administrators have stated there is no longer a need to teach children handwriting. Really? Technology is certainly here to stay but the ability to develop the hand for writing is as important as ever. This workshop will highlight the steps to help the child develop what Maria Montessori described as the child’s “explosion into writing”.
Language is the tool of collective thought. It is the thread that ties together all aspects of the Montessori environment. It involves both the physical abilities of the hand as well as ideas and the expression of the mind. This session will:
- Examine the importance of spoken language in all aspects from enrichment of vocabulary, telling stories, poetry, self-expression, and indirect preparation for function of words and grammar analysis.
- Foster meaningful conversation between parents and children
- Integrate learning and enrichment
- Discuss material making and their sources
- Discuss the preparation of the hand for writing
- Demonstrate the creative use of the movable alphabet
- Encourage the path to whole reading
Often teachers feel pressured to resort to an academic approach to reading and writing to “get results”. Children willingly embrace the paths to reading and writing when they are allowed to develop them in a way that:
- is interesting, inclusive of movement and exploration
- recognizes the importance of working from large motor to fine motor skills for writing
- encourages the child to use her own experiences and interests to share.
We will explore the means to motivate children to spontaneously use all aspects of language in a joyful way.
