Getting Ready for Writing (Pre-writing patterns) Factsheet

Year Level: Early Years

A downloadable factsheet which identifies the six basic (Pre-writing) patterns that form the basis of all alphabet letters.

Throughout the early years, children are encouraged to participate in a range of fine motor activities that develop:

  • their manipulative skills
  • a dominant hand
  • the ability to use both hands together

In conjunction with the above motor activities, introducing pre-writing patterns aids the smooth transition to writing alphabet letters.

Pre-writing Patterns presents a simple, systematic and fun approach for teaching the foundation skills that are necessary for fluent handwriting. It outlines six basic movements that are essential for children to learn the prewriting patterns used to make pictures and then combined to make letters and numbers.ย It is through the systematic rehearsal of a movement (with eyes closed and eyes open) that a child is able to develop a kinaesthetic memory. We can think of this as an internal memory that allows the childโ€™s actions (when making patterns) to be automatic.

Six basic patterns form the basis of all alphabet letters.

  • sideways, sideways, left to right
  • tall lines and short lines
  • circles, drawn forwards and backwards
  • zig zags
  • up and overs
  • down and unders/down, back and unders

  • Early Years Parent Education Sheets and Downloads – Semester 1

    This booklet outlines key information to be provided to parents, caregivers and the wider community within semester one. Children benefit when home and school work together. To support this, PLD offers an extensive range of parent milestone information sheets and videos. These resources are ideal to be disseminated to parents and the wider community through […]

    This booklet outlines key information to be provided to parents, caregivers and the wider community within semester one. Children benefit when home and school work

  • Am I ready to handwrite? A3 Poster

    Am I ready to handwrite is a poster providing solid introduction to the beginning of handwriting

    Ideal for student and teacher reference, this poster is designed to provide explicit instruction on the following: Letter formation and size Letter placement Reminders of

  • The Development of Appropriate Pencil Grip & Drawing Skills – 1 to 6 Years Old

    These milestone and information sheets identify the age-related milestones for hand function, pencil grip (grasp) and drawing skills in children aged 1 to 6 years. They present images of good and NOT good pencil grip and also outline hints for making a good pencil grip easier.

    When children first begin to draw using crayons, pencils or brushes they use a dagger grasp. In a natural developmental sequence, they will hold the

  • Which Paper and Pencils to use with Early Writers?

    A fact sheet which identifies a methodical stage-based sequence to identifying the types of paper and pencils to use with early writers.

    This download includes: Paper choice guide Which pencils to choose 24mm spaced lined paper template 18mm spaced lined paper template 24mm dotted thirds template 24mm

People who viewed this also viewed...

  • Preparing Children for Handwriting – Step 1

    The range of motor skills that support handwriting in Early Years students.

    Early childhood education is a critical time for consolidating the fine motor skills necessary for efficient pencil grasp, developing good strong habits for directionality and pre-writing skills, making sense of increasing complex visual information and storing and retaining information for future use (memory). For this reason, we have created a 232-page Movement and Motor teaching guide to complement any early years program. The book contains clear information on developmental expectations for 4 and 5-year-olds and the foundation skills necessary for handwriting development, with a guide to handwriting readiness in addition to a wide range of activity suggestions. Features: Developed by an Occupational Therapist, this resource provides early childhood workers and parents with easy-to-understand information and activities focused upon fine and gross motor skill development for 3 to 4 year olds. Contains cutting, colouring, drawing, playdough, pre-writing, along with ball, balance, eye tracking, and body control activities Expectations, support, and guidance on pencil grip and posture, among other skills.   Following Step 1 with Preparing Children for Handwriting – Step 2 provides children with the essential preparation that is needed for letter formation.ย This product is mentioned in the Early Years Teaching Sequence Manual on page 10.

    From $65.00$65.00 incl. GST
  • Pre-Writing Patterns

    Preparing children for letter formation

    Early childhood education is a critical time for consolidating the fine motor skills necessary for efficient pencil grasp, developing good strong habits for directionality and pre-writing skills, making sense of increasing complex visual information and storing and retaining information for future use (memory). For this reason, we have created a 232-page Movement and Motor teaching guide to complement any early years program. The book contains clear information on developmental expectations for 4 and 5-year-olds and the foundation skills necessary for handwriting development, with a guide to handwriting readiness in addition to a wide range of activity suggestions. Features: Developed by an Occupational Therapist, this resource provides early childhood workers and parents with easy-to-understand information and activities focused upon fine and gross motor skill development for 3 to 4 year olds. Contains cutting, colouring, drawing, playdough, pre-writing, along with ball, balance, eye tracking, and body control activities Expectations, support, and guidance on pencil grip and posture, among other skills.   Following Step 1 with Preparing Children for Handwriting – Step 2 provides children with the essential preparation that is needed for letter formation.ย This product is mentioned in the Early Years Teaching Sequence Manual on page 10.

    From $65.00$65.00 incl. GST
  • Pre-writing patterns – workbook

    Pre-writing patterns form the basis of all alphabet letters and prepare children for letter formation. The 64 page workbook presents a simple, systematic and fun approach to teaching letter foundation skills.

    Pre-writing patterns form the basis of all alphabet letters and prepare children for letter formation. The 64 page workbook presents a simple, systematic and fun

    $6.95