Promoting Literacy w88 online casino Emergent Writing

By: MaryAnn Demchak & Marty Elquist

Literacy is important for everyone including individuals with dual sensory and multiple impairments. Literacy is comprised of word knowledge, reading, communicating and writing. Just as teachers and families should provide children a variety of experiences with books, stories, printed word, Braille, and so forth, they should also provide experiences with writing. Children go w88 online casino developmental stages in learning to write, be-ginning with random drawing or scribbling and progressing to proficient writing. It is important to incorporate “writing” experiences into the daily schedule.

Unfortunately, we have not always provided children with disabilities, especially those with significant disabilities that include sensory impairments, the opportunities to experiment with and explore the writing process. Beginning emergent writing activities typically involve providing opportunities for creativity w88 online casino manipulating a variety of conventional and nonconventional writing tools, crayons, painting tools, stamps, and other art materials.

This “Tips for Home or School” column provides suggestions for involving children with significant disabilities in w88 online casino writing activities. The use of various grasping aids might be needed for some children with motor impairments. (See our Fall 2005 Tips for Home or School column on assisted grasping.) The intent is to help you think of ways to encourage drawing, scribbling, etc. as w88 online casino writing.

• Crayola Slick Styx (“creamy,” twistable w88 online casino that require very little pressure to use).
• Twistable w88 online casino. Good for w88 online casino who break crayons.
• Jumbo w88 online casino (fatter crayons for w88 online casino who use a wider grip. Also come in anti-roll style).
• Stumpy w88 online casino (short chubby crayons for w88 online casino who use a whole-handed palmar grasp).
• Finger w88 online casino (w88 online casino that fit over the fingertip.)
• Pencils, pens & markers come in a variety of shapes and diameters. Some come with built-in grips and others w88 online casino used with grasping aids.
• Paint brushes also come in w88 online casino sizes with w88 online casino handles to accommodate many grasping needs.
• Sponge paint rollers come with w88 online casino or smooth rollers.
• Cut a sponge w88 online casino different shapes or purchase shaped sponges, which come in letters and numbers.
• Finger paint.
• w88 online casino & stamp pads. Stamps w88 online casino adapted or purchased with large grips.
• Wood, felt, or foam shapes, letters & numbers that w88 online casino glued to paper for 3-D art work.
• Wikki Stix can be used to create raised pictures. w88 online casino can “draw” or “write” by bending the self-sticking sticks.

w88 online casino art tools w88 online casino allow for various patterns or designs to be created as well as accommodate various types of grasps or grasping aids. Nonconventional art tools w88 online casino include:

• Potato mashers—in different mashing styles with different handle w88 online casino.
• w88 online casino whisks—most have long, sturdy handles.
• w88 online casino sponges/scrubbers—have nice handles for gripping.
• Pouf w88 online casino body sponges.
• Shaving brushes or a make-up brushes.
• Dish brushes - with or without soap compartment (which could be w88 online casino for dispensing paint).
• Spray bottles to spray thin paint.
• Toys with wheels —run wheels w88 online casino paint, then on paper.
• Cookie cutters.
• A ketchup dispenser or mustard dispenser is w88 online casino a handy way for kids to dispense their own paint.

For many children these w88 online casino writing activities will be more meaningful by drawing or writing on a textured surface. A textured surface can be created by placing any of these items under the paper: Non-slip shelf liner, rough sand paper, plastic craft canvas, wire mesh.

Some w88 online casino might require use of an easel on a stand or a table top easel for easier access motorically. Paper may need to be held in place with tape or clips. If w88 online casino are unable to participate physically, then they can be offered choices about tools, color, paper, placement, etc.

It is also important for children to understand that “writing” is a way to share ideas and communicate. Thus, w88 online casino writing products can be used as a basis for children to make greeting cards, banners for the school hall, notes home, gift bags, etc.

Young children can do such work w88 online casino art centers while older children might have a Publications Center, Media Center, or Graphic Arts Center (in order to be age appropriate). Within the center children could have access to various types and colors of paper. Not all materials need to be available at all times. Children can be motivated to participate on a regular basis by varying available materials.

Although independent exploration is w88 online casino, equally w88 online casino is the social aspect of the activities. Simply sitting a child in front of many of the items above is not as meaningful as allowing the child to engage in the activity w88 online casino he is engaging in w88 online casino interactions, verbally and nonverbally, with others.