The Educator (Volume 45) - IAMPETH

16
A Modern Working Plan of
This shows the proper position for
right-handed student at the blackboard.
One should stand erect and
well back from the board.
First grade writing on paper
or manuscript.
paper should be fairly large—about
one-fourth inch for minimum letters
and three-fourths of an inch for capitals
and extended loop letters. If all
writing is of a fair size, if careful
attention is given to hygienic posture,
and if pencil holding is reasonably
good, the pupils will write with some
ease and freedom. See that the
lai'ger muscles of the arm woi'k in
should be large
^^^.^-^-^^^^^7^^y
Instruction in Handwriting
A Guide For Teachers
By C. E. DONER
Grades 1-2. Create in the mind of
the pupil a desire to learn to write
well. The interest of the pupil is
caught and held by the story, by music,
and by rhymes and jingles. Stress
form in words, simple sentences, and
pupil's name, first at the board, then
on paper. The following list of words
will give practice in all the small
letters:—one, can, did, ice, for, dog,
be, have, dime, joy, kite, ball, me,
run, do, pie, quiet, i-ain, yes, the, up,
vine, now, six, joy, you, zoo, fly, fish,
kind. In teaching individual letters
present them in "family groups" such
as, a d g q, n m V X y, O D A C E,
\ M H K, etc. The size of writing
on the board should be about two
inches for minimum letters and four
inches for capitals and extended loop
letters. Children should use a half
piece of chalk, stand back from the
board, and do the ei'asing with the
left hand. Begin the training in right
habits of posture, placing the arms
and paper in proper position, adjusting
and holding the pencil properly
in the hand. The size of writing on
conjunction with the smaller finger
movements. A combination of the
arm and correct finger movement is
the natural way for young and old to
write. Give a few drills in the form
of nursery rhymes for muscular development
and control. Do not insist
upon the application of the socalled
arm movement. Insist upon
good posture, pencil holding, and
Left-handed students should write
with the left hand at the board and
use the eraser with the right hand.
This leaves the left hand free to do
the writing. This is just the opposite
of right-handed students.
plain, neat writing. There should be
no assigned "busy-work" writing in
the primary grades. All written work
should be carefully supervised. Care
must be taken to place correct copies
before the pupils, especially upon the
blackboard. Provide a well-written
name card for each pupil, pasting it
on a iiiece of cardboard to preserve
the edges of the paper.
In the third grade ink is usually introduced. At that time a substantial reduction is made in the size of the writing.
The above is a style used in many schools in the third grade.
The fourth grade writing should be a little smaller and more like adult writing.