9 Examples of Fine Motor Name Writing Exercises

Today's RoundUP is of 9 different Classroom "Sign-in Systems." 

These examples are from my many author/illustrator school visits around the country. 

Those of you that know me, know that I have been a consultant for Zaner-Bloser for years. 

{Yes ZB is the ORIGINAL handwriting company, literally from the late 1800's!} 

Here are my two FREE videos created to support Fine Motor fingers. 

Let's get this party started with an example from my "REAL LIFE." 

Our very own CLEMENT writing.

I've gathered up a couple of 'new' fine motor exercises for writing names..... 

Last Tuesday's Twitter chat focused on supporting and nurturing writers. 

We tweeted about how to support children who are not yet 'writing' letters, 

so that they could capture their thoughts, stories and ideas. 

In the course of the chat, it reminded me that I still had these couple of examples of supporting fine motor, waiting patiently to see the light of day! 

Leading off is our very own, #WonderPeep "Denver Duncan" now in kindergarten. 

A laminated card and wipe-off markers: VOILA! 

I was so curious as to how he was going to problem solve the issue of running out of space and still having letters to add to his/our last name. 

NO PROBLEM! 

Just float them up in the available work space above! 

Now let's make a quick stop in Texas! 

The preschool children arrive for the day and sign in within the class notebook. 

Here's a set of 'loose' pages from the room next door. 

Same idea. 

Names listed alphabetically. 

Child finds their's and signs in! 

Now I'm going to share some earlier images. This next group is from an earlier article here, with six different 'sign-in-systems' that I've observed in my "music-lady" travels -- all added here into one spot for your ease in planning and comparison.

Let's go now with a brand new concept that I saw up in NW Ohio, making my Author-visits throughout Bryan on behalf of their public library and Family Advocacy Collaborative. Expectation: sign-in at arrival to school. Materials: White Board + Dry Erase Markers. 

Here's what the process looked like for one preschool child: 

Here are some results from hard working students. Keep in mind that these pictures were taken at the end of May and this has been a daily procedure for the entire school year. Let's hear it for progress!!

There were other students needing more 'real estate' for their names. This classroom is designed to serve children with special needs as well as their typical peers -- so there is an entire spectrum of abilities when it comes to Fine Motor.

Here's what the morning's worth of signatures looked like sharing the board. 
Yes, the names themselves are laminated cardstock with a magnet affixed to the back of the card. That way the name cards can easily be shifted around the board as the children enter the classroom and need more or less space for their assignment. 

I worked extra hard to document the afternoon's sign-in process. I wanted you to see the hard work, concentration, effort, focus and persistence that has developed by having a daily expectation of fine motor work. Work that is meaningful. Work that is appropriate. 

I've been literally ALL OVER DA MAP this month, making visits to schools for a variety of end-of-the-year celebrations. Here's a system I saw last week up in Michigan. Clipboards loaded ahead of time with names ready for the signing-in. These were ready-to-go as I made my way about their building for my evening concert with families. Do you just LUV people who plan ahead and are organized?

Now let's go for a ride on the way-back time machine and take a peek at the earlier 'methods' for signing into the classroom that I have shared here in previous episodes of Fine Motor Friday. Here's the first example I saw this fall. Pre-written names on paper. Child arrives and finds their name in the midst of their friends and traces it with a marker. These are preschool children in Ohio.

Next came this Louisiana preschool classroom where the children's names are recorded in their own spiral bound notebook. Arrive at school and clock in by writing your name. This is a simple way to see progress over time. Each child also has a couple of shapes to trace after they get their name written. Notice that some children are just working on their first name and other have more involved assignments. 

This is a pretty brilliant set-up for a writing center in a VPK (Voluntary PreKindergarten) in FL that I had the opportunity to observe last winter just prior to our singing together. 

Fine Motor "Office" Center, with friends names on index cards

All the children's names are on index cards and bound together on a ring. Child chooses which names of their friends that they want to write out while they are 'playing'  working playing in the office. All of the needed materials are organized in the office center for independent work.

Here's the most recent sign-in system cataloged here in my Fine Motor Friday series. This one's documented from my kindergarten visit to my very own WonderBoy's elementary school earlier this month . LUV LUV LUV LUV this one, too! The photographs of friends are a brilliant touch in making connections to our new friends and their names! This would be pretty brilliant for beginning the year..... getting acquainted. 

To improve 'auto-maticity' in the writing of letters is to increase the ease of expression of ideas in creative writing into the future. Having a 'sign-in' system  makes writing an expectation.  Someone on Pinterest repinning an image from this article called it a 'self-registration system' which I like. Incorporating an opportunity and the materials for practice in writing at an early age is to strengthen literacy skills for a lifetime!! 

Are you giving this gift to your young students? 

Do you have some digital photos to share here with my readers? 

These MI envelopes were being prepared for sending home the end-of-the-year collection of goodies and make such a delightful portfolio-of-sorts with the children's drawings as a permanent gift for end of the year reflection. 

Now I have an AMAZING "bulletin board" name-writing example used in a setting for students with special needs. This is the ninth example and a fantastic way to conclude this mini-series. 

A quick intro: I'm a 'music lady' that now travels to schools sharing my original children's songs as an Author-Illustrator, in that I've turned 3 of my songs into traditional picture book format. Prior to this recent 16 years of adventure under the banner "have guitar will travel" I worked at a private center for young children with special needs. I provided the art + music experiences there for all of the children. It was during those ten years at the Childhood League Center that I had the great good fortune to 'learn' from THE best therapists and teachers, children and parents. Many of my current school invitations originate due to this foundation chapter in my career.  

One of my favorite sentiments is the African proverb "If you can talk, you can sing. If you can walk, you can dance." My professional career has been about helping children unable to talk, learn how to 'sing.' The same with helping those unable to walk, learning how to 'dance.' Everything that I know about children with special needs is that we must be able to meet them where they are. We must be ready to adapt each learning moment to suit their capabilities, to encourage and support moving forward.

For the last 23 weeks I've been exploring Fine Motor as it Leads to Fine Arts. I've shared numerous 'sign in' systems that I've observed during my travels, where children are encouraged to develop the skills necessary to write their names. These next photos are an amazing sign-in system used in a very special preschool to bridge the distance necessary to establish a framework for handwriting. 

Here is the 'bulletin board' that meets each student where they are today and encourages them to take one more step in the direction of literacy development. On the far left is the student named 'Ritwik' who can now write all 6 letters in their name using a wipe-off marker. Kirwan and Shrenik are able to take their marker and trace the letters of their name. Wyatt is able now to make a letter 'W' independently. 

Now let's take a look at Kai upon arrival at school this morning. It's time to 'sign-in.' The necessary letters are laminated in order and designed with velcro fasteners. 

Kai arrives and is expected first to trace the letters in order. Then to 'sign-in' Kai is expected to match the letters and 'write' out the name. Let the school day begin!!!!!! KUDOS to the hard-working teachers who have designed this system to adapt to the needs of each student.  

Visual Cues, Time-lines, Schedules + Supports

If you only have time for one other article I would HIGHLY recommend reading about the lengths a pair of parents went to on behalf of their son and how my song "Lion Prowl" contributed to his first spoken word. Here's the link to this amazing and touching story. 

Life Lessons at the Conservatory

Yes. It is a Butterfly with Special Needs



Here's the FULL 50+ week series on Fine Motor!