Colored Glue Tracing: Pre-Writing

Michael has only recently started to demonstrate a hand preference (leaning towards right hand). He starts with his right hand when cutting, using utensils, and when writing. Perhaps because he used both hands equally for so long, he still struggles with his writing grip. He still usually grabs writing implements with his fist and gets frustrated with crayons, markers, and paintbrushes because he doesn't have the fine control he wants.

He does well when tracing in sand though and enjoys that activity so I decided to do a similar activity with the children yesterday. I wanted to do another activity that would exercise pre-writing skills while removing the frustration of an actual writing implement.

I mixed up some colored glue using white school glue and liquid tempera paint and put them in small squeeze bottles I got here. (Those two ounce squeeze bottles have been a great purchase. I've used them to hold colored water, puffy paint, and colored vinegar for a wide variety of projects. They are the perfect size for toddler/preschooler hands.) I also printed some pre-writing strips I made in publisher on cardstock (Feel free to download them and use them yourself. They are at the bottom of the post.).

As you can see, Michael started with his right hand, but as he fatigued, he switched to using both hands. This activity was much more difficult for Ava. She started by trying to fill in the lines, but quickly switched to simply playing with the colored glue on the paper.

Michael also traced over some words. He was still excited about the project when I ran out of printed strips so I suggest we make a card for his Daddy. He dictated a message. I wrote it on construction paper. Then he traced it with glue.

All in all, the activity kept the children entranced for at least 45 minutes. Michael had more fun than Ava, but she struggled with it more. I have lots of colored glue left over for another project (yet to be determined) and Ava will enjoy it more when she can use it creatively. For the purposes of this project, I couldn't have been more pleased.

Here are the strips for anyone who is interested. Click on the image to open to full size. Then right click and save to your computer.

S-Blends (/sl/, /sm/, /sn/, /sp/, /st/): Free Speech Therapy Articulation Picture Cards

If you like this free S-Blends set you might want to check out the comprehensive S-Blends Speech Therapy Kit now available in the Testy Shop.

Description

This articulation picture card set is designed to be more comprehensive than the typical sets you might find elsewhere. The target audience for this set is young children or children with more severe speech delays that need intensive practice with sounds at a one-syllable level. No blends (other than the targeted initial blend) or vocalic /r/ sounds are included in this set. All syllable shapes are kept as simple as possible to allow the child to focus as much as possible on producing the initial blend. Syllable shapes are CCV or CCVC only.(Scroll down to preview set.)

Key Features

• This set includes 30 therapy cards with the target word and picture on the front, and the difficulty level and a carrier phrase on the back.
• This set includes 6 one-syllable words for each blend: /sl/, /sm/, /sn/, /sp/, and /st/.
• The words are all CCV or CCVC in syllable shape.
• The words are simple and are easily understood by or easily taught to young children.
• Combines the S-blends with all possible vowel sounds at least once.
• Words are categorized by difficulty level for an easy progression from simpler to harder.

Permissions

I give permission to copy, print, or distribute this card set provided that:

1. Each copy makes clear that I am the document's author.
2. No copies are altered without my express consent.
3. No one makes a profit from these copies.
4. Electronic copies contain a live link back to my original and print copies not for merely personal use contain the URL of my original.

Looking for Feedback

I would love to hear back from anyone who uses this card set. Let me know if you find errors or there is anything you would change. Comment on this page, or send me an email at testyyettrying(at)gmail(dot)com.

Where can I find more?

More sets are on my Free Speech Therapy Articulation Cards page.

Card Set

To download click on the image to open it full size. Then right click on the image, choose "save as" and save the page to your computer.

I recommend you print on cardstock and laminate for durability.

Card Set Activity and Game Suggestions

1. 10 Card Set Game and Activity Ideas
2. Simple Speech Card Puzzles
3. Speech Card Stories
4. Speech Card Caterpillar
5. Speech Card Game: What's Hiding?

Can anyone recommend a good phonics primer - for me?

I don't remember learning how to read. I just do it. I always did. I don't remember being taught. I certainly don't remember how I was taught. If I had to guess, I'd say it was via the sight word method, because phonics rules are definitely not my strong point.

So, yesterday Michael was playing with a Melissa and Doug toy I had gotten ages ago when he was first showing interest in both puzzles and letters. At the time he wasn't impressed, but when he rediscovered it yesterday he loved it and spent a good half hour working away mostly independently. He was frustrated because the "p" wouldn't fit into pig. That let to a discussion of how a lower case "b" is actually an upside-down, flipped over "p". We found two examples and demonstrated and he went happily on his way. Aside from one other brief interruption, which I will describe momentarily, he worked completely on his own until he proudly presented me with his final product.

Now, while Michael was working on the puzzles I was...hmm...I don't remember. I was doing some mystery task in the kitchen. I guarantee it wasn't cleaning though. Whatever I was doing, I was giving Michael about 3% of my attention when he wandered in to announce that "boat" and "cat" rhymed. I remember being slightly annoyed, in fact, because I knew that he knew those two words didn't rhyme. Then I looked down at the visual aid he had helpfully brought in and set up to show me.

Once he had my full attention, he stated in the tone of a question, "Cat and boat rhyme because they both end in -at." Well, then I was in trouble and regretting my lack of phonics theory knowledge. I did the best I could. I explained that while there was only one vowel in cat, there were two vowels using teamwork in boat. The "oa" combination sounds like "oh" while if "o" had been all on its own it would have sounded like "ah" making the word "bot". It ended up being a long, wordy, inelegant explanation. And, to be honest, I'm not even sure my explanation was correct. Even if it was lucky, and I happened to be correct this time, I'm not sure that phonics "rule" applies in every situation where "oa" appear together.

Why on earth does English spelling have to be so complicated? I think I'll just teach them phonetic transcription. Hmm... and then transcribe all their children's books into IPA... and their future schoolbooks... Ok, fine. That's no solution either. I guess I'll just have to teach myself phonics so that I can explain it to my four year old son. Can anyone recommend a good primer?