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Big Lines, Little Lines, Big Curves, Little Curves

January 27, 2021 | Clara Buckley

Over the course of the year, children are introduced to sensory experiences that help them begin to confidently identify and draw the key components necessary to write capital letters: big lines, little lines, big curves, and little curves.

During home learning you saw some of this work.  At first the lines are wobbly and they start at the bottom of the paper.  Now we are seeing growth in confidence and fluency as the children practice these marks and make strong, straight lines remembering to start at the top.  This becomes important for forming letters properly.

Handwriting Without Tears is a curricular program that addresses fine motor skills in developmentally appropriate ways.  It is being used in the Lower School, and the preschool has adopted aspects of the program as well.

The emphasis in our program is on multi-sensory and play experiences, so the children are also making and exploring lines in clay.

After all this line work, soon children will practice writing the first letters of their name, learning a proper handwriting form that will support fluent writing in the future.

Clara Buckley

Preschool Art Specialist; Middle School Art

Clara Buckley’s teaching spans the ages of Mustard Seed School, from the youngest students in the preschool to students in the graduating class. She’s found many similarities between teaching three-year-olds and thirteen-year-olds!

As an art teacher who never enjoyed drawing, Ms Buckley’s hope is that each child she teaches discovers a way to create art that they enjoy, whether it be sculpture, printing, textiles, architectural drawing, or collage.

Ms. Buckley loves living in Jersey City, a place whose diversity and welcome for immigrants reflects her own family experience. When planning future travel destinations, art, food, and time with family are featured items on her list.

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