Sandwriting

 

If you read this blog you might envision that we sit down and diligently write each day, filling up journals and notebooks and blank pages with letters and words.

Nope.

Writing is hard. It's hard for children and it's hard for grown-ups. It's taking something that's inside of you, bringing it out, and trying to make it just what you imagined. Learning to write is risky (Can I do this right?), frustrating (That's not how it's supposed to look!), and exhausting (I'm too tired. Too thirsty. Too hungry. This is boring.)

Knowing this, how do you nurture a love of learning without pushing?

I guess you just remember that writing should come naturally. That is should be fun. That all writing really is is playing with letters, and words, and ideas.

And that even more important than learning the right way to do things is learning how to learn. Children who learn how to learn absorb information through any means possible. They look, they listen, they touch, they move, they manipulate, they create. And they see endless possibilities instead of just one right answer.

This is something I was reminded of while watching my son play in the sand tray I has set up for letter-writing practice. 

As suggested, he practiced "writing" the letter J in the sand.

 

He wrote J over and over again to see how many times he could shake it invisible.

 

He made Js and erased them by opening and closing his fingers to make what he called "hand angels."

  

He made Js and turned them in to J mountains.

 

And he disappeared J after J with magic sand storms.

Needless to say, he did more writing while playing then he ever would have done otherwise. And all of that sandy stimulation to the tactile receptors in his fingertips sent a couple of loud-and-clear messages to his brain:

This is how we make a J

and

Writing sure is a ton of fun.

For those of you who want to incite some magic sand storms of your own, I repurposed the wood letters and the wooden box from this puzzle for our sand tray, but a baking pan would work just as well. Oh, and I forgot to snap a picture of our little broom and dustpan. Keep one nearby. (You'll thank me later.) 

Comments

[andrea]

This is such a great idea! I stumbled upon your blog over the weekend and it's been so inspiring to read. I am a former 4th grade teacher and now a stay at home mom to an 18 month old. What a collection of meaningful and creative activities you've put together here. I just love your blog and all of your ideas for inspiring little ones (and big ones) to write. As you mentioned, it can be challenging to get one's ideas down on paper. Thanks so much for sharing!
-andrea

[Kelly]

I just did my own version of this. It worked really well.

[Sally]

I love your play ideas. I am also a firm believer that play is a child's work, and that they will learn *tons* through having fun. I believed this when my teenagers were little, but with my 2 yo, I'm so much more confident and relaxed and enjoying her play. Thanks for sharing your clever ideas and your confidence as well.

[handmadeducation]

I wish that there was a way to introduce this to a group of very active 5 year olds - I have 26 of them at the end of the day, so they're fried. Maybe I'll just use something like rice or beans... Also, they have a broom and dustpan (and know how to use it VERY well), so perhaps I could start this soon!

[Martine]

Just found your blog and it made my day! I love it, I work with a toddler group in an English school,in Basel switzerland, and I get from you some fresh great ideas for the next weeks! I would love to contact you and will try the Email, many thanks, Martine

[April]

what a beautiful, inspiring post. you are doing good work-with your son and with those you are inspiring on your blog. thank you.

[Nath46]

it's magic ! what a good idea !

[JoAnn]

This is wondeful! I saved a wooden box from a Christmas gift that will be great for sand writing. I love your blog. :)

[r8ermom]

Wonderful! I have several of those wooden boxes from the "Melissa and Doug" toys/puzzles. I always knew they would come in handy for something besides organizing! Thank you for an inspiring post. I'll be doing this right away with my three-year-old who, thankfully, loves letters as much as I do. Also, I really enjoyed your "Writer's Workshop." It goes without saying that I enjoy your blog a great deal. Thank you!

[Sam]

You have made my thoughts much clearer.
I understand that learning to write, when you're still learning the shapes and how letters work etc, is *really* hard work and can't be pushed.
But I hadn't connected *my* difficulty in getting words down. Of course! Writing is hard for all of us - I even struggle with comments ;-)
This has made my brain buzz!

I shall try the sand writing/playing in a tray - with dustpan on red alert :-)

[Suzanne]

Thank you so much for this insight:
"And that even more important than learning the right way to do things is learning how to learn."
I wholeheartedly agree. I have been struggling with my son who started kindergarten this year, because the environment he is in doesn't seem to understand this.He is starting to lose his love of learning. You penned down feelings that I have not been able to accurately express. Thanks again, for all the inspiration!

[Laura]

What beautiful photographs of your son! And absolutely lovely idea.

[Mozi Esme's Mommy]

I love the idea of using this medium! And great pics...

[Manderly]

I have a 2 year old and I really want to do this, as well as the sand letters you made. Where do you get that great sand? It looks super fine and so light colored!

[Jennifer]

These photos are lovely.
We have a similar set up in the class room. Sand storm is an understatement.
:)
Thank you as always for sharing. I love your ideas.
Jennifer

[Chrissy]

Love this post and the sand tray idea. I'll be linking over here tomorrow morning!

[mammagiramondo]

I really wanna say thank you for the wondreful idea. Wu have used the sand box not properly to write but has been any way a great fun. I've poted it in my blog and i've pu a link to yours. I hope you don't mind.

P.S My blog is in italian but you can read it in english just clicking on the flag on the top.

Thanks again