As like many parents, I want to help my children succeed at school by giving them the tools they need to get the basics out of the way, so that they can concentrate on more challenging topics. Writing is a skill that can only come from practice, but sometimes it is difficult to teach with just a pen and lined paper. Having recognized this, Mead has introduced a
Multi-Sensory Early Writing Program called
Mead Writing Fundamentals.
This writing program is divided between four stages . . . Fine Motor Development, Letter Formation, Primary Writing, and Transitional Writing. Our 3-1/2 year old twins are pretty adept at controlling their lines, especially our daughter, who loves to draw. Still, the Stage 1 activities, such as those in
Path Quest and
Shape Builders, have been good practice for them. Those activities are more enjoyable for them than the formal exercises of Stage 2's letter formation exercises.
Other Stage 1 fine motor challenges are mastering the skills of cutting with scissors and coloring within the lines. The book titled
Snip It! offers your preschooler mini craft projects that are designed to use these skills.
The Stage 2 book
Capital Letter Stories differs from other writing workbooks because it uses "alphabox paper", which requires your child to write each letter inside a box rather than on lined paper. If your child uses the Stage 1 books, then he or she will pick up the instructions for this Stage 2 book easily. The lines and arrows used are very consistent between the two stages.
Although the Stage 1 and 2 books are recommended for children up to 2nd and 3rd grade, our 6 year old, who will be entering 1st grade, found them to be far too easy. He did enjoy some of the activities though. I think you need to not look at the recommended grades for each stage and just make decision based upon each individual child's skill level.
To learn more about the Mead Writing Fundamentals program, visit
Mead's Early Learning Shop. Currently there are 15 different books available in this line. For a limited time, you can receive
Free Standard Shipping on your online order of $50 or more when you use
Code: FLOWERS at checkout.
Thank you to Mead for providing us with sample books free of charge to base this review upon and for providing additional books for our contest prize.
What you can win:One lucky reader will receive
5 to 7 items of their choice from the list below (subject to availability):
Path Quest
Snip It
Shape Builders Learn to Draw
Dry Erase Activity Board
Capital Letter Stories
Write-On, Wipe-Off Lowercase Letters
4-in-1 Learn to Letter
Idea Builders
Primary Journal
Write-on, Wipe-off Cursive Letters
Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing. Anyone who has won a Writing Fundamentals giveaway in the past 60 days is not eligible to win this contest.
How to Gain Entries:
Browse the selection of Mead Writing Fundamentals books. Then leave a comment telling me which book or books you like best AND why. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest. Extra Entries:
1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.
2)For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.
3) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post. "I'm following @MeadEarlyLearn thanks to @_Karen. "
Then leave a separate comment with the link to your tweet.
6) "Like" Mead on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Facebook profile.
7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post AND using hashtag #WritingFundamentals. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.
8)
Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
9)
10) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)
Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Monday, August 2nd, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.
Good luck in the drawing!
As like many parents, I want to help my children succeed at school by giving them the tools they need to get the basics out of the way, so that they can concentrate on more challenging topics. Writing is a skill that can only come from practice, but sometimes it is difficult to teach with just a pen and lined paper. Having recognized this, Mead has introduced a Multi-Sensory Early Writing Program called Mead Writing Fundamentals.
