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This resource serves as a reference guide regarding fine motor skills which is related to writing.

Mackenzie and Scull (2016) concluded that writing may be a difficult task for some and it is imperative for teachers to find the best tools to assist their assessee in mastering this skill.

Thus, this resource is useful for both parents and teachers to refer to as it gives them an insight of the developmental milestones of children from five months to five years; what is within the norm pertaining to the fine motor abilities and how this can help them in their writing.

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Fine motor skills can become impaired in a variety of ways, including injury, illness, stroke , and congenital deformities. An infant or child up to age five who is not developing new fine motor skills for that age may have a developmental disability. These problems can include major health conditions including cerebra

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This resource is practically an instructor’s manual to teach phonological awareness which is an important aspect of writing. Its step-by-step guide is informative and it is useful for teachers to refer to it when he or she is assessing an individual. Its level of progression from easy in step 1 to hardest in step 12 also helps the assessee to gradually grasp the content. Monash University (2019) suggested that the best way to teach writing is to expose the assessee to the content area by writing it, reading it and listening to it frequently; bearing in mind that the teacher needs to be flexible in his or her teaching style to best cater to the assessee’s learning needs. As such, teaching phonological awareness to improve writing can be done in the same manner.

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This resource reinforces on an individual’s punctuation skills which is in relation to writing. Not only that, it also tests on an individual’s listening and reading abilities throughout the game. This resource is suitable for self-assessment as it will indicate whether or not the player has answered the questions correctly — green means correct and red means wrong. The State of Victoria (2016) stated that “self-assessment can be a key motivator for each child to continue along a pathway toward new challenges and

further success, especially if they are encouraged and supported in this practice.”

Alternatively, this game also can be monitored by other parties for players who may need extra guidance.

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Commas are used to separate words and phrases in sentences. Practice using commas with transition words for passage of time, and brush up on your reading skills too! Kids can try reading each sentence, or listen to the audio. Then they must decide which sentence uses commas correctly. If they get stuck, try reading the sentence aloud and listening for where the natural pause is.

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View aligned standards

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Commas with Transition Words: Quiz | Game | Education.com

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Using commas with transition words for passage of time is an important skill to build for early readers. Read each sentence and decide which one uses commas correctly.

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This resource offers as a guide to assess an individual’s fine motor abilities in relation to writing. It’s purpose is to help teachers or specialists to monitor the basic development of an individual in this area. The assessment starts from tracing a simple line at the top to more complicated patterns as he or she goes down. The assessor, on the other hand, will complete the checklist while the assessee is completing the task. This is validated by Wohlwend (2018), who mentioned in her thesis that this “stencil tracing” form of assessment, is ideal for individuals who are “pre-literate” and are beginning to write or those who need further support in their fine motor dexterity.

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Tracing is an important fine motor skill which helps the small hand muscles prepare for forming letters and future writing.

This resource allows you to track their development in this area.

Included in this resource is a tracing task (which increases in difficulty), an assessment rubric and a class checklist.

You may like to print it off and include on a portfolio piece, with the sample of work and a photo of the child completing the task!

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Tracing is an important fine motor skill which helps the small hand muscles prepare for forming letters and future writing. This resource allows you to track their development in this area. Included in this resource is a tracing task (which increases in difficulty), an assessment rubric and a class checklist.

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This resource greatly offers punctuation awareness which relates to the concept of writing. It allows players of different ages to challenge themselves by choosing the correct punctuation marks to complete a sentence during a racing game. The faster the player answers the questions — by clicking onto the correct answer — the faster the car will move and ultimately finish the race. In contrast, if the player answers the questions inaccurately, it slows his or her car down. This resource is an example of a “multimodal literacy,” which, as defined by (Kress, 2009), is a combination of multiple literacy rolled into one. In this case, it is a combination of sound, picture, text and many more. Kress further elaborated in his work that multimodality can elevate an individual’s literacy skills. This resource in particular, can enhance an individual’s punctuation awareness which is a critical component in writing.

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This resource offers readers punctuation awareness which relates to the concept of writing. It caters to individuals of all ages with its insightful content such that examples of each punctuation is elaborated in a story form on almost every page. Angelillo (2002) considered punctuation “as a tool for powerful writing” and she suggested that the best way to master punctuation skills is to read frequently. In this case, this resource does not only promote reading, but it also educates on the rules of punctuation.

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Punctuation Celebration / Crazy Mamma's Stories

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This resource offers punctuation education which relates to the concept of writing. It appeals to individuals of various ages as they are able to identify the different punctuation and its uses through its vivid animations and catchy phrases. The teaching of punctuation is essential and this is supported by Mackenzie (2014), who researched that, based on behaviorist theories, teaching individuals punctuation, amongst handwriting and spelling, is an important skill of “text composition” to promote “increasing proficiency over the sub skills of writing.”

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Punctuation Explained (by Punctuation!) | Scratch Garden

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This resource builds on punctuation identification skills which relates to the concept of writing. In this case, the individual using this resource will be required to identify the accurate punctuation based on the choices provided. The level of complexity can be altered according to the individual’s age. For instance, lesser choices can be given to those at a beginner’s level, more choices can be given to those at an intermediate level, or no choices at all (open ended) can be given to the ones at an advanced level. Punctuation identification skills is pertinent and this is supported by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (2012), who acknowledged the importance of

punctuation as one of the writing conventions that needs to be honed; by individuals beginning from the early years, in order to fully master the skills of writing.

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English Punctuation Activities FREE Cute and Re-usable Strips

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These English Punctuation activities will make for a FUN and exciting grammar station! Laminate and re-use these strips as needed!

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This resource offers phonological awareness which is largely related to the concept of writing. The player will need to roll the first die to unravel the initial phonological unit of a possible word and write it down as the onset. Then, he or she will need to roll the second die to unravel the letters that follow; then write it down as the rime. Finally, the player will combine the onset rime to create a word. This activity is suitable for individuals of different ages. Letters on the dice are variables that can be altered to maximise the level of complexity. Individuals can conduct this activity themselves as reinforcement or even be facilitated. For players attempting this activity alone, they would, first need to have the basic knowledge of reading and writing. This is in line with Clay’s emergent literacy theory which is, individuals require fundamental knowledge in reading and writing itself before they can literally read and write on their own (McNaughton, 2014).

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Practice blending onsets and rimes with this free printable roll and write phonics activity for kindergarten and first grade.

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This resource comprises of phonological awareness worksheets which is related to the concept of writing. Besides that, it features phonological-related videos, online games as well as stories. Such online resource, according to Kress (2003), will not only improve an individual’s literacy in terms of reading and writing, but also develops his or her media literacy skills; which is the understanding of the purpose of the media platform itself. As stated on the website, this resource is suitable for children from the age of 3-8 years old with its varying levels of complexity. However, we feel that it is not only limited to them but it can also be used by individuals who are older and are struggling in this content area.

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The Phonics Method: A Comprehensive Guide to Learning to Read

Learning to read is a monumental milestone in any child's life, and there are various ways to approach it. One of the most effective and widely used methods is phonics. In this guide, we'll delve into the phonics method for kids, providing you with valuable insights into phonics worksheets, phonics games, and phonics songs, among other resources.

Phonics Definition: What Is Phonics?

Phonics is a method of teaching reading by correlating sounds with letters or groups of letters in an alphabetical writing system. In simpler terms, phonics connects the dots between the sounds we hear and the letters we see. Understanding phonics can significantly help children decode words, thereby improving their reading and comprehension skills.

The Importance of Phonics Alphabet

The phonics alphabet is the cornerstone of any phonics curriculum. This specialized alphabet focuses on teaching the sounds associated with each letter, aiding in the child's ability to recognize and understand words. Knowing the phonics alphabet equips children with the tools they need to decode unfamiliar words, fostering an increased level of reading confidence.

Getting Hooked on Phonics

The term "Hooked on Phonics" is more than just a catchy phrase; it symbolizes the transformative power of this teaching method. Children who grasp phonics early on often show accelerated progress in reading, writing, and comprehension. They're "hooked" because phonics makes reading understandable and enjoyable, serving as a strong foundation for a lifetime of literacy. Although it is associated with a successful brand, Kiz Phonics has been shown to be simply effective.

Phonics Games: Learning Through Play

Children learn best when they're having fun. Phonics games offer an interactive way for kids to grasp the connection between letters and sounds. Whether it's online games or board games, this approach makes the learning experience more engaging. Games often target different skills-from letter recognition to word formation-and they can be particularly helpful for reinforcing the phonics rules. For some engaging phonics games suitable for kindergarten and beyond, check out Kiz Phonics.

The Power of Phonics Songs and ABC Songs

Music is a powerful educational tool, particularly for younger children. Phonics songs and ABC songs can introduce kids to the sounds and letters of the alphabet in a fun and engaging way. These songs are catchy and memorable, which aids in the retention of the information. You might find that your child hums along to a phonics song, absorbing vital literacy skills without even realizing it!

Phonics Worksheets: Practice Makes Perfect

Worksheets play an integral part in any phonics curriculum. Phonics worksheets provide children with the opportunity to practice what they've learned in a structured format. These worksheets can range from tracing letters to completing word puzzles and can be targeted for different age groups, including resources like kindergarten worksheets.

Understanding Sound Charts

Sound charts or phonics charts are visual aids that display the various sounds and their corresponding letters or letter combinations. These charts serve as quick references for children, helping them recognize and remember the phonetic sounds. Placing a sound chart in your child's study area can reinforce daily learning.

Phonics Rules: The Backbone of the Method

While phonics offers a more intuitive approach to reading than memorization, it does have its rules that need to be understood. These phonics rules provide a framework for understanding the relationship between letters and sounds, guiding children through the complexities of the English language. An example could be the rule that an 'e' at the end of a word often makes the vowel sound long, as in 'cake'.

Phonics Teaching: How to Approach It?

Effective phonics teaching combines various resources like games, worksheets, songs, and sound charts. It's also important to offer consistent practice and to proceed at a pace comfortable for the child. Each child is unique, and the phonics teaching method must be flexible enough to accommodate these individual needs.

A Comprehensive Phonics Curriculum: The Final Piece of the Puzzle

The various components we've discussed-games, songs, worksheets, sound charts, and rules-come together to form a comprehensive phonics curriculum. A well-rounded curriculum considers the child's age, skill level, and learning preferences, providing a multi-faceted approach to phonics instruction. To explore a program that encompasses all these elements, you can visit Kiz Phonics which is among the most effective, right up there with Jolly Phonics and Hooked on Phonics.

Concluding Thoughts: The Lifetime Benefits of Phonics

Learning to read is a skill that sets the groundwork for academic success and overall confidence. Phonics serves as an effective, intuitive, and engaging method to accomplish this. With the right approach, incorporating phonics songs, phonics worksheets, and phonics games can make the learning process an enriching experience for children. Set your child on the path to literacy by embracing the power of phonics.

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Phonics Activities to Teach kids to Read with ABC Phonics/ Kiz Phonics

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Kiz Phonics is an excellent progressive program to teach kids to read using a synthetic phonics approach. You get a complete set of activities to teach phonics, structured by levels from preschool, kindergarten, 1st grade to 2nd grade. We offer the following phonics activities for your preschool, kindergarten, first and second grade learners.

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This resource provides opportunities for children to explore different aspects of phonological awareness and other areas of language. The resource is simple to use and allows learners to explore the use of digital technology to aid in learning and writing. According to Rogow (n.d.), like pencils, digital technologies are tools. Knowing how to use digital devices are an important part of being literate. The purpose of using digital technology is to develop habits of inquiry and skills of expression to help develop critical thinking and communicate effectively. In addition, this resource involves a self-check tool that helps learners identify their mistakes and search for the right answers. According to the State of Victoria (2016), “self-assessment can be a key motivator for each child to continue along a pathway toward new challenges and further success, especially if they are encouraged and supported in this practice.”

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This resource provides learners with opportunities to learn individual alphabet sounds. This resource also provides opportunities for learners to learn the strokes of the alphabet as well as some words that begin with the respective letters. According to the State of Victoria (2016), one of the skills acquired in language is to recognise how sounds are represented alphabetically and identify letter sounds. The understanding of how symbols and pattern systems work, and how they can be used to engage others is fundamental in developing one’s language skills. Over time, one will be able to use and create simple texts about familiar topics and choose the content, form and vocabulary within their writing.

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Letter A | Alphabet Song for Kids | Let's Learn About The Alphabet | Phonics Song | Jack Hartmann

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This resource offers the letter sounds of the alphabet and digraphs. The resource encourages learners to identify phonic component by use of segmenting to break down and blend the sounds in words. In accordance to the State of Victoria (2016) children need to learn to recognise how sounds are represented alphabetically and identify letter sounds, symbols, characters and signs. As their skills advance, they can then accurately spell and form words that are frequently used and make use of known spelling patterns to make plausible attempts at spelling and writing unfamiliar words. In addition, this resource involves using nursery rhymes to learn the sounds of the alphabet. According to Hill (2017), familiar songs that are adapted with the inclusion of initial sounds help children remember letter sounds more easily. On top of that, this resource includes the use of pictures and actions to be associated with the letter sounds. This enables the different learners, visual, auditory and kinaesthetic, to be able to pick up the alphabet sounds more easily.

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A programme that grows with your children

Our flagship programme, Jolly Phonics, teaches children to read and write using synthetic phonics, which is widely recognised as the most effective way to teach children to read and write in English. That was over 25 years ago. Since then our immense progress has been studied in numerous research projects, the results of which led to phonics becoming central to the UK curriculum. Today we are now used in over 100 countries worldwide. As the leading synthetic phonics publisher, and the most experienced, we offer a 7-year school programme that teaches not only phonics, but spelling, punctuation and grammar too.

Jolly Phonics validated by the DfE as a complete systematic synthetic phonics programme!
Trusted by teachers and loved by children, we're delighted to announce that Jolly Phonics has been validated by the Department for Education as a complete systematic synthetic phonics programme. This means that the programme meets the 16 essential core criteria required by the DfE.
Since its 30-year anniversary in 2017, Jolly Learning and its flagship, multi-sensory SSP programme, Jolly Phonics, has continued to cement its position as the leading programme in teaching children to read and write from an early age.
Emma Ince is the Deputy Head Teacher at Tudor Primary School in Suffolk, England. She has overseen the school's progression in literacy by using the Jolly Phonics programme over the last 8 years. In this short video, she discusses the ways they use the programme and the success they have had.
With its fresh and vibrant redesign, Jolly Phonics' complete range of new and improved SSP resources continue to evolve to meet the needs of pupils and teachers, whilst delivering exceptional results for all children, both in today's classroom and for the future.

How Jolly Phonics works

Jolly Phonics is a comprehensive programme, based on the proven, fun and muliti-sensory synthetic phonics method that gets children reading and writing from an early age. This means that we teach letter sounds as opposed to the alphabet. These 42 letter sounds are phonic building blocks that children, with the right tools, use to decode the English language. When reading a word, they recognise the letters and blend together the respective sounds; when writing a word they identify the sounds and write down the corresponding letters. These skills are called blending and segmenting. These are two of the five skills that children need to master phonics:
You can view videos for each of the five key skills by clicking on the buttons below.
Alongside these skills children are also introduced to the main alternative spelling of vowels. These five skills form the foundation that children build on with each year of grammar teaching.

Jolly Phonics works - proven results!
Rush Green Primary School in Essex, England, turned to Jolly Phonics to improve literacy levels across the school. After seeing great progress in their children's abilities, they have since extended their teaching with the Grammar programme through the years.
There has been much research all over the world on Jolly Phonics, which can be viewed here. The research shows that the progress made by children using Jolly Phonics far exceeds that of children not taught using a synthetic phonics approach. It is effective across the ability range, with boys doing just as well as girls, while those with English as their second language can do as well as children who have it as their first.

"Jolly Phonics is amazing for the children to learn letter sounds and help pronounce words to take them onto the next stage of their speech and language."

Jolly Phonics continues for the next 6 years

The programme continues throughout the school years, by extending the earlier phonics teaching with further spelling, grammar and punctuation concepts. Each year of teaching provides continuous revision and consolidation of topics taught in previous years. Children are also taught the core concepts of grammar and punctuation, starting with simple age-appropriate definitions, which are gradually built on with each year of teaching. The teaching continues to be multi-sensory with actions and colour coding (fitting with Montessori) for parts of speech to help children develop their understanding of how language works. The systematic programme means children are given the tools that they need to independently write what they want clearly and with expression.

With spelling, punctuation and grammar (or SPaG) now more prominent in curricula around the world we have been extending our literacy programme to go up to age 11 (Year 6/P7 in the UK). Our programme has been at the forefront of this teaching and meets the aims of both the UK National Curriculum and the US Common Core State Standards.

"The systematic teaching of spelling, grammar, punctuation and vocabulary is evident in the students daily writing. They are able to recognise and use parts of grammar in their reading and writing."
Click here to view all resources via the UK Shop Click here to view all resources via the US Shop
Programme progression

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Jolly Phonics and Grammar is a 7-year programme that takes children beyond phonics and integrates spelling, grammar and punctuation.

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This resource offers learners the opportunity to train, strengthen and control their thumb, index finger and middle finger. By strengthening and improving control over one’s finger muscles, learners will be possess better hand dexterity when handling writing tools in the future (Ministry of Education, 2013). This resource also involves different levels of difficulty, from straight to curvy lines, for learners to upgrade themselves. Materials can also be swapped to include pictures with small curves for the learners to challenge himself/herself. In accordance to the Ministry of Education (2013), children should acquire the skill to use scissors to cut shapes with straight and curved lines and hold the paper with one hand and cut with the other.

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Scissor Skills Shark Cutting Practice for Kids! Perfect for Shark Week fun or an Ocean Unit at School!

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This resource offers learners an unconventional way of writing. Rather than relying on pencil and paper alone, this resource allows learners to explore using different writing tools such as paintbrushes, chopsticks and etc. Additional colours/scents may also be added to enhance the learner’s sensorial experience. This resource allows learners to draw, trace patterns and letters, copy and write letters, symbols and numbers which help develop the learner’s hand dexterity. It is said by the State of Victoria (2016) that, children especially, are continuously acquiring, refining and consolidating their motor functions and skills and integrate their skills across domains.

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How to Make Colorful Scented Salt Tray: Easy Sensory Activity

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Learn how to make a colorful and scented salt tray! An easy educational DIY sensory material your toddler or preschooler will love.

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This resource offers learners a way of correcting their pencil grip. The story follows a boy who struggles with writing due to the improper grip of his pencil. In the later part of the story, he slowly learns the tripod grasp and reveals ways of how one can practice their dynamic tripod grasp. According to The Understood Team (2019), struggling with any skill can make children feel like they’re not smart which can take a toll on their self-esteem. This resource lets learners know that everyone has difficulty with something—and that skills can be developed with practice. Developing writing skills occur at different rates, where some take longer than others to learn these skills. Therefore, through this resource, learners looking to improve their pencil grip will feel more determined to practice and learn the dynamic tripod grasp through the demonstration and modelling by others (State of Victoria, 2016).

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This resource follows a parent sharing some techniques she uses to help her 6 year old child further develop her handwriting skills. This resource offers various methods of preparing the learner for writing by completing simple tasks and finger exercises. Multiple techniques and 🤬 to correct and encourage proper pencil grasp are also provided in this resource. The Ministry of Education (2010) stresses the importance of preparation for the physical act of writing. When learners are encouraged to adopt the correct posture and hand grip, they will be able to reduce stress, fatigue and improve legibility when writing.

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This resource provides finger exercises ideal in strengthening and preparing one’s finger muscles for writing. The resource encourages the learner to carry out actions such as squeezing and poking the plasticine. According to Wholwend (2018) playing with manipulatives or play dough help to develop one’s finger muscles (Marr, Windsor, & Cermak, 2001). This resource also uses the catchy, upbeat nursery rhyme of “If you’re happy and you know it”. According to the Ministry of Education (2013) different songs evoke different feelings. Therefore, with an upbeat song, learners may feel a sense of excitement during warm up before their writing activity.

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Play dough disco | Fine Motor Development | If you're happy and you know it

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This resource offers a range of boards that help develop one’s life skills, fine motor skills and finger isolation through tasks such as threading, tying, buttoning and zipping. Finger isolation, which refers to the ability to move certain fingers apart from the rest of the hand/fingers, has been described as an important stage in the development of grasp by the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (2017). Aside from that, life skills have been described as important in developing one’s self confidence. According to the State of Victoria (2016), developing one’s life skills makes the learner feel self-sufficient and able to manage emotions productively and build resilience and persistence, as well as experience feelings of satisfaction and happiness. This helps learners build an overall positive behaviour towards lifelong learning and attain future academic success.

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20 Fine Motor Skills Toys For Toddlers and Preschoolers!

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Are you looking for the best fine motor skills toys for toddlers and preschoolers? These 20 fine motor skills toys are not only helpful with motor skills development but are loads of fun! Your children won't even know that they are learning;)

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This resource offers opportunities for children to explore and enhance their eye hand coordination and manipulate objects with dexterity (Ministry of Education, 2013). Smaller items such as marbles and chopsticks, for example, can be placed in exchange to increase difficulty. The element of play in this resource allows for teaching and learning approaches to be integrated which helps stimulate a wide range of intellectual, physical, and social abilities within learners. In addition to that, learners with improved eye hand coordination and hand dexterity, will develop stronger finger muscles which aid in future handwriting skills (Ministry of Education, 2013).

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This week's #topteacherplaytray is a fun fine motor colour sorting challenge! 💚💗💙💛💜 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Super e… | OT | Fine motor, Infant activities, Activities for kids

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This week's #topteacherplaytray is a fun fine motor colour sorting challenge! 💚💗💙💛💜 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Super easy to set up, your students will love the task of