Most children begin to learn to write at a very young age, so it is often up to kindergarten and first grade teachers in most cases to begin teaching children how to write. Techniques for approaching this challenge can be varied, and the teacher will find plenty of instructional aids and tools for teaching children how to write properly in those developmental years. The teacher should start by recognizing which hand is dominant in each student; one of the biggest challenges for the teacher is trying to teach a left-handed child how to write right-handed.
Pay attention to the children when they are at play: take note of how each student throws a ball, grabs a toy, handles a crayon, and so on. This may give the teacher an idea of which students are right-hand dominant and which ones are left-hand dominant. In the past, teaching children how to write meant teaching them to use their right hands only, but in modern times, being left-handed is more accepted and encouraged. Recognizing a left-handed child will save the teacher and the child a lot of frustration throughout the learning process.
Gripping the pen or pencil can be a challenge for young children, so when teaching children how to write, a teacher may want to consider using grip aids. These rubber fittings slide over the pencil or pen, and they are contoured into the shape most appropriate for encouraging a proper grip on the writing instrument. These aids are inexpensive and effective for many students, and they will encourage more control over the pen or pencil, making the formation of letters much easier.
It will be important for the teacher to recognize the different learning styles of each student when designing lesson plans for teaching children how to write. Some students are visual learners and will respond well to visual aids; these aids may be as simple as the alphabet written out on the blackboard, or flash cards with the letters of the alphabet. Other students are auditory learners and they need to hear a concept explained a few times before it sinks in. Try to tailor lesson plans to accommodate as many different learning styles as possible, and do not be afraid to repeat information; repetition will help students remember the concepts and will ensure the concepts stay in the mind of the child throughout the lesson.