golden path?

[wren]

Hello, I have a question about using the golden path for writing in our 1st grade main lesson books. Am I supposed to draw the path for my child or is she supposed to draw it herself before she starts on her letters?

Thanks,
wren

[Donna]

You should create the path for her to follow. You can make it lighter once she is doing well and then - it disappears completely at some point! But... some children need the golden path into second grade.

I think it is important for you as the teacher to do the path because you are helping her see that you have high expectations for her books. As she gets older, she will also have high expectations - but it is best if she has something to model this on. If she says she wants to make the path, let her make paths for her practice pages of letters on loose pieces of paper.

[wren]

Thank you Donna. We are not supposed to use the golden path for form drawing are we? Like if we are doing rows of practicing smaller forms?

Wren

[Donna]

No - no golden path for form drawing. The point is that the child has to work out of herself to make her forms nice and straight. And of course, by working in this way with form drawing, her handwriting will be improved.

As I say in my form drawing book (at least I think I say it there - it could be in the Overview - !:)), one can gain interesting insights into what is going on for a child when observing how she makes her forms (and her handwriting). Does it always slope down on the left? Does it crumple at the end of a row? Des she start large and end up small? And so on.

[Unregistered]

Yes, that is what I thought. Thank you very much.

Wren