Fly Guy Phonics and Fine Motor Skills
Tuesday was my first day back in a classroom in 3 years. I was TERRIFIED I wasn’t ready. When I started homeschooling my oldest, I met some other homeschool moms and joined a co-op. I have continued tutoring the entire time, helped out with some co-op kids, but this was the first time I was the lead teacher in a classroom since May 2021. My class is called Fly Guy Phonics. It focuses on early phonics skills and their fine motor skills using books and workbook pages from Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold. We worked on their fine motor skills and read Fly Guy together and I had FUN.
I read aloud to the kids, we worked on short a sounds, did some scratch art, and ended with a little practice in their own Positive Affirmation Handwriting Journals. I am so excited to go back next week to work on short e!
Why work on handwriting or fine motor skills at all?
Why do we work on handwriting when we have computers? Why do we memorize math facts when calculators can compute for us? It’s true that no one needs perfect penmanship, but it is important for others to be able to read your writing legibly. All of these things are built with fine motor skills. Fine motor skills include the tasks that your fingers need dexterity for: holding a writing utensil, playing a video game, and buttoning a shirt.
As our students use only their pointer finger on a touchscreen more and more, we need to work harder to build those fine motor skill muscles. There are so many things that we can do with our kids at home to help them build these muscles too! Do your kids play with play-dough, hold their own deck of cards at game night, or peel and play with stickers?
Five Fabulous Ways to Boost Fine Motor Skills
- Crafty Creations: Engaging in crafty creations is a captivating way to enhance fine motor skills. From cutting and gluing to drawing and threading, the creative process involves intricate hand movements. Crafting not only improves hand-eye coordination but also provides an opportunity for imaginative expression.
- Playful Puzzles: Puzzles, both physical and digital, present a playful platform for polishing fine motor skills. The precision required to manipulate puzzle pieces refines hand dexterity and spatial awareness. Choose puzzles with varying difficulty levels to challenge and stimulate motor skill development.
- Sensational Sorting: Sorting activities are superb for strengthening fine motor skills while also introducing elements of cognitive development. Whether it’s sorting colorful beads, buttons, or building blocks, the act of carefully placing items into designated spaces hones hand control and finger strength.
- Delightful Dough Play: Dough play is a delightful and dynamic way to develop fine motor finesse. Kneading, rolling, and shaping dough require controlled hand movements, promoting finger strength and coordination. Add textures, colors, and scents to make this activity a multisensory masterpiece. Kids are also really into cloud dough these days. Google it if you’ve never heard of this fantastic fluffy version of slime.
- Magnetic Marvels: Magnetic marvels make for an exciting and educational experience in fine motor skill development. From arranging magnetic letters on a board to exploring magnetic building sets, these activities demand precision and control. The magnetic attraction adds an extra element of fascination to the learning process.
What do you do with your students, kids, or yourself to fine tune these fine motor skills?