Writing with a clock face?

Have you ever considered using a clock face to teach handwriting?  Well I have to say that this was introduced to me when my daughter started school.  

Miss 7 has been learning handwriting using the Spalding Method when she started Kindergarten. The font that she has learnt has letters formed with circles and straight lines, similar to the ball and stick font {if you are familiar with that font}.  The Spalding Method uses a clock face to assist children to identify starting points and endpoints.

If your child attends a NSW public school then they will be learning NSW Foundation Font.  The letters formed are very different to the Spalding Method I have just mentioned, with letters forming eclipses rather than circles and lines being on a slight slant.  

NSW Foundation Font: small letters, tall letters and tail letters written on Earth Paper.

Regardless of the font your child is learning, a clock face can be invaluable in teaching starting points. 

I use a clock face in conjunction with other techniques when teaching letter formation.  Did you read my previous post about "Letter Families"? {I'll wait while you take a quick detour}.....  "Magic C" letters are taught with a starting point at "1" when I'm working a child learning with NSW Foundation Font. {Note: In the Spalding Method Magic "C" letters are called "clock face letters" and start at "2"}. 

The child places their finger on "1" and traces around the clock (anticlockwise) to form a "c".  This helps the child to plan how to write this letter - finding a starting point, planning the direction to draw and where to finish the letter. They can also visualise what the letter may look like.  

It is helpful to use a multi-sensory approach too!  Bring in the playdough to form letters, trace it in a tray of rice or sand, draw it in the air, use pipe cleaners, etc.  

At first, you may place these tools directly on top of a  clock face picture {ie. place the playdough on "1" and form it into a "c"} and then over time a verbal reminder may be sufficient to help the student plan how to form a "c".   Use the same verbal prompt for a starting point at "1" when it comes to writing the letter.

Depending on your child, you may want to use the clock face for other letters as well. It can also be useful for teaching "e" starting at "9", "m, n, p, r" starting at 10.

What font do your kids learn at school?

Have you ever used a clock face to teach handwriting?  Try it today!

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