Purpose:
The ability to easily erase their mistakes makes writing less intimidating for children. They can write the letters over and over. In fact, they love to erase the letters and watch them disappear again and again as they practice letter formation and recognition.
This activity is for children who are already familiar with their letters and
have developed the fine motor skills to be able to trace the letters with some
success.
Materials/Advance Preparation:
- A few plastic pages with sleeves for baseball cards. These pages are
inexpensive and are sold where baseball cards are sold.
- Index cards or paper to fit the pockets
- Non-toxic dry erase markers
- Old socks or rags for an erasers
Directions:
- Write
a letter on each piece of paper and place the papers in the plastic sleeves (one for
each slot). It is better to place the letter in a word and include an
illustration than to write the letter by itself. For example, cat with the c bold or repeated
along with a drawing or pasted photo of a cat is better than just "c."
- Provide markers and ask children to trace the letters.
- Discuss the letters as they work.
- The
children can erase the letters when they are finished by wiping with the rag or
sock.
Eric Gidseg
Erasable Letters