Tools of the Mind

Tools of the Mind

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Graphics Practice

I have a few pictures of a Tools of the Mind activity we do every other day. It is called Graphics Practice and it gives kids a venue for practicing their pencil grasp, components of letter formation and self regulation. We use white boards and classical music. I give a quick pretend scenerio (today was that we were in a van loaded with kids, and we just pulled in to Dunkin Donuts and ordered donuts for everyone.) Then I demonstrate how to make the donut shape using private speech. "Around and close," is what I'll say aloud to help my dry erase marker form a circle. As soon as the kids hear the music, they can start drawing the shapes on their own board. If I pause the music, they have to stop drawing. Look at what we are asking the kids to do -- the fine motor work as well as a self inhibitory step. Holding more than one thing in your brain at the same time is tricky and a vital component to self regulation (a major goal in our program). We get a lot of bang for the buck from this 10 minute activity, and your kids can do it.

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