ILTS 206 Sub-Area 2 Practice Question #15

In a class of three year olds, which of the following would be the teacher's best strategy for fostering the development of the fine-motor skills prerequisite for writing?

providing children with thick pencils to use to trace the outlines of letters and shapesengaging children in activities such as doing fingerplays and playing with interlocking blocks and beadsinvolving children in singing activities in which they clap the rhythms of the songsengaging children in art activities such as fingerpainting and making prints of their hands in plaster

Correct Answer: B

This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of factors that influence children’s development of writing skills. The development of the fine-motor skills required for writing starts in babyhood, when children use a pincer grasp to pick up objects of interest. Preschool teachers can build on these skills by providing appealing activities with manipulative materials that support the further development of fine-motor strength and control.