by Every homeschooling mom needs a clock stamp. Or at least a page of stamped clocks awaiting “hands” that she can reproduce when needed. Really though, the site I linked to sells clock stamps for $3.50, not a bad price for a great teaching tool!
Mary’s Favorite Use For Clock Stamps
Other than its obvious use for teaching how to tell time, my kids loved using them to learn how to write their “clock letters” correctly.
Wanda Sanseri, in our Spell to Write and Read curriculum, says:
“Teach the clock letters first. We always learn most securely in our minds what we learn first. The clock letters are taught first because learning to form them correctly is of primary importance. Careful teaching here helps prevent or correct letter reversal like that in dyslexia.”
So sit your preschoolers down and have some fun. Here’s how.
- The clock letters are: a, c, d, e, f, g, o, qu, and s. You can also use the clock stamp to teach how to write the numbers 2 and 3.
- Teach one letter at a time (One per day, depending on mastery).
- Remember that clock letters always start at “two” on the clock, except for e and u. Draw all lines from top to bottom and in the direction we read and write. No retracing. (This way we establish proper penmanship patterns which will help curb dyslexic tendencies.)
- Cover a piece of typing paper with clocks. Give your preschooler the colorful marker of their choice.
- The fun begins! Have your child trace a page full of the clock letter of your choice.
My children’s favorite letters to trace were s and e. An s begins at “two” on the clock and goes up and over to the “ten” then diagonally down to the “four” and down and back around to end on the “eight”. An e begins on the “nine”, goes straight over to the “three” and up and all the way back around to end on the “four”.
This is way better than candy, people. And the other plus is you can reinforce the letter sounds by having them say the phonogram as they trace it. Seeing it, writing it, and saying it–triple reinforcement.
A handy trick in teaching the clock numbers 2 and 3 is to tell your child: “Two doesn’t begin at ‘two’ on the clock, isn’t that funny? Three doesn’t either.” (They begin on the “ten”.)
More clock games soon…
Umm…Mary, I have no idea what “clock stamps” or rather this is the first time I have heard of them.
Guess I didn’t describe it well enough. If you click on the link, it will show you exactly what one is. Basically they are a rubber stamp of the clock face, minus short and long hands. Then you or your child can fill in the hands and practice “telling time”.
OOOOH–Good Idea! I had to read this post several times (I’m sort of a dunce that way) but what a clever way to teach letter forming.
Thanks, Jessica! My kids enjoyed stamping their own pages full of clocks before tracing their letters. So fun I don’t even call it “school”, maybe I should!