"Metal" Insets
March 27th, 2007
The metal insets are the first direct preparation for handwriting in a Montessori classroom. They are the most important material for establishing basic habits in handwriting that the child will retain for the rest of his or her life.
Prior to introducing the metal insets, extensive indirect preparation for handwriting is done through practical life materials and sensorial materials to establish order, concentration, coordination and independence in a child. In particular, the fine motor muscles developed through the three-finger grasp exercises, prepare the child for success in handwriting. The left to right, and top to bottom sequencing of the materials patterned the writing directionality.
Other than indirectly prepare for handwriting in the general development of order, concentration, corrdination and independence, the sensorial materials like knobbed cylinders and knobs on geometric cabinets insets also reinforced the three-finger-grasp required for grasping a pencil. The lightness of touch and the relaxed movement of the wrist is introduced with the tactile boards and the tactile tablets.
The metal insets consist of five curved-line figures and five straight-line figures:
(1) circle, ellipse, curvilinear triangle, oval, quatrefoil
(2) square, rectangle, triangle, trapezoid, pentagon
Note: The metal insets is a language material, not an art material.
For lessons on metal insets:
http://homepage.mac.com/montessoriworld/mwei/Reading/insets/inset1.html
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3 Responses to “"Metal" Insets”
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Hi Leah,
May I know where to buy this metal insets. I think it is good for my Kelvin. That day he cried for nearly half an hour, because he is not able to write so many difficult chinese characters. Pity him, but my husband want him to attend chinese primary school.
Wendy,
I have seen children who have sensory integration issues avoiding writing at all cost. I am not an expert, but I think it has a lot to do with writing being an unpleasant experience when motor skills are not fully developed.
A little boy I knew can recite his Chinese text books from first page to the last page without looking at it, but can’t write any one of them out from memory. His mother won’t believe that this intelligent son could be anything other than being lazy, it’s sad!
You can get them at USL Educational at Summit USJ. The metal insets are quite expensive, cost about RM200, you may want to make them from board? I made them from poster board and use for a year before I have the budget to get the metal ones.
If you need specific instruction on to make them, pls email me.
Dear LEah,
COuld u pls email me how to make one? I am currently doing my cursive ’sandpaper’ letter as per ur idea (but I used velcro instead of sandpaper). The last time I did the sand paper, I had allergy on my own fingers… and I think it cud hurt my son’s small fingers.
I need ur email. Thanks!