I would just encourage you to be sure the things you are
doing with them and expecting from them are developmentally
appropriate and something they are interested in.

You talk about how hard it is to teach them anything, but you
and I both know that children are like sponges and are born
learners - learning something every minute of the day. My
personal belief is that the teacher's most important task is
to set up an interesting environment that will enable them to
thrive.

Perhaps they aren't interested in tracing and see no reason
for it? Or maybe the fine muscles in their hands aren't
ready for it? Perhaps if what you are doing isn't working,
this group of children needs to be taught in a different way
than you've ever done before? (You just thought it was a
problem - it's actually them giving you the opportunity to
really s-t-r-e-t-c-h yourself. ☺)

If you are still interested in them tracing - maybe you could
draw chalk lines outside and have them "paint" over them with
brush and water? Or maybe dipping their finger in paint to
fingerpaint over your lines? You could print their name on a
piece of paper and put it on a light table for them to trace
over. That is intriguing to my children.

I know I asked a lot of questions. But that's the same thing
I do to myself when something isn't working. I know that
children are full of interest, curiousity, and wonder. If
something isn't working - either it doesn't need to be done,
or I just haven't hit on the right way to present it yet.

On 9/29/09, cynthia wrote:
> i am a childcare provider thats trying to teach the
> children in my care how to trace their names and only one
> of them is getting it this is my second year with this set
> of children. and i'm finding it hard to teach this set of
> children anything.
>
> help please anyone

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