to not really get why worksheets are so bad?

[butterbeansinsoup]

DS is in P1 (in Scotland) and obviously they're learning their letters. They do everything on whiteboards with a pen, they never sit at their tables and write on paper.

I asked the teacher why and it's as if I asked her why she didn't use the belt.

Surely practising the letter y on a whiteboard is exactly like practising it on a sheet of paper?

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

I understand the paper saving aspect but I'm surprised because I remember reading about it being important for children to use pencils/crayons to draw rather than just felt tips because the 'feedback' from the drag on the paper is far greater.

[user789653241]

If you want your dc to practice writing on the paper, you can always do it at home?
Ask them to do the shopping list, diary, anything, whatever you like?
Once they are higher in year groups, they will start writing more on the paper anyway. So it can be the advantage for your child, if they are only practicing on white board, and your dc is experiencing writing on the real paper.

[butterbeansinsoup]

I understand the paper saving aspect but I'm surprised because I remember reading about it being important for children to use pencils/crayons to draw rather than just felt tips because the 'feedback' from the drag on the paper is far greater.

I understood that to be the case too!

[Mummyoflittledragon]

Dd used to have a white board when she was little. She also wrote on paper in her exercise books. White boards are good because the children can correct their mistakes easily. And no faff with rubbers etc.

[TheHungryDonkey]

Some children with issues such as dysgraphia get on much better with whiteboards until they’ve learnt the spelling and letter formation.

[Upsy1981]

The latest early years education recommendations advise against worksheets, instead preferring children to be able to have a go at things in their own way. In my setting, we have different opportunities for practising letter formation during continuous provision e.g. chalks outside on the boards or floor, paper with pencils or pens, gloop etc. They do use whiteboards and pens when doing carrot time with the teacher. For the reasons above, these are preferable, mainly because they encourage children's to have a go because they are easily erased.

[RavenWings]

I'll second that the whiteboards are great for checking work - they can turn it around and show you. Also for saving on unneccessary printing.

I feel that using a mix of materials is good, but if you're bothered about them using whiteboards too often, it's easy to have him do a tiny bit of writing on paper for you.

[user789653241]

But then, in ks1/ks2, they need to produce so much work on the actual paper. Isn't that better to start on the pare in the first place?
I wouldn't argue using white board occasionally. But it's so different from writing on actual paper, where correcting mistakes is harder and it will stay as an evidence as how dc was writing at the stage.

[user789653241]

*paper, not pare!

[inkjoy]

Agree with blueemeraldagain and TheHungryDonkey. My sister has worked in SEN for about 35 years and I have a recollection of her saying whiteboards are much better for sensory reasons - something to do with sensory feedback if I remember correctly?

[user789653241]

But OP doesn't say her dc has any SEN, does she?

[inkjoy]

Ignore me - asked DSis and it's chalkboards she uses because there's more sensory feedback.

[CorbynsBumFlannel]

Easier to hold the pens and write, better for the environment, easy for them to hold their boards up and the teacher to give feedback on 30 sentences in seconds rather than walking around the class.
I'm certain they will have opportunities to use pencils as well.

[BenLui]

I bet if you wander past a P2 or P3 classroom Butter you’ll find the classes happily writing on paper.