Mead Early Learning Writing Fundamentals {Review & Giveaway}

Mead® Writing Fundamentals is a Multi-Sensory Early Writing Program with Early Learning Products developed and endorsed by an occupational therapist specializing in early writing. I was excited about the opportunity to experience these products myself since my just turned four year old struggles with fine motor tasks.

Stage 1 (Pre-K – 3rd grade) – Fine Motor and Visual Perception: Strengthen fine motor and visual skills for all stage learners with creative art activities, games, learn-to-draw tablets, stencils, cutting and more!
Stage 2 (Pre-K – 2nd Grade)- Letter Formation: Children have fun learning proper formation, size, position and direction of capital letters, lowercase letters and numbers using engaging multi-sensory activities. They can practice letters with See and Feel grooves.
Stage 3 (K-3rd grade)- Primary Writing: Children continue practicing letters with raised ruling! They then move on to early writing activities that use visual imagery and graphic organizers to prompt the writing of words, sentences and short stories.
Stage 4 (1st grade-4th grade)- Transitional: Children are ready to write longer stories and add illustrations. Products in this stage give reminders for proper letter size, spacing and adherence to margins as children create their written work.

We received several products in which to try out, some of which were a bit too advanced for my four year old but that I look forward to him growing into. Our favorite product was the Dry Erase Activity Board. Because it comes with a dry erase marker with eraser tip, both of my boys were immediately draw to the board. I liked that I could prompt the board up on my legs and sit with Lucian on my couch as we went through the letters, shapes and numbers. It made it seem less like a “lesson” and more natural which I discovered kept his attention longer than had we been at the table. And at this stage his interest, or lack thereof seems to be our biggest obstacle.

Snip it is another fun book which includes activities with scissors that goes far beyond the usual cutting of some regular paper. Shape Builders makes it fun to learn to master shapes and learn to draw. Capital Letter Stories makes it so much more fun to learn letters through stories.

A Different Perspective

My sister  Jennifer offered a different perspective as a mother of  three children diagnosed with learning disabilities, including autism.  Since her children are visual learners, these books are extremely helpful and provide a more stimulating way to learn.

The embossed See and Feel™ Guidelines teach students proper letter formation and to write within the lines and really made a difference for her youngest Christian who is now in Kindergarten. This combined with different colored lines help him know when to start and stop. If not for that, my nephew will just keep going and has troubling knowing when to stop. The different colors also helped my sister to direct him where to start for lowercase letters versus uppercase.

Overall my sister loves the line. It helps to focus on a particular task and perfect for the average student who might only have one or two areas they could use help with to only have purchase a single book.  An important feature for her family, you can buy these books anywhere and they are for any student, not just those with disabilities.  Jennifer loves this aspect as it makes them not only more accessible, it doesn’t give the workbooks a negative connotation.

BUY IT:

All of these products are for sale at an affordable price ranging  from $3.49 up to $7.99. They are available online from Mead or Target, Walmart, Staples and other stores nationwide.

{ GIVEAWAY }

One of my readers will win a their choice of 5 to 7 Mead Early Learning Writing Fundamentals and can choose from the following:

• Stage 1: Path Quest, Snip It, Shape Builders Learn to Draw
• Stage 2:  Capital Letter Stories, 4-in-1 Learn to Letter with Guidelines, Write-On, Wipe-Off Lowercase Letters
• Stage 3:  Idea Builders, Primary Journal
• Stages 1-3: Dry Erase Activity Board
• Stage 4:  Write-on, Wipe-off Cursive Letters

MAIN ENTRY: Tell me which of the Early Learning Writing Fundamentals you like most and why!

Want more entries? (I have no doubt!) After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Each is worth one entry unless otherwise noted. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.

-Follow Mead Early Learning on twitter and tweet: “I’m following @MeadEarlyLearn because of @babylovingmama”
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-Enter any of my other current giveaways and tell me which one (leave a comment for each)
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Win Mead Early Learning Writing Fundamentals Products @babylovingmama http://bit.ly/d2Ivoz #WritingFundamentals #giveaway PLS RT!

-Add my button to your blog
-Blog about this contest (must be at least 30 words) with a link back here and to Mead Early Learning (3 entries)

This contest will end on 9/30/10 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S. residents 18+ only. Winner can not have won a Mead Writing Fundamentals giveaway in the last 60 days. The winner will be drawn via random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to winning notification email before I draw another winner or do a live giveaway.

Disclosure: I received samples  for the purpose of this review.  This has no bearing on my completely honest thoughts above. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared are 100% my own.