Product launch of Early Writing Screener

BRIXTON, U.K. - May 9, 2022 - PRLog -- More Curricular has announced the launch of the Early Writing Screener, the second app from its More Handwriting tools suite. The screener aims to provide children aged two years and eight months with a simple developmental check to evaluate whether they understand the differences between drawing and writing systems. By evaluating a child's understanding of these two important symbolic systems, parents and teachers can identify those children who may have early writing and literacy problems and take steps to help them improve.

The idea for the screener was born when More Curricular Co-founder, Yvette Reinfor, was introduced to the work by Professor Treiman, who researches language and language development. Although the main focus of Professor Treiman's work is on reading and spelling skills and how they develop, she has identified some interesting findings on early writing and literacy through reviewing their scribbles.

In literate societies, children need to master writing and drawing symbolic systems. It is usually learnt before three years old and even as early as two years and eight months. Understanding the subtle differences between writing and drawing is essential for future writing and literacy as it teaches children about the outer form of writing. Remarkably, children are not taught this and learn it by themselves.

"I was fascinated by Professor Treiman's work," Reinfor says, " I decided to conduct a small project to judge its impact. Initially, I was working with two playgroups and the children of some friends, but word soon started to spread quickly. They were not pushy parents, just parents wanting to give their children the best start. I knew that we were on to something."

"We carried out a screener for a child who was almost three years old", Reinfor recalled, "When we met her. She was fantastic. Bright and articulate. She could say and recognise all the letters of the alphabet, but she struggled to write them. Our screener discovered that she did not understand the outer form of writing. We gave her parents some simple steps to follow, and the problem was resolved within a few weeks."

The Early Writing Screener can be carried out at home or in an early year's setting. The child carries out some writing and drawing activities. Scanned or phone images of the activities are uploaded to the More Handwriting portal. Our specially trained team analyse the writing and drawings and provide a report and guidance within three working days.

The Early Writing Screener is available for download at https://www.morehandwritingapp.co.uk/