We are about to start a new stage on our writing path at Sole's Preschool, as we will be working with Montessori metal insets!
Wait...
What are metal insets?
They are Montessori learning materials used in classrooms to prepare students for writing. This learning material is comprised of two trays that contain five unique geometric templates. Each of the ten shapes is framed by a square (originally made of metal) that helps weigh down the paper on top of which they are placed.
This material aids students' development of fine motor skills and movements used in writing as well as in daily life activities like holding and carrying. In fact, all the components of this learning material benefit the development of fine motor skills and movements: handling the part of the inset that fits inside the frame, practicing the pincer grasp when holding and using the pencil, and tracing the geometric shape within the frame with controlled movements all help to enhance these fine motor skills.
Metal insets aid students in developing fine motor skills used in writing as well as in daily life activities.
At Sole's Preschool, however, our work with this material also goes beyond writing skills. We are preparing our students for life, so working on metal insets ("encajes planos") implies that students get to exercise freedom, when choosing which "encaje" they want to engage with first, and responsibility, by completing the "encajes" regardless of order or difficulty. Students also practice honesty when self-checking the quality of their work, while remaining confident in the importance of accepting errors and desiring to do better.
But how exactly do we achieve this?
First, teachers model how to use and work with the materials and the students' metal insets log book. Once students know how to navigate the materials and the work area, they can begin work with the metal insets following these steps:
Students choose which shape they would like to work on first and carry it out to the work area
They then look for crayons or colored pencils along with their log book
Students trace the shape on a page using the frame before removing it and coloring inside the same area that has already been traced. For younger students, the coloring is done inside the pink frame, so that the structure restricts the movements to short controlled strokes
Once this is done, students take the part of the inset that fits inside the frame to self-check whether their traced image sits outside of the shape
Students return the materials
Students mark which of their traced shapes worked on the progression chart of their books
How can you support from home?
Talk about this process with your child, ask about which shapes they chose and why, and congratulate them for completing them.
We are very excited to start this material with our students and walk along with them in this process!
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