The classroom method uses touch and movement to help pupils practise letter formation and strengthen early writing skills.
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| A tactile sand-writing technique is used to help pupils practise letter formation. |
A Lagos State public school teacher has drawn attention to a hands-on approach to teaching writing by using sand as a tactile learning surface for pupils.
The technique involves placing a thin layer of sand in a tray or suitable flat surface and allowing learners to form letters and words with their fingers. Unlike conventional pencil-and-paper exercises, the approach allows pupils to physically feel the movement involved in forming each letter.
Tactile writing is one form of multisensory learning, an approach that combines senses such as sight, touch, hearing and movement during instruction. Education resources describe sand writing as a way of helping children connect the physical formation of letters with their sounds and shapes.
The method can also allow learners to erase their work easily and repeat the exercise without the pressure of making permanent marks on paper. This can provide repeated practice in basic letter formation while engaging fine-motor movement.
In early literacy instruction, teachers can ask pupils to trace or write individual letters in the sand while simultaneously saying the corresponding sounds. The same technique can be extended to simple words as learners progress.
The approach is not unique to Lagos. Sand or rice trays, sandpaper letters and other tactile activities are widely used in multisensory literacy instruction. Such activities are designed to reinforce learning by involving more than one sensory pathway at the same time.
For pupils learning handwriting, the technique offers an alternative to repetitive paper exercises by turning letter formation into a physical activity. It can particularly be incorporated into early-years and foundational literacy lessons.