Self-Regulation and Early Writing Skills

Children with higher levels of self-regulation at the beginning of the school year achieved higher scores in reading, vocabulary, and math at the end of the school year. Researchers have concluded that improving self-regulation in children can improve academic achievement and behavioral responses. Recently, a study examined the relationship between self-regulation and early writing skills. Two studies were conducted on preschool and kindergarten children. Each participant was evaluated with the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders Task to measure self-regulation.

The results of the research indicated the following:

self-regulation was significantly and positively related to aspects of early writing.
for preschoolers, self-regulation was significantly and positively related to letter writing and spelling.
for kindergartners, self-regulation was significantly and positively related to composition tasks.

Overall, the relation between self-regulation and early writing is dependent on the specific type of task and the nature of the task.

READ MORE ON SELF-REGULATION HERE.

References:

Ponitz, Claire Cameron; McClelland, Megan M.; Matthews, J. S.; Morrison, Frederick J. A structured observation of behavioral self-regulation and its contribution to kindergarten outcomes. Developmental Psychology. Vol 45(3), May 2009, 605-619.

Puranik, C. S., Boss, E., & Wanless, S. (2018). Relations between self-regulation and early writing: Domain specific or task dependent?. Early Childhood Research Quarterly.

If you need more ideas to teach self-regulation skills to children Self Regulation Skills Curriculum.

Self- Regulation Skills Taught: This curriculum provides an effective, time-efficient structured system to provide classroom breaks, improve self-awareness and self-advocacy and teach specific self-regulation skills so that kids have tools to use in their classrooms. This system will get kids moving, give them the benefits of a brainpower boost [from getting their heart rate up], give them heavy work and isometrics to help them calm down, and help them learn techniques to quiet and control their bodies in order to return to their academic work. FIND OUT MORE.