Name this Manipulative!

[akichan]

I don't know what it's called or where I can get it.

They're like tangrams for learning the alphabet. Lines and curves, and you put them together to form different letters. I think they have 2 different sets for upper and lower case. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? I have some made of paper, but I want some sturdy ones to last all 3 kids.

TIA!

[*Jessica*]

Is it the Handwriting Without Tears wooden pieces set? They only have them for capital letters, but I think someone recently mentioned similar sets with pieces for upper and lower case selling on eBay.

[Zuzu822]

I purchased a lower case set from this eBay seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/druekegames

It doesn't appear that he has lower case at the moment, but the uppercase are available from him or many other sites. They are great! GL!

[Morgan's mama]

Lakeshorelearning.com has these letter builders in both capital and lower case.

[akichan]

You were right! The letter builders from Lakeshore are exactly what I was looking for! But . . . out of my price range.

So I saw something called Wikki Stix at my local educational store today. Has anyone used those or can anyone tell me if they're worth getting?

[AAK]

I haven't used them, but I have a book that actually suggests the wikki stix.

We just used craft sticks. This probably wasn't best, because the letters with curves were all pointy. But, my dd thought that was fun/funny so it kept her engaged. At the same time, I didn't have her do it on a template--I was doing it to see if she could recall the letter's shape. So, she could make it as big/small as she wanted.

Amy

[Marimami]

We use Wikki stix all the time for crafting. They're a lot of fun. DD is beyond the stage of using them for letter recognition but they should work. They're basically waxy covered string... but strong that they hold the shape--not like a floppy string. imagine something like a pipe cleaner but instead of having a wire and chenille fuzz, they are waxy. They're much easier to manipulate than pipe cleaners.

Holli

[Mearow]

Can you trace your paper ones onto thicker tag board (or cereal boxes) or maybe even magnets (like the freebie ones you get free in junk mail ads) and make your own stronger set? Do craft stores have bigger sheets (8.5 x 11) of that thin magnet board?

[emilysmama]

I think Wikki Sticks are a great idea. When we go to a restaurant called Harvey's, they give our child Wikki Sticks instead of the standard crayons and coloring sticks. So simple a concept, and yet they intensely consume my dd for an hour at a time. So if the Wikki sticks don't work for your purpose (and I actually think they will work fine), you will still have a very simple inexpensive neat reusable crafty item that will fascinate your child.

[SundayCrepes]

Here's a link to instructions on how to make letter builders. I'm hesitant to do the download, though, because I don't want to risk a virus: http://confessionsofahomeschooler.bl...-builders.html

[ebethmom]

Originally Posted by emilysmama

I think Wikki Sticks are a great idea. When we go to a restaurant called Harvey's, they give our child Wikki Sticks instead of the standard crayons and coloring sticks. So simple a concept, and yet they intensely consume my dd for an hour at a time. So if the Wikki sticks don't work for your purpose (and I actually think they will work fine), you will still have a very simple inexpensive neat reusable crafty item that will fascinate your child.

One of our favorite vacation restaurants gives out Wikki Sticks, too! My kids had never seen them before, and one chose playing over eating. We're used to boxing up entire meals for her.

Great idea, using Wikki Sticks as a manipulative.