Teaching 2nd Graders to Knit

I don't know what a second grader is but yesterday a grandson came and after helping grandpa dress some bricks asked if he could continue his knitting, which I started teaching him months ago.

He was very happy doing garter stitch in four ply one colour (dayglow orange eek!) acrylic until it was time for him to go home, three hours later.

He's eleven - or twelve, can't remember.

My point is that the children don't necessarily need to use thick yarn and see instant results.

Mary

hesira wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@d55g2000hsg.googlegroups.com:

yes, but don't let that stop you :)

first, how many boys in the class? i'm not being sexist asking that. it's just that 7-8 year old boys *may* still be having coordination issues with their fine muscle control, which makes knitting both a bit difficult *and* excellent practice for those muscles. anyway, it may be easier for some children to crochet, some knit & some weave. if you set a block size & are willing to do fill-in piecing, i'd go that route. or, as an alternative, teach the kids how to knit their squares on a knitting frame. my very uncoordinated (poor fine muscle control) boy has been frame knitting since age 5 & loves it. he's (now age 7) attempting knitting with needles (size 8s & DK yarn), but it's slow going. knitting with fat needles (over US13s) is actually harder for kids. their hands are smaller so the bigger needles are more awkward.

i wouldn't do that. the 'fringe' kids might feel left out. lee

It can be done. A few years ago my daughter's school did a similar thing, but involving the entire school from kindergarten through 12th grade (this is a very small private school with a total enrollment of about 250 from preschool through high school). The art teacher, who is an accomplished knitter, taught all the kids how to knit, and I used the way she did it when I taught my 8-year old earlier this year. She cast on the stitches for the kids and taught them the knit stitch. She didn't bother teaching the younger ones how to cast on or bind off; that's not the fun part, and they'd lose interest if they struggled. Kids the age of 2nd graders need to see progress right away, or they'll just get frustrated and give up.

I would recommend that you use big needles and bulky yarn - there's that instant gratification factor - and see about having other knitters come in to help. There's no way you'll be able to work with that many kids on your own, but by having a few others around to work with small groups and help fix problems it should be doable.

The Other Kim kimagreenfieldatyahoodotcom

Hi Mary,

2nd graders in the USA are between 7-8 years old. Both my boys (ages 7 & 5) have known how to knit for at least a year ( the older one longer), but neither is independent enough to do it on his own.

As for the thick yarn, with 25 kids and a deadline, it has to be thicker than worsted, but I'm not talking super bulky. I figured they could probably do the needed work with 15 or 20 garter stitches and 3 or 4 class periods. I doubt I'll have longer than 1 hour at a time.

Thanks for your input! It's good to know you are teaching your grandson to knit.

Hesira

There are approximately 25 kids in the class. Lots of boys.

I'd really rather be asked to do this in a couple more years, but here I am now. I really like the idea of knitting frames. That hadn't occurred to me. I could teach the class to knit and offer crochet and knitting frames as well.

I wasn't thinking about size 13 needles. More like 10 or 11. My boys (5 & 7) easily handle 10's.

You are right about the fringe kids. Bad idea.

Thanks for your help!

Hesira

Hi Kim,

When I was in 5th grade, our teacher taught the whole class to crochet and we made shawls for our mothers for Christmas presents. I loved that teacher and I loved the time we crocheted in class. I already knew how, so I helped the other kids, and as more and more students got the hang, they helped others who were'nt as far along. That's probably too much to ask from 7 year olds.

I like the idea of casting on before everyone starts. That could be frustrating for a little one. Especially when there are lots of others needing attention. I thought about having a little meeting with willing parents before I started and teaching them to knit so they could help with the project. I don't really know any other knitters around here.

Thanks for your response. I really appreciate it.

Hesira

I wonder if getting a few of those Bond Pocket Knitters and having small groups work on them at a time would work. I think they cost about $15.

Or you could make your own knitting rakes by spacing finishing nails equally along boards, and then they should all be able to do it.

Ah, thanks for that.

In Britain they keep changing the system for naming grades/classes/forms/years It was hard to keep up with even when we had children at school and Spouse taught.

...

I've taught all the grandsons to knit - except the latest two who are still babies. The grand daughters aren't interested :-(

Mary

I think that's excellent advice. Wish I could help!

I hadn't read the original post well enough, it seems, I didn't realise it was a class full of pupils - sorry!

Mary

I've taught all the grandsons to knit - except the latest two who are still babies. The grand daughters aren't interested :-(

Mary

Mary,

My grandmother, a great crocheter, had 15 grandchildren, 7 of whom are girls, and out of all of us, I was the only one interested in learning. When she passed on, I received her hooks and patterns. Your grandsons are so fortunate to have you as a teacher.

I had 3 women contribute to my learning to crochet, and I am so thankful to them. I very much believe in passing on my own knowledge of needlecraft to anyone who'll learn. I'm still trying to plan the best way to approach 25 second graders.

Hesira

Thanks for the suggestions, Melinda. I really like the idea of making the looms. I've never used one before, but I could probably learn quickly.

Hesira

I wonder if getting a few of those Bond Pocket Knitters and having small groups work on them at a time would work. I think they cost about $15.

Or you could make your own knitting rakes by spacing finishing nails equally along boards, and then they should all be able to do it.

I won't call you crazy, but I think you're exceedingly optimistic. I taught knitting in the after-school art class for a couple of years. The little kids - younger than 9 or 10 - lost interest quickly and few of them came back for a second lesson.

The older kids were more prone to knit for an entire work period of about an hour but again, few of them came back for a second session unless there was just absolutely nothing else on offer they were interested in doing.

Of the approximately 90 kids who cycled through that program I'd guess that 5 or 6 of them are still knitting, but I can only confirm one as she comes to a Monday night knitting circle occasionally for help.

Last year my son's 3rd-grade class decorated quilt squares - GREAT BIG quilt squares, about 12" on a side. The quilting mom put them together with additional print fabric squares and turned the thing into a tied comforter. That thing brought almost $1000 at the silent auction.

My son's 2nd-grade class made handprint butterflies, which that same mom appliqued onto a large rectangular tablecloth. Each kid signed the tablecloth next to his or her butterfly once the applique-ing was finished. That thing brought in $1500.

So there are things to be done that don't involve knitting and that may be more realistic for a 7-yo's skills, abilities and attenion span!

Thanks, for your input. I thought you had mentioned something about teaching a group of kids in the past.

I had planned to bring this project up in a few years, when I know the kids' attention spans and motor skills are more developed. I have to think of something. I'm no good at all when it comes to sewing, so quilts and such are completely out of the question for me. I going to meet with the homeroom mom today and find out what kind of time frame we're talking about.

Hesira

Some other things to consider as projects all the kids can help with

1. Mosaic-covered clay pot. Purchase a 3-5 gallon terra cotta planter and have the kids cover it with marbles, small craft mirrors and other weather-impervious found objects. Remember to use waterproof cement and grout! IIRC this one went for about 0
2. A decorated "little red wagon". This may require more of an outlay than you've been budgeted. The pre-K class last year did this. Each kid was assigned an area of the primed wagon to decorate using tempra paints, pastels, whatever; one of the dads sealed it with clear acrylic top-coat. 0

Our school's website has been reset for the new academic year or I'd be able to give you more ideas...

Some other things to consider as projects all the kids can help with

1. Mosaic-covered clay pot. Purchase a 3-5 gallon terra cotta planter and have the kids cover it with marbles, small craft mirrors and other weather-impervious found objects. Remember to use waterproof cement and grout! IIRC this one went for about 0
2. A decorated "little red wagon". This may require more of an outlay than you've been budgeted. The pre-K class last year did this. Each kid was assigned an area of the primed wagon to decorate using tempra paints, pastels, whatever; one of the dads sealed it with clear acrylic top-coat. 0

Our school's website has been reset for the new academic year or I'd be able to give you more ideas...

Both are very good ideas. Thanks, Woolie.

Hesira

hesira wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@d55g2000hsg.googlegroups.com:

the 4 year olds in Boo's Montessori school use the rakes fairly successfully. it is possible to drop stitches on a rake, but not so disasterous as from needles (just a bit of a hole, & no runs). if you think about it, a knitting rake is just a bigger version of the knitting noddy/rein makers/knitting dolly pretty much every kid had 50 years ago, made from 4 nails & a spool... which leads me to think you could have them knit 'reins' of a certain length, sew them into spiral rounds & crochet the rounds together into the lap robe... don't get me started... i'll come up with all sorts of ideas... lee

I'm so glad to see this topic here! A friend whom I am teaching to knit just asked me to teach two little girls, and I had no idea where to start. This is great! I really love to read all the input.

Wendy A Knitting Fool in CT

Maybe, but what an excellent idea! ;o) Sounds like something I might enjoy doing someday.

For the kids who have a hard time catching on to knitting, what about teaching them to do a simple crocheted square instead? As long as the squares come out the same size it shouldn't matter if they are all knitted or crocheted, right?

*hugs* Gemini

Hi hesira,

I don't know about teaching kids this age, but I do clearly remember learning to crochet when I was ten.

I can still see the "9" on the crochet hook I used, I think for worsted weight yarn. (It successfully replaced the crochet thread needle my mom had accidentally bought first!)

I found it frustrating at times, particularly because I tended to listen to instructions then interpret them without someone there to correct my actions "in the moment".

I was very enthusiastic though, I crocheted my younger sister a variegated green & blue shrink for my first project, and a larger black one for my mom (her choice of color lol).

The following year at school I went "nuts" crocheting all yarn in sight

*grin*

I loved the feeling of creating something physical out of something very simple (the yarn and one crochet hook), and I still feel this feeling (when I pay attention *grin*).

So "go for it" if you want to and have the interest and support you need! And have fun!

David