How to Teach or Improve Handwriting

Learning to write is more than simply placing lines together to form letters. It's an intricate process requiring specific cognitive functions to be achieved in a designated order. Special needs students in particular have difficulty mastering handwriting, but even those without disabilities often falter in writing. Students who otherwise excel in school may find handwriting difficult and stressful. It doesn't have to be.

Jan Olsen, occupational therapist and mother, created the Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) curriculum specifically to ease students into a natural progression of learning to write and to improve the writing of students who are struggling. HWT is complete handwriting curriculums spanning from preschool to the 5^th grade and includes printing and cursive instructions.

While it is true that early intervention yields the best results, we must be certain the foundation we are pouring is developmentally correct or we risk creating or worsening problems. The Pre-K curriculum teaches preparation skills for students prior to actually writing. Older students already struggling with handwriting will find relief in the stress-free teaching methods of HWT. The curriculum is appropriate for the classroom setting, a homeschool environment or an occupational therapy session. It can be used as a stand-alone curriculum or to supplement programs already in place.

Each grade specific curriculum offers a teacher guidebook, a student workbook and an assortment of other unique, fun tools. Musical CD's teach kids writing through music. From the catchy tune, "Where Do You Start Your Letters?" to a dog singing the ABC song, kids are so involved in having fun they forget they're learning also.

A set of 26 wood pieces allows students to hold letters in their hands. The wood pieces are shaped either straight or curved and have two sizes big and little. Students use the pieces to lay out letters using correct letter formation rules. Tapping the wood pieces to an altered version of the Hokey Pokey song deepens a student's comprehension of required writing vocabulary.

Dough is also used to create letters. The Roll-A-Dough Letter activities are a multi-sensory experience. The tactile sense is stimulated as students roll out various letters. One of the more unique learning techniques is the use of a small chalkboard in the Wet-Dry-Try method. Students use a damp sponge to form a letter on the chalkboard. The letter is then retraced and dried with a dry sponge before the student uses chalk to attempt to write the letter.

As students progress, the HWT activities evolve to meet their needs. The curriculum for each grade uses tools, strategies and worksheets that are specific to the developmental needs of the targeted age group. The lessons are laid out in developmentally appropriate form so that the students are able to cognitively absorb the skills being taught.

Detailed lesson plans makes implementing the curriculum easy for school districts, individual teachers, therapists or parents. Bundled packages, including the curriculum and multiple learning tools and support, can be purchased or items may be purchased individually as needed. Whatever the writing needs, help can be found in the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum. I especially encourage preschool and special education teachers and parents to incorporate HWT into their daily learning, because every child of every ability should be provided every opportunity to succeed.

Sources

http://www.hwtears.com/
Rogers, Cheri, OT Clark County Home Health Agency