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Handwriting – a homeschool mom's confession
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I hate teaching handwriting. There is nothing like trying to teach handwriting that brings out the worst in me. My oldest have wonderful handwriting (maybe it’s that they are afraid to make mom mad) but it was a very unpleasant experience for all of us. I’m about to embark on yet another handwriting adventure and I’d like to find a pleasant way to teach it. Right now she’s just learning in sand and shaving cream. But, pretty soon, we need to move to lines and I can barely stand the thought of that. Help!
HI,
I would highly recommend you check out the Handwriting Without Tears. It worked wonderfully for us and the early years are not drudgery trying to get them to do things that little hands ought not. It also sets the mindset that handwriting is fun.
We started at age 5 using the large wooden letters, with the capital letter cards and mat, then the stamp and see screen (her favorite) and slate chalkboard, slowly working our way through Get Set for School. Also, every letter she did, she would color the corresponding Pre-K wall card and put it up on her wall. That way she was always looking at the letters formed. Also, I didn’t find any use for any of the teacher’s guides. by the way.
Then after that, at around age 6 1/2, we moved into the K book. We finished My Printing Book early and I stopped there, starting a new program called Presidential penmanship. You can choose the font, so she still is using the HWT font, but on this copywork program; I wanted more substance. Now, I decided that I don’t like the cursive HWT, so I’m picking a more upright cursive font, since4 that is what she’s used to.
But I definitely wouldn’t change using it. It made it all very easy for her.
Here’s a link and go to the Readiness page (I assume your child is around 4?)
Rachel
When I try and tell them how to do it when they are doing it wrong, they start to cry. I don’t require them to do very many letters. In fact, if they can do a letter well, once is fine for that day. I get tired of the lack of initiative on their part. I don’t really see this in any other area of learning with them. Honestly, I haven’t handled it well. I tend to be more of an iron fist that a softy.
With the last one I taught we did cursive first. He picked up handwriting very quickly. To this day, his handwriting is beautiful. But, this one, is resisting cursive first. I’m really okay with either, we’ve done it both ways, but I prefer to teach cursive first.
I also teach cursive from the beginning and used Cursive First w/ first child successfully, but then I found Pencil Pente. I like Pencil Pete – a simple software (cheap) that demonstrates over and over how to make the letter. It removes much frustration for me. I think Handwriting w/o Tears is great for print and for cursive, if you like the looks of it. I personally prefer a more traditional cursive to the up and down look of it.
My 5 yo ds has lovely handwriting now, though he’s still working on how to connect the tow truck letters (o, b, etc.)
HTH,
Christie
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