Handwriting Without Tears

I have used HWT for all my children.  I really enjoyed the simplicity of it.  Like Misty I’ve only purchased the student workbooks and the teacher’s guide…I found that to be enough.  I did have the small chalkboards too.  For chalk bits would broken chalk work?  Instead of a sponge could you use a damp paper towel?…just some ideas.  I think you can always improvise for way less than buying the “special” accessories.

Have a great school year! 

I bought a large cheap sponge and cut it into pieces.  Bought regular chalk and it ended up getting broken into bits with use.  Made our own small chalkboards (from a craft store on clearance and/or with a discount coupon) and put a sticker in the corner.  My mom made “mats” for us out of cardstock which she laminated and put a sticker in the corner.  You can also use a piece of felt.  I did buy the wooden pieces many, many years ago on eBay for pretty cheap.  But you can make them out of colored foam, cardstock, and other materials.  Do an internet search on ways people have done this if you’re really interested.  You can use your own homemade playdough to do the “roll a letter” type activities.  I only buy the student workbooks.  You can figure out how to teach it just by using those.  I ended up selling the teacher’s books because I never used them. 

It is a simple program that’s easy to teach with little materials.  The extras are just extras and it will workk without them….but there are easy ways to make your own if you want them.

I bought just the TM’s, workbooks (for the level i’m using) and the small chalkboard.  I found some chalk at Target today for $.99 a box, he actually broke them into smaller pieces himself and has been using them all day.  I’m going to buy a cheap sponge and cut it up.

I bought the CD and pretty much never used it.  I found it rather annoying and the kids didn’t much care of it….and I always forgot to play it.  So far all 4 of them have learned to write without it though!