Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: Handwriting without tears

This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 9 months ago by caycecronk.

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

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August 3, 2012 at 3:40 pm
caycecronk
Member
I have almost finally pulled everything together to start our first year of homeschooling in the next week but am a little perplexed about the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum. I was able to find the first grade teachers book used and did buy the mini chalk boards and the workbook. I really would love to have all of the other little things that goes along with HWWT like the CD’s and special items but our finances are low right now and I am over budget already as far as what we wanted to spend on this years homeschooling. Have any of you used the HWWT without all the other items that they say you need to have. I do think the chalkboard is important but where can I find the chalk bits, sponges, etc?
August 3, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Misty
Participant
I have never bought anything except the student workbooks. There is enough information and basic knowledge in my opinion to do without everything else. I have a chalkboard so that has not been an issue. Also, we do writing in fingerpaint, shaving cream etc. I am sure they are great products but I had to resort to old school thinking and I never learned how to write with anything but a piece of paper and a pencil. Why can’t my children? Those are just my thoughts. I am sure someone else will chime in with there 2 cents also. Misty
August 3, 2012 at 7:18 pm
memomo7
Participant
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!
August 3, 2012 at 7:19 pm
momof3
Participant
I asked something similar yesterday. I looked at Walmart today and they had all kinds of little chalkboards, sponges, etc. I have decided not to spend the extra money on any of the extras right now. Good luck.
August 3, 2012 at 7:27 pm
crazy4boys
Participant
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.
August 3, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Dawn
Participant
Just cut a regular sponge into small pieces. Same with chalk bits. The whole idea is to make it tactile and the small pieces just make them hold it a certain way. I did buy the sponges many years ago, but I wouldn’t do it again. A regular sponge cut up would work just fine.
August 4, 2012 at 1:59 am
Des
Participant
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.
August 4, 2012 at 5:35 am
caycecronk
Member
Wow….great ideas guys! I get so wrapped up in thinking I MUST have everything the company says I need to have to make it work. I guess with it being my first year I wanna do it right and am a bit nervous about starting. Im realizing how little we need to be able to accomplish our goals and it’s so liberating. WAY easier than having to deal with the public school system like we did last year that left us all exhausted and frustrated to tears. Did any of you use the music CD with the HWWT? I did find some sponges at the dollar store today and I have some chalk pieces laying around already! I think with that and the workbooks…..that’s all we need!
August 4, 2012 at 4:34 pm
crazy4boys
Participant
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!
August 9, 2012 at 6:03 am
caycecronk
Member
crazy4boys,
I was such a sucker in thinking I HAD to have the CD but I think im gonna pass on it and not buy it! Gonna see how we do without it.!