Handwriting is an important skill for students, even at a young age, so it is ok for kids to begin practicing when they are young.

When reading, many agree that teaching letter sounds is more important than their names, therefore teaching lowercase letter sounds first, may be more beneficial than teaching the letter names I have had the exciting opportunity to be trained in the Handwriting Without Tears program, so I was honored when they asked me if I would be willing to review and host a GIVEAWAY of a few of their products here on Mama OT! This is the first developmental skill mastered. Imagine the success of learning six letters right away, rather than struggling on A and B! handwriting without tears Circular LettersLearning Without Tears’ mission is to ensure that the path to student success remains simple and fun. We provide child-friendly, hands-on, innovative instruction for early learning, handwriting, keyboarding, and writing strategies, reaching more than 31 million students in Pre-K through fifth grade. Many handwriting practice sheets will include arrows, numbers, or other hints to help kids remember how to form the letters. However, it is important to watch your child forming their letters and make sure that they are following the correct letter formation. 3. Writing Legibly: Pencil Control Kids who struggle with handwriting will also have a hard time working independently in any subject area. They may need an adult to sit with them and write down the answers to questions they can solve on their own. At What Age Should a Child Use Handwriting Practice Sheets? Learning Without Tears uses a simple, continuous, vertical stroke that is easy for children to learn. The letter style is also familiar because it looks like the letters and words children see and read every day.

It encourages correct letter formation, including starting position, sequence, directionality (facing the right way) and overall height. Their second grouping is the starting corner capitals (H, K, L, U, V, W, X, Y, Z). This grouping of letters also includes a mix of straight line letters, diagonals, and curves. The wood pieces are perfect for hands-on learners and preschool-aged children who are new to learning how to form capital letters. They can also be used with slightly older students who need some reinforcement on concepts related to size (big/little), shape (line/curve), sequence (which line or curve goes first, second, third), or letter orientation (facing the correct direction). Additionally, they could be used with students who are learning to make capital letters, but do not quite have the motor control or strength to grasp and use a writing implement to form them (one example is cerebral palsy). Students using the wood pieces should be able to imitate actions, follow directions, and tolerate hand-over-hand assistance as needed. I wouldn’t recommend using the wood pieces with students who will not use them appropriately, such as being destructive or violent with them (yeah, it happens). In addition, when children are using correct spelling they will begin to see connections between the letters that they are writing and the sounds that those letters make within the word. This can help with reading skills as well. Practicing Handwriting Helps with Learning in Other SubjectsWet} First, the teacher writes the targeted capital letter or number on the students’ slate so they have the correct model to follow. Students pinch their slightly damp sponge cube between their thumb and index finger, go to the top of the slate, and “trace” their chalky capital letter with the sponge. Now they have a “wet” letter. They should do so using the letter formation sequence taught by Handwriting Without Tears.