7 Reasons Why We Love Handwriting Without Tears

February 10, 2024|Products

 

1. 1. Developmental Teaching Order: HWT introduces letters in an order that follows children’s developmental progression, not alphabetically. This means starting with simple lines and curves before moving on to more complex letter shapes.

1. 1. Multi-sensory Instruction: The program uses a variety of sensory experiences, such as feeling letter shapes in sand or building letters with wooden sticks, to help children learn. This approach engages visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.

1. 1. Simple, Clean Fonts: The curriculum uses simple fonts and teaches capital letters and numbers first, as they are easier for young children to write. Lowercase letters are introduced later.

1. 1. Double-Lined Paper: HWT uses unique double-lined paper to help children place letters correctly. The two lines provide a clear guide for letter size and placement, helping to eliminate problems with letter size consistency and floating or sinking letters.

1. 1. Workbooks and Materials: The program offers a variety of workbooks and materials that are age-appropriate and appealing to children. These resources are designed to be engaging and fun, using colorful illustrations and activities to maintain interest.

1. 1. Teacher and Parent Education: HWT provides extensive resources and training for teachers and parents to ensure they are well-equipped to support children’s handwriting development.

1. 1. Adaptability: The program can be adapted for children with various learning styles and needs, including those with physical or learning disabilities.

 

Handwriting Without Tears Wood Pieces 

One of the components of this curriculum includes the use of wood pieces and letters, which are tactile tools designed to help children understand the shapes and forms of letters before they begin writing them on paper.

Here is a review of the Handwriting Without Tears wood pieces and letters:

Educational Value: The wood pieces and letters are highly educational. They are designed to teach children the basic strokes used in letter formation through hands-on manipulation. This approach can be particularly beneficial for young learners who may struggle with fine motor skills or who are visual or kinesthetic learners.

Quality of Materials: The wood pieces are typically made of high-quality, smooth wood that is durable and safe for children to handle. They are designed to withstand regular use by young children, making them a good investment for classrooms or for use at home over multiple years or with multiple children.

Ease of Use: The wood pieces and letters are straightforward and easy for children to use. They come in various shapes that represent the different parts of letters, such as big lines, little lines, big curves, and little curves. Children can use these pieces to construct letters, learning the correct formation as they go. The simplicity of the pieces makes them accessible to children of various abilities.

Versatility: These tools are quite versatile and can be used in various ways to enhance learning. They can be used individually for letter practice or combined with other HWT materials, such as the activity workbooks or the Wet-Dry-Try slate. They are suitable for both classroom settings and at-home learning.

Engagement: Children are often more engaged in learning when they can manipulate physical objects, and the HWT wood pieces and letters are designed to capitalize on this. The tactile nature of the pieces helps to keep children interested and focused on the task of learning letter formation.

Progression: The wood pieces and letters align with the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum, which is structured to progress from simple to more complex tasks. This progression helps children build confidence as they master each level before moving on to the next.

Educator and Parent Support: The program provides excellent support for educators and parents. There are guides and resources available to help adults understand how to effectively use the wood pieces and letters to teach handwriting skills.

Handwriting Without Tears Pre-Writing Roll-A-Dough Letters and Numbers Set

The Handwriting Without Tears Pre-Writing Roll-A-Dough Letters and Numbers Set is an educational tool designed to help children develop fine motor skills and learn the basics of letter and number formation in a fun and interactive way. The set typically includes plastic trays with letter and number shapes, where children can use dough to roll and form the shapes, following the guided lines.

Here is a review of the product:

Quality and Durability: The trays in the Handwriting Without Tears set are made of plastic, which is durable and easy to clean. This makes the set suitable for repeated use in a classroom or home setting. The plastic is typically sturdy enough to withstand the pressure from rolling dough without bending or breaking.

Educational Value: This set is highly educational, as it directly targets the skills necessary for successful handwriting. By rolling dough into the shapes of letters and numbers, children can develop their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity. Additionally, the set encourages the correct formation of letters and numbers, which is crucial for legible handwriting.

Ease of Use: The Roll-A-Dough set is designed to be user-friendly for young learners. The letters and numbers are clearly marked, and the trays often come with directional arrows or starting points to guide the child in the correct formation. This makes the learning process intuitive and helps children gain confidence in their writing abilities.

Engagement: Children generally find the Roll-A-Dough set engaging due to its hands-on approach. The tactile experience of rolling dough is enjoyable for many kids, and it provides a break from traditional pencil-and-paper learning. This can be particularly beneficial for children who are kinesthetic learners or those who may struggle with traditional writing at first.

Versatility: The set can be used with a variety of dough types, allowing for customization based on the child’s preferences or any allergies. It can also be used with other materials like sand or rice for additional sensory experiences.

Portability and Storage: The 4 X 6-inch size of the trays makes them portable and easy to store. They can be stacked and put away when not in use, taking up minimal space. This size is also convenient for small hands to manage.

Handwriting Without Tears Slate Board and Supplies 

One of the components of this program is the Slate Chalkboard, which is used to help children learn proper letter formation. Below is a review of the Slate Chalkboard and its accompanying supplies.

Product Quality and Design: The HWT Slate Chalkboard is a sturdy, durable tool that is designed to withstand regular use by young children. The double-sided board features one side with columns for letter practice, and the other side is blank for freeform writing or drawing. The edges are typically smooth and safe for little hands, and the size is suitable for young learners, making it easy for them to handle and manipulate.

Educational Value: The Slate Chalkboard is an excellent educational tool that aligns with the HWT curriculum. It is particularly effective for teaching proper stroke order and letter formation. The tactile feedback of the chalk on the board helps children remember the shapes and motions necessary to write letters correctly. Additionally, the use of the chalkboard can aid in developing fine motor skills.

Ease of Use: Children generally find the Slate Chalkboard easy to use. It is straightforward and does not require much set-up or instruction before children can begin practicing their writing. The chalk fits comfortably in their hands, and the simple act of writing with chalk is often engaging for young learners.

Supplies and Accessories: The HWT program offers various supplies that complement the Slate Chalkboard, such as chalk bits that are the right size for children’s fingers, sponges or erasers for cleaning the board, and educational materials that provide guidance on letter formation. These supplies are usually of high quality and specifically designed to work well with the board.

Effectiveness: Many educators and parents report positive outcomes when using the HWT Slate Chalkboard as part of the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum. Children enjoy the sensory experience of writing with chalk, and the board helps reinforce the proper techniques taught in the program. It can be particularly beneficial for children who struggle with fine motor skills or who need more practice to solidify their handwriting abilities.

Portability: The size of the Slate Chalkboard makes it portable, which is convenient for use in various settings, such as classrooms, homes, or on the go. This allows for flexibility in when and where children can practice their writing.

 

Handwriting Without Tears Kickstart Kindergarten and Letters and Numbers for Me

 

 

This program is part of the larger “Handwriting Without Tears” curriculum, which has been widely used by educators and parents for years. The Kickstart Kindergarten level is tailored specifically for preschool and kindergarten-aged students, typically between the ages of 4 and 6.

Here are some key aspects of the “Handwriting Without Tears: Kickstart Kindergarten” program:

Developmentally Appropriate Practice: The program is designed with young children’s developmental stages in mind. It uses simple, multisensory techniques to teach handwriting, which is important for children who are just beginning to develop their fine motor skills.

Multisensory Learning: The curriculum incorporates a variety of sensory experiences, including touch, movement, and visual elements. This approach is intended to help all kinds of learners grasp the concepts of letter formation and spacing.

Focus on Letter Formation: The program emphasizes the correct formation of letters, starting with simple lines and curves and progressing to more complex letter shapes. This foundational skill is crucial for developing fluent and legible handwriting.

Alignment with Educational Standards: The curriculum is designed to align with common educational standards, ensuring that the skills children learn are relevant to their overall educational development.

Customizable for Individual Needs: The program can be adapted to meet the needs of individual students, which is beneficial for children who may need more practice with certain letters or who are advancing more quickly than their peers.

Comprehensive Support: The program provides extensive resources for instructors, including online training, webinars, and workshops, to ensure that they are well-prepared to teach handwriting effectively.

Reviews of “Handwriting Without Tears: Kickstart Kindergarten” often highlight its success in making handwriting an enjoyable and stress-free experience for young learners. Educators and parents typically report that children who use the program show improvement in their handwriting skills, and they appreciate the structured yet flexible

 

Handwriting Without Tears My Printing Book for 1st Grade

This book is part of the larger “Handwriting Without Tears” program, which was developed by occupational therapist Jan Olsen. The program aims to make handwriting an enjoyable and successful experience for students by using a multi-sensory approach.

Here are some key points that are often highlighted in reviews of “My Printing Book”:

Developmentally Appropriate: The book is tailored to meet the needs of young learners, with activities that are suitable for their developmental level. This helps children build confidence as they progress through the book.

Simple Letter Formation: The “Handwriting Without Tears” program introduces letters in a way that reduces the complexity of handwriting. The letters are taught in groups based on similar formation patterns, which simplifies the learning process.

Physical Guidance: “My Printing Book” provides clear instructions and physical guides, such as starting dots and directional arrows, to help students understand where to start and how to form each letter.

Clean Layout: The pages are not cluttered, which helps children focus on the task at hand. The use of double lines is a unique aspect of the program, which helps children with letter size and placement.

Integration with Other Skills: The book often integrates handwriting practice with other educational content, such as language arts and number skills, making it a more comprehensive learning tool.

Teacher and Parent Support: The “Handwriting Without Tears” program offers resources and guides for teachers and parents to help them support their children’s learning process effectively.

Overall, “Handwriting Without Tears: My Printing Book” is generally well-received by educators, parents, and occupational therapists. It is praised for its structured approach to handwriting, which is based on a solid understanding of educational and developmental principles. The book and its associated resources are considered valuable tools for helping children develop strong handwriting skills in a way that is both enjoyable and educational.

 

Handwriting Without Tears Printing Power 

The “Printing Power” workbook is typically used in second grade classrooms, but it can also be helpful for older students who need additional practice with their printing skills. Here is a review of the “Printing Power” workbook, highlighting its features, effectiveness, and any potential drawbacks:

Features:

Developmentally Appropriate: The workbook is designed to be developmentally appropriate for children, taking into account their cognitive and motor skill levels.

Multisensory Approach: It incorporates a multisensory approach to learning, using visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities to reinforce learning.

Simple Letter Style: The curriculum uses a simple, vertical style of letter formation that is easy for children to learn and is meant to prevent reversals and other common writing errors.

Two-Lined Paper: The workbook uses a unique two-lined paper that simplifies letter placement on the page, which can be less confusing for children than traditional three-lined paper.

Sequential Learning: The program introduces letters in a specific sequence that groups similarly formed letters together, making it easier for children to learn and remember.

Effectiveness:

 

1. 1. Ease of Learning: Many educators and parents report that children find the handwriting methods easy to learn and remember.

1. 1. Improved Legibility: Users often notice an improvement in the legibility and neatness of a child’s handwriting after using the workbook.

1. 1. Engagement: The workbook includes fun and engaging activities that help keep children interested in practicing their handwriting.

 

Handwriting Without Tears Cursive Handwriting and Cursive Success 

The “Cursive Handwriting” and “Cursive Success” are part of the Handwriting Without Tears program, aimed at teaching cursive handwriting skills. Here’s a review of these two components:

Cursive Handwriting:

Target Audience: This workbook is typically intended for students in the 3rd grade, which is when many schools choose to introduce cursive writing.

Content: The “Cursive Handwriting” workbook starts with easier lowercase letters before progressing to more complex ones, and then moves on to uppercase letters. The program uses a very systematic approach, with a focus on correct habits from the start.

Methodology: The workbook uses a clean and simple layout, which is less intimidating for students. It emphasizes the importance of correct posture, grip, and paper alignment. The letters are taught in a specific order that groups similarly formed letters together, making it easier for students to learn.

 

Cursive Success:

Target Audience: “Cursive Success” is designed for students who have mastered the basics of cursive handwriting, usually around the 4th grade.

Content: This workbook builds on the skills learned in “Cursive Handwriting,” with a focus on connecting letters, forming words, and writing sentences. It also introduces more content-heavy writing exercises.

Methodology: Similar to “Cursive Handwriting,” the “Cursive Success” workbook continues to use a multisensory approach and emphasizes neatness and proper technique.

Tools and Materials: As with the earlier workbook, “Cursive Success” may also utilize additional tools for practice, and it often includes more advanced writing exercises that help students refine their cursive writing.