Is your child struggling with learning to write? Handwriting is a foundational skill for any school child. This is why Handwriting Without Tears was introduced to support your child in learning how to write.
In this era of the internet and technology, writing is gradually being replaced with typing on devices. However, we still need to write our names, draw pictures, write personal messages to friends and family, complete examinations and forms, and write handwritten records.
In other words, the world has not yet evolved into doing away with handwriting. Children who struggle with mastering this skill may develop a mindset that they cannot write, leading to them falling behind their peers. Hence, Handwriting Without Tears helps children develop their writing skills early and so much more.
Find out more interesting details about this writing tool by reading this piece.
What is Handwriting Without Tears?
Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) is a multi-sensory structured handwriting program designed to help school children learn how to write properly. This programme was developed in 1977 by Jan Olsen as a way to help her son, John, who was writing in first grade.
An occupational therapist, Olsen used her training and background to develop strategies to facilitate her son’s handwriting. Over 40 years later, this program holds more than 600 annual workshops to train educators throughout the world in the HWT teaching methods.
Hence, the Handwriting Without Tears program guides students in the following:
- Develop an appropriate sequence of instruction.
- Consistent practice to develop automaticity and fluency.
- Multisensory components to engage visual, audio, and kinesthetic learners.
- Hands-on techniques to develop fine motor and phonics skills.
- Simple, student-friendly, step-by-step language for letter formations.
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Handwriting Without Tears for Kids
Studies have shown that Handwriting Without Tears is more effective in improving handwriting legibility compared to traditional methods of instruction. Hence, the HWT program curriculum provides children with explicit, direct instruction and purposeful practice they need to master handwriting.
For instance, there is a Pre-K portion of the programme that focuses on pre-writing skills required for kindergarten pupils. HWT incorporates fun, engaging and developmentally appropriate techniques such as music, movement, letter play, wooden pieces and Playdoh/putty to develop gross motor and fine motor skills and a sensory enriching experience.
Also, the programme begins with uppercase letter formation and then once mastered, progresses to lowercase letter formation and, if applicable, cursive writing. In addition, Handwriting Without Tears uses simple black and white colouring on the pages to allow the child to practice colouring and fine motor skills.
A child can use a large model which allows for finger tracing. HWT uses a greyed box for initial letter placement, sizing and orientation. The programme also uses a simple dot for a visual to assist with the letter starting point which helps eliminate the potential for reversals.
In other words, children can move, touch, feel, and manipulate real objects as they learn the correct habits and skills that are essential for writing. Even better, they will be having fun too.
How to use Handwriting Without Tears
According to the HWT website, here are ways to use Handwriting Without Tears:
Direct instructions
- The pupils watch the teacher write a letter. Then they try to imitate the teacher.
- The pupil looks at the completed model of a letter, word or sentence and copies it to match the model.
- The pupil writes the learned letter, word or sentence without assistance from a demonstration or model.
Multiple modalities
Multiple modalities use hands-on manipulatives to stimulate and strengthen visual, tactile, kinesthetic, and auditory learning styles. The manipulatives include:
- Mat Man: Made from Wood Pieces and a blue mat, Mat Man helps pupils learn crucial readiness skills, including size recognition, placement, and sequence skills.
- Wet-Dry-Try: Uses game-based activities which mirror writing on the slate chalkboard and blackboard with double lines.
Cross-curricular instructions
This is a teacher’s guide that provides strategies and classroom activities to help you teach handwriting. It also helps you review other grade-appropriate skills and topics that connect to other lessons. With this guide, children can learn how to write letters for animals, places or things. For instance, a child can learn that lowercase ‘p’ is for ‘pigeon’ and compare it with other animals. These connections help to reinforce learning and make handwriting more relevant.
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