For kindergartners or pre-printers, Letters and Numbers for Me is the starting point for HWT. Using a mini-chalkboard, the child employs the "Wet-Dry-Try" method. In this "Wet-Dry-Try" action, the student erases a letter the teacher has formed with a damp sponge - following the same motion as the teacher. Then, he dries the slate (again following the correct letter formation) with a paper towel, which leaves a dark pattern to imitate during the "Try" chalk portion of the method. Letters and Numbers for Me then uses the "Magic C" Bunny to present lower case letters: c, a, d, g, o, and s. After working with these initial letters that begin with a "magic C" stroke, students learn line letters (l, i, t, j); diver letters (which dive down, come back up, and swim over - r, n, m, h, b, p); slide letters (v, w, x, y, z, k); and tricky letters (u, q, e, and f). These lessons only take fifteen to twenty minutes each day, at the most. And you'll appreciate that there are several examples of the given letter or word to copy per line. In this manner even left-handed writers can see an example of what they are copying without having to lift their hands or curve their wrists uncomfortably to print it correctly.

A smiley face illustration is used in the workbook and manipulative instructions to help prevent letters and numbers from being flipped or reversed (b for d, numeral seven backwards, etc.), so this program is especially helpful for children struggling with dysgraphia (dyslexia's "counterpart" in writing). The HWT Teacher's Guide summarizes the HWT approach, explains the "Wet-Dry-Try" method, instructs teachers how to use the manipulatives, presents proper posture and pencil grip techniques, and so forth. (The Teacher's Guide may be your best investment initially if your are simply curious about the program and are interested in seeing how it progresses from manuscript to cursive style.)

First and second graders continue to practice the vertical manuscript style in My Printing Book and Printing Power, respectively. Double lines, as opposed to the bicolored solid lines and middle dashed line, are provided for mastering correct letter placement, size and spacing. And the clever mental "hooks" of "Magic C" bunnies, slides, and divers continue to be used to illustrate correct letter formation. As the books progress by grade, longer sentences and paragraphs, punctuation marks, and capitalization rules are introduced. A teacher's manual is available for these printing workbooks, which supplies other multisensory strategies for teaching the lessons, and extra practice sentences, in addition to basic overviews of proper posture, pencil grip style, and such.

By the third and fourth grades, the Cursive Handwriting and Cursive Success workbooks are used to make the transition from manuscript to cursive less frustrating. Cursive letters are presented in a simple vertical style with minimal extra loops and curves - maintaining the traditional cursive appearance (not slanted, nor italic). Again, children are able to concentrate more on expressing their ideas and knowledge, rather than on decoding strangely shaped letters. As practice pages continue in the program, smaller size letters, longer words, and longer sentences are employed for practicing cursive fluidity.

Students can add their own slants, loops, and further "embellishments" to their handwriting after Cursive Success, or they can begin using the Italic Handwriting Series by Portland State University, if they prefer a more calligraphic look to their handwriting. The HWT program, however, will enable them to read traditional cursive print with practically any flourishes or loops, which means they'll never again have to bring you a letter from Grandpa or Grandma and ask, "Could you translate this for me?" (Unless, of course, their grandparents have atrocious penmanship.)


Publisher: Handwriting Without Tears
Author: Jan Z. Olsen
Grade/Age Level: Grade K
Page Count: 166

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