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Handwriting

Handwriting CurriculumHandwriting Resources

We tend to think that if instruction isn't rigorous and difficult, it's not really instruction; or, we go to the other extreme and assume that everything in the world needs to be easy and fun, and that anything which doesn't fall into both categories should be avoided like an active volcano. As usual, the truth is somewhere in the middle, a fact easily demonstrated by the "right" approach to teaching handwriting.

Kids learn best when instruction is organic. That doesn't mean you have to be a vegan, just that you don't need to turn every skill (no matter how "academic") into a formal school subject. Penmanship involves a lot of skills just as easily acquired through everyday activities, and while putting them together to form the specific ability known as good handwriting requires concentrated effort, giving your kids the building blocks can be far less structured and a lot more fun for everyone involved.

For instance, holding a pencil or pen correctly requires specific motor skills that aren't necessarily intuitive (a lot of kids start out trying to hold their pencil like the hilt of a sword). However, picking up small objects is intuitive, and can be a great way to hone your child's ability to operate his or her hand properly when learning to write. Some educators even encourage parents to start this process with babies as young as nine months.

Learning good penmanship is more than just learning the right motions. Children also need to absorb the names, character, and shapes of each letter of the alphabet, a far more intellectual activity than learning how to hold a writing implement. But even here, they can be taught these things while playing with blocks or letter magnets, while coloring or drawing, and even by making letters out of playdough. (Studies indicate that children who draw a lot end up with better handwriting than those who don't "practice" in this way.)

But why teach handwriting? many will wonder. My child will just grow up typing, anyway; she'll have no need for penmanship skills. Unless the world becomes entirely automated and paper is outlawed by all the governments of the world, that's simply not true. Adults write all day—memos at work, shopping lists and phone numbers at home, even a husband's short love notes to his tired and stressed-out wife. If kids never learn to write by hand, and to write legibly by hand, how will they be able to communicate with others (or even themselves) later on?

Current research shows that simple handwriting instruction, specifically cursive instruction, actually aids academic study and advancement. Because, as much as some would like everything to be simply practical and expedient, academic study and success are important elements in the development of children. To some extent, if we want our kids to be good readers and mathemeticians, we need to make them good handwriters.

Handwriting development doesn't just help a child's academic progress, however. It helps them become detail-oriented, to understand the need for clarity, and gives them something to practice which can be tangibly measured in terms of progress. Yes, good penmanship takes effort and is often frustrating, but the rewards it yields are worth the initial hand cramps and scribbled letters.

In the end there isn't really a "right" way to teach handwriting, or to introduce any of the little helps that reinforce the appropriate skills and get kids interested in penmanship through different avenues. There is a right attitude, though, one which sees a child's development as a holistic process of which handwriting skills are an integral part, and which takes every available opportunity to teach those skills.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.

 

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1st Grade Writing Tablet
from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$8.00 (3 in stock)
2nd Grade Writing Tablet
1st edition from A Beka Books
for 2nd grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
ABC Writing Tablet - Cursive
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten Age 4
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
ABC Writing Tablet - Manuscript
from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten Age 4
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
Building Writers Level C
2nd edition from Learning Without Tears
for 2nd grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Building Writers Level E (old)
1st edition from Learning Without Tears
for 4th grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
Classical Cursive Book 1
by B. J. Jordan
from Veritas Press
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in Veritas Press Classically Cursive (Location: HAN-VPCC)
$25.00
Classical Cursive Book 2
by B. J. Jordan
from Veritas Press
for 1st-2nd grade
in Veritas Press Classically Cursive (Location: HAN-VPCC)
$25.00
Classical Cursive Book 3
by B. J. Jordan
from Veritas Press
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Veritas Press Classically Cursive (Location: HAN-VPCC)
$25.00
Classical Cursive Book 4
by Kathy Mahaffy
from Veritas Press
for 3rd-4th grade
in Veritas Press Classically Cursive (Location: HAN-VPCC)
$25.00
Classically Cursive Book 1 (old)
by B. J. Jordan
2nd edition from Veritas Press
for Kindergarten-1st grade
Classically Cursive Book 2 (old)
by B. J. Jordan
2nd edition from Veritas Press
for 1st-2nd grade
Classically Cursive Book 3 (old)
by B. J. Jordan
2nd edition from Veritas Press
for 2nd-3rd grade
Classically Cursive Book 4 (old)
by Kathy Mahaffy & B. J. Jordan
from Veritas Press
for 3rd-4th grade
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Classically Cursive Book 4 (old)
by Kathy Mahaffy
2nd edition from Veritas Press
for 3rd-4th grade
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Composition and Sketchbook I
from Memoria Press
for 1st-3rd grade
in Memoria Press Penmanship & Copybooks (Location: HAN-MPPEN)
$9.75 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Composition and Sketchbook II
from Memoria Press
for 1st-3rd grade
in Memoria Press Penmanship & Copybooks (Location: HAN-MPPEN)
$9.75
Composition and Sketchbook III
from Memoria Press
for 3rd-5th grade
in Memoria Press Penmanship & Copybooks (Location: HAN-MPPEN)
$9.75
Copybook I: Scripture & Poems
by Leigh & Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in Memoria Press Penmanship & Copybooks (Location: HAN-MPPEN)
$16.80
Copybook II: Manuscript & Cursive
by Leigh & Cheryl Lowe
3rd edition from Memoria Press
for 1st-2nd grade
in Memoria Press Penmanship & Copybooks (Location: HAN-MPPEN)
$16.80
Copybook III: Manuscript
by Leigh & Cheryl Lowe
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Memoria Press Penmanship & Copybooks (Location: HAN-MPPEN)
$16.80
Creative Writing
4th edition from A Beka Books
for 6th grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
Cursive Knowledge - Student Book
by Jill Pike
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-12th grade
in Handwriting Resources (Location: HAN-REF)
$19.00
Cursive Writing Tablet
from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
Draw Write Now - Workbook
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from In the Think of Things
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$5.49
Handwriting 1 - Student Worktext
4th edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 1st grade
in BJU Handwriting (Location: HAN-BJU)
$35.56
Handwriting 1 - Student Worktext (old)
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 1st grade
in BJU Writing & Grammar (old versions) (Location: OBJU-GRA)
$16.00 (4 in stock)
Handwriting 2 - Student Worktext
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 2nd grade
in BJU Handwriting (Location: HAN-BJU)
$28.61
Handwriting 2 - Student Worktext (old)
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 2nd grade
in BJU Writing & Grammar (old versions) (Location: OBJU-GRA)
$27.78
Handwriting 3 - Student Worktext
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 3rd grade
in BJU Handwriting (Location: HAN-BJU)
$28.61
Handwriting 3 - Student Worktext (old)
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 3rd grade
$28.61
Handwriting 4 - Student Worktext
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Handwriting (Location: HAN-BJU)
$28.61
Handwriting 5 - Student Worktext
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 5th grade
in BJU Handwriting (Location: HAN-BJU)
$28.61 $16.00 (1 in stock)
Handwriting 6 - Student Worktext
from Bob Jones University Press
for 6th grade
in BJU Handwriting (Location: HAN-BJU)
$28.61 $16.00 (2 in stock)
Handwriting A to Zoo
by Carrie Bailey
from Master Books
for 1st-2nd grade
in Master Books Penmanship (Location: HAN-MB)
$40.79
Handwriting Level 5 - Workbook (old)
2nd edition from The Good and the Beautiful
for 1st grade
HWT My Printing Book
from Learning Without Tears
for 1st grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
In the Beginning
by Paul Lindstrom
from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten
in CLP Handwriting (Location: HAN-CLP)
$11.75
Italic Letters (old)
by Inga Dubay & Barbara Getty
from Continuing Education Press
for 9th-Adult
in Getty-Dubay™ Italic Handwriting (Location: HAN-ITALIC)
Italic Letters: Calligraphy and Handwriting
by Inga Dubay & Barbara Getty
from Continuing Education Press
for 9th-Adult
in Getty-Dubay™ Italic Handwriting (Location: HAN-ITALIC)
$36.95
K5 Writing Tablet - Cursive
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
K5 Writing Tablet - Manuscript
from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten Age 5
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$12.50 (3 in stock)
Keyboarding & Document Processing - Quiz & Test Book
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 10th-12th grade
in Computer Literacy (Location: SCIREF-COMP)
Latin Cursive Copybook: Hymns and Prayers
from Memoria Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Memoria Press Penmanship & Copybooks (Location: HAN-MPPEN)
$16.80
Learning Cursive: Handwriting Practice Workbook for Teens
from Trace2Write
for 7th-12th grade
in Handwriting Resources (Location: HAN-REF)
Letters And Numbers for Me
by Jan Olsen
4th edition from Learning Without Tears
for Preschool-1st grade
in Handwriting Resources (Location: HAN-REF)
Letters and Numbers for Me - K
by Jan Olson
from Learning Without Tears
for Preeschool-1st grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
Little Scribes: Practicing Cursive with Scripture
from Master Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in Master Books Penmanship (Location: HAN-MB)
Little Scribes: Practicing Penmanship with Scripture
from Master Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in Master Books Penmanship (Location: HAN-MB)
$26.39
Logos Cursive 1
by B. J. Loyd, illustrated by Mark Beauchamp
from Logos School
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Logos Cursive (Location: HAN-LOG)
$15.99
Logos Cursive 2
by B. J. Loyd
from Logos School
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Logos Cursive (Location: HAN-LOG)
$15.99
Logos Cursive 3
by B. J. Loyd
from Logos School
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Logos Cursive (Location: HAN-LOG)
$15.99
Penmanship Mastery I
4th edition from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$8.00 (26 in stock)
Penmanship Mastery II
4th edition from A Beka Books
for 5th grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$8.00 (11 in stock)
Prescripts Cursive Letters and Coloring: World History
from Classical Conversations
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Classical Conversations PreScripts (Location: HAN-CCPS)
$12.00
Prima Latina Copybook
by Highlands Latin School Faculty
from Memoria Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Memoria Press Latina Christiana (Location: FL-LATCHR)
$16.80
Reason for Handwriting A
by Carol Retzer
from A Reason for…
for 1st grade
in A Reason For Handwriting (Location: HAN-REASON)
$23.95
Reason for Handwriting B
by Carol Retzer
from A Reason for…
for 2nd grade
in A Reason For Handwriting (Location: HAN-REASON)
$23.95
Reason for Handwriting C
by Carol Retzer
from A Reason for…
for 3rd grade
in A Reason For Handwriting (Location: HAN-REASON)
$23.95
Reason for Handwriting D
by Carol Retzer
from A Reason for…
for 4th grade
in A Reason For Handwriting (Location: HAN-REASON)
$23.95
Reason for Handwriting E
by Carol Retzer
from A Reason for…
for 5th grade
in A Reason For Handwriting (Location: HAN-REASON)
$23.95
Reason for Handwriting F
by Carol Retzer
from A Reason for…
for 6th grade
in A Reason For Handwriting (Location: HAN-REASON)
$23.95
Reason for Handwriting K
by Carol Retzer
2nd edition from A Reason for…
for Kindergarten
in A Reason For Handwriting (Location: HAN-REASON)
$23.95
Reason for Handwriting Transition
by Carol Retzer
from A Reason for…
for 2nd-3rd grade
in A Reason For Handwriting (Location: HAN-REASON)
$23.95
Rod & Staff Penmanship 1 - Workbook Unit 5, 6
3rd edition from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 1st grade
in Rod & Staff Penmanship (Location: HAN-R&S)
Rod & Staff Penmanship 1 - Workbook Units 1, 2
3rd edition from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 1st grade
in Rod & Staff Penmanship (Location: HAN-R&S)
Rod & Staff Penmanship 1 - Workbook Units 3, 4
3rd edition from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 1st grade
in Rod & Staff Penmanship (Location: HAN-R&S)
Rod & Staff Penmanship 2 - Workbook
Rod & Staff Penmanship
2nd edition from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 2nd grade
in Rod & Staff Penmanship (Location: HAN-R&S)
Rod & Staff Penmanship 3 - Workbook
Rod & Staff Penmanship
2nd edition from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 3rd grade
in Rod & Staff Penmanship (Location: HAN-R&S)
Rod & Staff Penmanship 4 - Workbook
Rod & Staff Penmanship
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 4th grade
in Rod & Staff Penmanship (Location: HAN-R&S)
Spencerian Penmanship set
by Mott Media
from Mott Media
for 7th-Adult
in Handwriting Resources (Location: HAN-REF)
Wide Double Line Notebook Paper
by Jan Z. Olsen
from Learning Without Tears
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
Write Like a Patriot
Master Books Penmanship: A Whole-Child Approach
from Master Books
for 3rd-4th grade
in Master Books Penmanship (Location: HAN-MB)
$34.99
Writing Journal Level A
from Learning Without Tears
for Kindergarten
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$2.75 (1 in stock)
Writing Journal Level B
2nd edition from Learning Without Tears
for 1st grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Writing Journal Level C
from Learning Without Tears
for 1st grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$2.75 (1 in stock)
Writing Journal Level F
from Learning Without Tears
for 5th grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$2.75 (1 in stock)
Writing with Creativity 5
from A Beka Books
for 5th grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
Writing with Diligence
by Michael McHugh
from Christian Liberty Press
for 1st grade
in CLP Handwriting (Location: HAN-CLP)
$11.75
Writing with Grace
by Michael McHugh
from Christian Liberty Press
for 3rd grade
in CLP Handwriting (Location: HAN-CLP)
$11.75
Writing with Phonics 1 - Cursive
5th edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Phonics (Location: PHO-ABK)
Writing with Phonics 1 - Manuscript
5th edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
Writing with Phonics 2 - Cursive
5th edition from A Beka Books
for 2nd grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
Writing With Phonics K4 - Cursive
6th edition from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten Age 4
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
Writing With Phonics K4 - Manuscript
6th edition from A Beka Books
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
Writing With Phonics K5 - Cursive
5th edition from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten Age 5
in A Beka Phonics (Location: PHO-ABK)
Writing With Phonics K5 - Manuscript
5th edition from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten Age 5
in A Beka Phonics (Location: PHO-ABK)
Writing with Power
by Michael McHugh
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Handwriting (Location: HAN-CLP)
$11.75
Writing with Prayer
by Michael McHugh
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 2nd grade
in CLP Handwriting (Location: HAN-CLP)
$11.75
Writing with Purpose 3
1st edition from A Beka Books
for 3rd grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
Writing with Purpose 4 - Workbook
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
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