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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)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
Alphabet Wall Charts (Cursive)
from Memoria Press
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Memoria Press Penmanship & Copybooks (Location: HAN-MPPEN)
$17.90 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Calligraphic Ornaments
Dover Clip Art
by Kiyoshi Takahashi, designer
from Dover Publications
for Adult
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Calligraphy
Usborne Guides
by Caroline Young
from Usborne
for 6th-10th grade
in Calligraphy (Location: HAN-CALLIG)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Calligraphy
First Steps Series
by Don Marsh
from North Light Books
for 6th-Adult
in Calligraphy (Location: HAN-CALLIG)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Claritas Cycle 2 Handwriting Sheets - Cursive
from Claritas Publishing
for 2nd-5th grade
in Claritas (Location: CUR-CLA)
$10.00 (2 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)
Creative Lettering and Beyond
by Gabri Joy Kirkendall, Laura Lavender, Julie Manwaring, & Shauna Lynn Panczyszyn
from Walter Foster
in Calligraphy (Location: HAN-CALLIG)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Creative Writing
4th edition from A Beka Books
for 6th grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$13.00 (3 in stock)
Cursive Formation Flashcards
from A Beka Books
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$10.00 (2 in stock)
Cursive Formation Flashcards
from A Beka Books
for 1st-2nd grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$16.50 (3 in stock)
Cursive Formation Flashcards
from A Beka Books
for 3rd-4th grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$16.50 (3 in stock)
Cursive Formation Flashcards (really old)
from A Beka Books
for 1st-2nd grade
$8.00 (2 in stock)
Daily Handwriting Practice: Contemporary Cursive
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 1st-12th grade
in Evan-Moor Daily Handwriting Practice (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$8.40 (1 in stock)
Delightful Handwriting: D'Nealian and Zaner Bloser - Teacher Book
by Lanaya Gore
from Simply Charlotte Mason
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Handwriting Resources (Location: HAN-REF)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Draw Write Now Book 1
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from Barker Creek
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Draw Write Now Book 1
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from In the Think of Things
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$19.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Draw Write Now Book 3
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from In the Think of Things
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$19.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Draw Write Now Book 5
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from Barker Creek
for 1st-5th grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Draw Write Now Book 6
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from Barker Creek
for 1st-5th grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Draw Write Now Book 7
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from Barker Creek
for 1st-5th grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Floral Borders on Layout Grids
by Stefen Bernath, designer
from Dover Publications
for 6th-Adult
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Getty-Dubay Basic Italic Wall Chart/Cards
from Getty-Dubay Productions
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Getty-Dubay™ Italic Handwriting (Location: HAN-ITALIC)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Gothic and Old English Alphabets
by Dan X. Solo, selected and arranged
from Dover Publications
for Adult
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
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 1 - Teacher Edition
4th edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 1st grade
in BJU Handwriting (Location: HAN-BJU)
$35.00 (1 in stock)
Handwriting 1 - Teacher Edition (old)
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 1st grade
in BJU Writing & Grammar (old versions) (Location: OBJU-GRA)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Handwriting 2 - Teacher Edition
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 2nd grade
in BJU Handwriting (Location: HAN-BJU)
$34.00 (1 in stock)
Handwriting 2 - Teacher Edition (old)
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 2nd grade
in BJU Writing & Grammar (old versions) (Location: OBJU-GRA)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Handwriting 3 - Teacher Edition (old)
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 3rd grade
$15.00 (4 in stock)
Handwriting 4 - Teacher Edition
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Handwriting (Location: HAN-BJU)
$56.94 $19.00 (2 in stock)
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 5 - Teacher Edition
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 5th grade
in BJU Handwriting (Location: HAN-BJU)
$56.94 $19.00 (4 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 6 - Teacher Edition
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 6th grade
in BJU Handwriting (Location: HAN-BJU)
$56.94 $19.00 (2 in stock)
Handwriting Level 5 - Workbook (old)
2nd edition from The Good and the Beautiful
for 1st grade
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Handwriting Without Tears - Wood Pieces Set for Capital Letters
from Learning Without Tears
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$23.00 (2 in stock)
Handwriting Without Tears Big Sheet Draw and Write Paper with Double Wide Lines
from Learning Without Tears
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$7.00 (2 in stock)
Handwriting Without Tears Double Line Writer
from Learning Without Tears
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Handwriting Without Tears Mat for Wood Pieces
from Learning Without Tears
for Preschool-1st grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Horizons Penmanship 1 - Teacher's Guide
from Alpha Omega Publications
in Horizons Penmanship (Location: HAN-HOR)
$25.00 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Horizons Penmanship 3 - Teacher's Guide
from Alpha Omega Publications
in Horizons Penmanship (Location: HAN-HOR)
$25.00 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Horizons Penmanship 4 - Teacher's Guide
from Alpha Omega Publications
in Horizons Penmanship (Location: HAN-HOR)
$25.00 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Horizons Penmanship 5 - Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
in Horizons Penmanship (Location: HAN-HOR)
$48.00 $33.60 (1 in stock)
HWT Capital Letter Cards - Laminated
by Jan Z. Olsen
from Learning Without Tears
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$12.50 (1 in stock)
Italic Handwriting - Instruction Manual
by Inga Dubay & Barbara Getty
4th edition
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Getty-Dubay™ Italic Handwriting (Location: HAN-ITALIC)
$21.75 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Italic Handwriting - Instruction Manual (old)
by Inga Dubay & Barbara Getty
3rd edition from Continuing Education Press
for Kindergarten-8th grade
$3.00 (1 in stock)
K4 Manuscript Writing - Lesson Plans
6th edition from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten Age 5
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$18.00 (2 in stock)
K5 Manuscript Lesson Plans
5th edition from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten Age 5
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$16.00 (2 in stock)
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 - Student Text
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 9th-12th grade
in Computer Literacy (Location: SCIREF-COMP)
$30.00 (1 in stock)
Lettering and Modern Calligraphy
from Paper Peony Press
for 3rd-12th grade
in Calligraphy (Location: HAN-CALLIG)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Manuscipt Formation Flashcards
from A Beka Books
for 1st-2nd grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$16.50 (3 in stock)
Mat Man: Hats
by Jan Z. Olsen, illustrated by Molly Delaney
from Learning Without Tears
for Preschool-1st grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Mat Man: On the Go
Mat Man
by Jan Z. Olsen, illustrated by Molly Delaney
from Learning Without Tears
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Mat Man: Opposites
by Jan Z. Olsen, illustrated by Molly Delaney
from Learning Without Tears
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
New American Cursive Beginner - My Thankfulness Journal
by Cheryl Swope
from Memoria Press
for 1st-3rd grade
in Memoria Press Penmanship & Copybooks (Location: HAN-MPPEN)
$6.50 (1 in stock)
PAF Handwriting Program for Cursive (Right Handed)
Preventing Academic Failure
by Eileen Perlman, Phyllis Bertin
Workbook from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-5th grade
in Handwriting Resources (Location: HAN-REF)
$34.99 $13.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Practical Guide to Calligraphy
2005th edition from Mud Puddle Books
for 6th-Adult
in Calligraphy (Location: HAN-CALLIG)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Prescripts Cursive Passages and Illuminations: American Documents
from Classical Conversations
for 5th-6th grade
in Classical Conversations PreScripts (Location: HAN-CCPS)
$20.10 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Primary Alphabet Wall Chart
by Memoria Press
from Memoria Press
for Preschool-Kindergarten
in Memoria Press Penmanship & Copybooks (Location: HAN-MPPEN)
$17.90 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Printing Power (2025) - Student Workbook
by Jan Z. Olsen
11th edition from Learning Without Tears
for 2nd grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$9.50 (1 in stock)
Puffin Book of Lettering
by Tom Gourdie
for 6th-Adult
in Calligraphy (Location: HAN-CALLIG)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Rod & Staff Penmanship 2 - Teacher's Guide
Rod & Staff Penmanship
2nd edition from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 2nd grade
in Rod & Staff Penmanship (Location: HAN-R&S)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Rod & Staff Penmanship 2 - Teacher's Guide (old)
Rod & Staff Penmanship
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 2nd grade
$3.50 (2 in stock)
Rod & Staff Penmanship 3 - Teacher's Guide
2nd edition from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 3rd grade
in Rod & Staff Penmanship (Location: HAN-R&S)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Rod & Staff Penmanship 3 - Teacher's Guide (old)
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 3rd grade
$6.50 (1 in stock)
Rod & Staff Penmanship 4 - Teacher's Guide (old)
Rod & Staff Penmanship
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 4th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$2.00 (3 in stock)
Sonlight China Kit
from Avyx, Inc.
for 6th-9th grade
in China (Location: HISMC-CHI)
$20.00 (1 in stock)
Spencerian Penmanship - Copybook Set
by Mott Media
from Mott Media
in Handwriting Resources (Location: HAN-REF)
$15.00 (2 in stock)
Typing 2
by Jenny Phillips
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 2nd-6th grade
in The Good and the Beautiful (Location: CUR-GAB)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Wide Double Line Notebook Paper
by Jan Z. Olsen
from Learning Without Tears
for Kindergarten-1st grade
in Handwriting Without Tears (Location: HAN-WOT)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Write Now! - DVD
by Barbara Getty & Inga Dubay
from Getty-Dubay Productions
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Getty-Dubay™ Italic Handwriting (Location: HAN-ITALIC)
$29.95 $18.00 (1 in stock)
Writing With Phonics K4 - Cursive
6th edition from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten Age 4
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Writing/Seatwork 2 - Curriculum/Lesson Plans (old)
from A Beka Books
for 2nd grade
$4.00 (3 in stock)
Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Grade 3 - Homeschool Bundle
from Zaner-Bloser
for 3rd grade
in Handwriting Resources (Location: HAN-REF)
$50.00 (1 in stock)
Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Grade 7/8
from Zaner-Bloser
for 7th-8th grade
in Handwriting Resources (Location: HAN-REF)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
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