Handwriting Help

For some of our kids the mechanics of handwriting are a barrier to learning.  So alternatives like computer keyboards, sign language, and oral reports bridge that gap.

However, this Wall Street Journal article, How Handwriting Trains the Brain: Forming Letters Is Key to Learning, Memory, Ideas, suggests that the mechanics of handwriting provide some important benefits.

Handwriting Help

I've posted tips here and here in addition to these new ones below:

Fix it Write provides 10 days of exercises to help create more fluid writing movements. It also suggests an alternative handwriting grip to make writing easier. Users can choose what font style, writing style, and handwriting grip works best for them.

Apps in My Pocket offers touch screen help with letter formation and phonics together in one app.  A nice, and somewhat rare, feature is that they use the D'Nealian font which aids in the transition to cursive. Children can use the fingers or a stylus to form the letters.



Kidz Occupational Therapy has a handy guide for choosing the right pencils and devices

Handwriting solutions from Kidz Occupational Therapy

Artful Handwriting Helps

Some kids really struggle with handwriting. 

Teachers, parents, and home educators might not have special education staff, occupational therapists, or other resources to assist with children who are frustrated with writing.

Here are a few tips from waldorf certified teacher, Sally Haughey:

Know what handwriting skills are developmentally appropriate - Don't push writing too early!

Use a letter writing zoo helper - visualize lower case letters as chickens, giraffes, and monkeys

Using special writing tools - triangle pencils with special magic fairy dust add sparkle to the joys of writing

Sew a gift to encourage kids' creativity and compassion

This beautiful gratitude wrap from Souleful mama is an inspirational way to keep thank you cards and writing supplies in a handy kit. 

This free tutorial from author and blogger Amanda Blake Soule shows you how to easily make this kit and encourage kids to be creative and kind.

Help for kids who hate writing

I know I am not alone in having a son who HATES to write. 

I've heard occupational therapists complain about how lots of kids (especially boys) are forced to write in school before they are really physically ready to do so.  Boys fine motor skills often develop later than girls.

And I know there are LOTS of homeschooling families and homeschool curricula that introduce actual handwriting until later than is introduced in public school, again, especially for boys.

So we follow tips provided by educators, occupational therapists, and seasoned home educators.

• aproach handwriting as it's own separate subject (when the student is ready)
• take handwriting out of other assignments so it is not a barrier to learning
• use oral reports, tiles, and other manipulatives as a substitute for writing lessons and answers
• write using computers or other keyboard-type devices
• make writing enjoyable and motivating when you teach it

 So here are some resources for making writing more enjoyable!

60 different multi-sensory strategies for spelling, some of which involve writing and use tools like these:

iwritewords - $1.99 application for ipod touch that makes sure your kids trace and form numbers and letters correctly and in a fun way, also teaches spelling, winner of several awards and highly rated by parents

Mr. Pencil's Learn to Draw and Write by Leapfrog - $25 application that works on all leapster systems, teaches correct formation of letters and numbers, has several more games and drawing applications to learn about color theory, drawing lessons, freestyle drawing and coloring, highly rated by parents

Handwriting without tears - popular curriculum for home and school use, multisensory strategies, therapeutic use

Student response boards - a HUGE selection of dry erase boards for different subjects including writing, just a sampling below