rootsnwings Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Any particular handwriting programs that are better for Lefties? My ds(3.5) is finally starting to decide which hand he's going to use and it looks like he is going to be left-handed. (He uses his left-hand 90% of the time now for writing and eating). I would love some suggestions for not only programs but also materials like top-bound notebooks of handwriting paper, etc. I've been putting all his ETC pages in page protectors in a binder so he works the pages with the 3 rings at the top so as not to cramp his style! ;) I know writing with the sharpie on slick page protectors is probably not best for him right now though (I can see him struggle to control the marker on the slick surface) so I was looking at the HWT website but they don't say anything about using their system with left-handed children. Just wanted to gather some other's experiences!! TIA! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satori Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 HWT doesn't have top-bound workbooks, but they do try to cater to left-handers. Here's what they say: "The HWT workbooks are left-hand friendly. Every page places the models so that left-handed children can easily see the model they are copying. Lefties never have to lift their hands or place them in an awkward position to see a model. We give models on the right so that when a left-handed child’s arm covers the left aligned models, they can still see a model to copy." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofaandh Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 My son is a south paw and HWT was a huge success for us. I only used the Letters and Numbers for Me with the Gray BlockPaper. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Pickles Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 My son is left handed and his OT recommended Handwriting without Tears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccouch Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 My daughter's a leftie and we've been using HWOT. We really have enjoyed it. I was so nervous that I was going to do something to mess her up by not noticing and correcting any improper position, etc. They have nice illustrations for proper grip and that really helped both of us. I'll admit to there being a couple of tears along the way (at the very beginning stages and mostly because she's a perfectionist), but it's been the perfect choice for us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2myboys Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 HWOT has been great for my leftie too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgehog Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 My left-handed DD is using Diana Hanbury King's Cursive Writing for Left-Handed Students. We both really like the results and she gets compliments on her handwriting quite a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rootsnwings Posted March 11, 2011 Author Share Posted March 11, 2011 Ok, GREAT!!! :) I really wanted to use HWOT but didn't know if it would be ok for him. Good to know they're in support of the lefties! :D Thanks for the links, & cursive writing suggestions... I will check those out! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atozmom Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Great success with HWOT and a leftie here too. One thing that I do to make writing easier for him is take his workbooks apart. (every subject actually). Its much easier for him to write on a flat surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheekymama Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 My lefty has been using HWOT for 3 yrs now and loves it! I wasn't crazy about the look of their writing, especially the cursive, but I decided it was more important for dd to have a program that was geared for lefties. Besides, most people create their own style of writing no matter the style taught. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rootsnwings Posted March 11, 2011 Author Share Posted March 11, 2011 GREAT!! What age do you suggest starting HWOT? DS is doing the ETC primers right now and there is surprisingly a decent amount of handwriting in them. At first, I was just going to have him skip the handwriting exercises but he INSISTS on doing them, so... I thought about just getting the HWOT chalkboard, chalk pieces, maybe the first workbook and teachers manual?? IDK exactly what to get really but I don't want to overwhelm him with handwriting right now (ETC + HWOT seems a bit much for a 3.5 yo) yet I'd LOVE for him to learn the HWOT way, iykwim... Would love to hear how you integrated the two if you've used them together (Angela, I know you have! :D) ETA: He's only 3.5!!!! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rootsnwings Posted March 11, 2011 Author Share Posted March 11, 2011 sorry! dupe :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the Rain Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 After using ETC primers, dd knew how to form her letters well enough. We did our own thing until she began cursive. She did very well with Cursive Connections. I second the suggestion of taking workbooks apart. That has been very helpful. She prefers the loose pages, even though loose pages drive me bonkers! ETA: The biggest difficulty she has had is using the whiteboard for AAS. When she was younger and wrote slowly, there wasn't a problem. As she started forming her letters and spelling quickly, her hand started smearing the letters before they could dry. I had to switch her to writing her sentences on paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofaandh Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 We used ETC Before the Code too. My son also insisted on doing them himself. What I did was, have him do a page or two of ETC then one page in HWT, one day. The next day we would do a page or two of ETC then I would have him practice what he did the day before in HWT on the gray block paper. I would usually write one line of the letters and duplicate the ones I thought he needed more practice with and he would work on the row below. I never used the chalkboard or other pieces because he never liked to use those, he only wanted to do paperwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 My leftie is using HWT K, and will start A reason for Handwriting A when she finishes. She turned 5 in Oct., and her handwriting has improved a ton since the beginning of this school year. My dh is a leftie too, so I have had him demonstrate to her pencil grip etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abacus2 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I love how HWT teaches how to write and how to hold a pencil, angle your paper, form the letters. It definitely is designed to work for lefties too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaners Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Can anyone tell me if the lefty programs reverse the direction for the lines in letters like t and f? My daughter is just starting to write. I've had her write her crossbars as a pull stroke instead of a push stroke. Is that something that any handwriting curriculum does? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 HWOT suggests that lefties reverse those strokes. That said, my lefty is finishing up first grade, and we have not made great progress with HWOT. We are going to try D'Nealian next as some feel it is easier for lefties. I'm not sure. We'll see. It could be due to my kiddo being a wiggly boy. Overall, I would still try HWOT. It is a great program, and well set up for lefties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kkiller Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I personally am a leftie, a big help is to turn the paper about 45 degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Sorry I have to go against the grain here. Check this out it recommends D’Nealian Handwriting Method. Also check this out for writing tips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) Sorry I have to go against the grain here. Check this out it recommends D’Nealian Handwriting Method. Also check this out for writing tips. Edited March 12, 2011 by wy_kid_wrangler04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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