what do you use for handwriting?

[monkeymama07]

I have a 5.5 year old. His handwriting is huge and sloppy.

 

What can we use to work on it?

 

I know hwot is an option but im not loving it.

[mschickie]

I did not like hwot either. We use A Reason For Handwriting and it works really well for dd.

[texasmama]

We have used A Reason for Handwriting, as well. Be aware that it is Christian, using Bible verses for handwriting practice.

[Marie131]

I am using Penny Gardner's italics with my older ds who needs a lot of remedial work. It's working well for him and I like that it is available as a download so I can have him repeat lessons as necessary. It's also multi-level so very affordable!

 

I am using getty-dubay italics for my ker, but I'll be moving him up to the Penny Gardner program when he's able to write on smaller lines. Getty-Dubay seems to be fine for him for now.

[Stellalarella]

We use HWOT and i've found it helpful to move a child to the next size in paper--sometimes a child will find it easier to write with the lines spaced closer. I know when i try to write the big letter size in the K book even my practiced handwriting can look sloppy.

 

How does his pencil grip look? I do think the suggestions for teaching pencil/crayon/chalk grip in HWOT are very helpful, even if a person prefers to use a different font.

 

You may like startwrite--it is handwriting software that allows a person to manufacture handwriting practice worksheets in a number of handwriting/cursive fonts.

[SilverMoon]

Copywork done at your elbow, with an eraser in your hand. Daily. Before he starts tell him you expect him to do only his very best writing on that page, and whip that eraser out as soon as you see a mistake happening. "Oh. That letter starts here. Around, up, down. Try again!" Lather, rinse, repeat. Start with a very small assignment, like, "The cat sat on the mat." Be sure to compliment a job done well, and resist the urge to give him larger sentences right away. Let the sentence length and complexity grow slowly over the year as his skill and endurance grow.

[Hunter]

The handwriting instructions in Writing Road to Reading. The manuscript is the same in all the editions, but the 6th edition is far better for the cursive instructions.

 

You don't need to understand the spelling instructions to use the handwriting instructions.

 

There are some free online instructions here and some free videos here.

[Murphy101]

Our lady of victory cursive

 

Or HWOT if they are a leftie struggling.

[monkeymama07]

Copywork done at your elbow, with an eraser in your hand. Daily. Before he starts tell him you expect him to do only his very best writing on that page, and whip that eraser out as soon as you see a mistake happening. "Oh. That letter starts here. Around, up, down. Try again!" Lather, rinse, repeat. Start with a very small assignment, like, "The cat sat on the mat." Be sure to compliment a job done well, and resist the urge to give him larger sentences right away. Let the sentence length and complexity grow slowly over the year as his skill and endurance grow.

[monkeymama07]

So If its not copywork time do you just tolerate the terrible writing?

[Hunter]

So If its not copywork time do you just tolerate the terrible writing?

 

Not me. But I am also careful not to assign more writing than can be completed slowly enough to be done correctly.

[raceNzanesmom]

We use and love HWT. I did move to smaller lined paper.

[monkeymama07]

So do you just use notebook paper or the Wide lined stuff?

[SilverMoon]

So If its not copywork time do you just tolerate the terrible writing?

Yes and no. At first that simple copywork probably won't change the rest of his writing at all, but over time it will. In the meantime, I would take an intentional whittling approach to a five year old's writing. Assuming he's always working at your elbow, you can catch the most atrocious mistakes as he makes them, erase them quickly, and have him try again. As he masters those letters, shift your focus to the next 3-5 worst ones.

 

 

So do you just use notebook paper or the Wide lined stuff?

I would use grade 1 tablet paper with a five year old. You can find it at any office or educational supply store.

[heidip2p]

We are using PAL for writing and it is awesome.

[pollo_la]

I use Pentime with all 3 of mine that are writing age. This is after using HWOT and A Reason for Handwriting. I didn't really "love" either of those. I do love Pentime though. My youngest 2 (almost 5 and 6) are using book one, and my 8 year old is using book 3.

[metrodorus]

Hi, I made a series of videos for my own teaching cursive handwriting, and have uploaded them to YouTube. I use the letterforms I was taught in South Africa in the 1970's. I also studied lettering at the City and Guilds of London Art School.

 

In the videos I write with a steel nib, as this made the shapes clearer. My students have been able to learn from these videos with minimal input from myself, although I do look over their work and correct errors. I also make a point of circling their best efforts.

 

The videos are free, use them as you wish.

[boscopup]

I've been using Pentime this year and really like it. It's plain and simple, but the kids seem to like it. One just started the grade 1 book 1 manuscript. The other is about halfway through the cursive section of the grade 2 book.

 

And I'll ditto the advice to work at elbow and erase mistakes as necessary or give verbal reminders for letter formation. I had to remediate my oldest when I pulled him out of first grade. He was starting his letters at the bottom or other weird places, often causing his letters to run into each other. For a good 3 weeks, I watched him like a hawk any time he wrote anything (not hard, because he never wrote anything outside of school :tongue_smilie:), and then I eased up a bit once I saw that he was remembering proper letter formation each time.