What next for 1st grade handwriting

[greenbabybottoms]

We started 1st grade with our oldest in April, she has about 10 pages left in HWOT handwriting so I feel like I need a backup. She struggles a lot with writing and understanding how to write in whole sentences so I was thinking about writing with ease. I thought that would give her the opportunity to keep practicing handwriting and also touch on how to write complete sentences well. Anyone recommend that?

 

Fwiw we are using sonlight core a and the core a science, Singapore and life of Fred math, FLL for grammer (which we love) and all about spelling we will start in august. My thought was to do WWE and FLL on alternating days.

[boscopup]

Yes, WWE is a great program to start with a first grader. :) And it should fit in nicely with your other things.

 

As far as a first grader writing in whole sentences... I only do copywork with my first grader - no original writing. So he is learning to write in whole sentences that way. The oral narration work in WWE is also helpful for learning complete sentences, as the questions are to be answered in complete sentences (much like the FLL1 questions). If the child answers without a complete sentence, you just repeat their answer in the context of a complete sentence and have the child repeat that sentence. The more you practice this, the easier it gets for the child. They need to see/hear complete sentences modeled for them before they can figure out what they are. In speech, we use a lot of incomplete sentences:

 

"Where are your shoes?"

"On the shelf."

 

So this complete sentence thing is kind of new to them when answering questions. :)

[Tanikit]

I think WWE would be a good idea but I would probably still continue with HWOT too - I have found that without specific handwriting instruction (just forming letters - not copywork) that my child's handwriting deteriorates and I want good handwriting and not just acceptable handwriting. I have used some of WWE with my DD and it has definitely taught her to answer and write in full sentences. We do copywork as well as working on letter formation and also writing her own pieces (not all on the same day of course).

[Sally Day]

WWE has worked well here for my son who's writing is way behind his reading. It provides the little-and often practice that he seems to need. We combine it with FLL. It's all easy-peasy to implement and provides a thorough grounding but at a nice slow pace.

[greenbabybottoms]

Thanks for the input! I think we will give wwe a try.

 

To the poster who suggested continuing with handwriting would you suggest I just get the 2 nd grade workbook then?

[Walking-Iris]

You can just get the 2nd grade workbook. You may want to give your child a bit of a break however. You don't want those HWT workbooks to get boring. 

 

I ordered a Scholastic ebook for handwriting practice. It's called Riddles and Jokes Handwriting or something like that. The child has a riddle to use as copywork and handwriting practice, and then you cut and assemble it to make a personal joke book that the child can also (hopefully) read on his own. I think my kiddo will find it fun.

 

FLL/WWE would be enough. I don't think it's terribly necessary to keep going with the HWT back to back when you can keep up handwriting practice with other means. ETC is also good for the handwriting practice as well as phonics.