Handwriting Without Tears

Presented by: Erin Sears and Jessica Christmas

History

Jan Olsen: occupational therapist; founder and developer of the program

In 1977, her son, John, struggled with handwriting in 1st grade, so this program is a response to his tears

Olsen used her OT background to help come up with strategies to help John

History Continued

John’s teacher noticed his progress and asked Olsen to tutor other students, which developed into her first therapists’ guide

Used in grades K-5

There is also a Pre-K program

Purpose

Planned to help children learn handwriting skills in the easiest and most efficient way

Children can transition quickly from learning mechanics of handwriting to focusing on content

Provides developmentally appropriate multisensory tools and strategies

FeaturesCan be used in group

settings or individuallyFlexible curriculum, so

it is able to fit within any schedule

Only requires 15 minutes a day 5 minutes giving the

lesson 5-10 minutes for the

students to practice

Suggests teaching handwriting everyday to incorporate the new lesson with writing throughout the day

Use Friday’s as review days, with no new lessons being taught

Materials: chalkboards, magnetic boards, wooden blocks, workbooks, Mat Man pieces, clay

Features Continued

Instructional stages Prior to handwriting instruction: prepare children in

handwriting readiness During handwriting instruction:

First stage- show how to form letters, words, and sentences

Second stage- copying; students complete workbook and worksheet lessons; teacher provides direct help when the student has difficulty

Third stage- independent writing; should grow in proportion to a child’s mastery of handwriting skill

Print Developmental Teaching Order

CapitalsFrog Jump Capitals (F E D P B R N M)Starting Corner Capitals (H K L U V W X Y Z)Center Starters (C O Q G S A I T J)

LowercaseExactly like capitals but smaller (c o s v w t)High frequency that being with magic c (a d j)Rest of vowels/similar to capitals (u i e l k y j)They dive! (p r n m h b)Tricky (f q x z)

Cursive Developmental Teaching Order

Lowercase Familiar from printing

- c a d g h t p

Loop stroke pattern -

e l f

- u y i j

- k r s

Tow truck letters -

o w b v

Bumpy letters - m n

- x z q

Limitations There are a lot of materialsOrder of letters can be

confusingOnly uses bottom and middle

line, so students may get confused when using different paper

State Curriculum ConnectionCurrently incorporated in Arkansas, Georgia,

Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and New York

Approved by Howard County in MDAligns with Grade 1: Standard 5.0 Controlling Language

E.1. Produce handwriting that is legible to the audience A. Form upper and lower case manuscript letters B. control size and spacing of manuscript letters on

appropriately lined paper C. Use manuscript in daily assignments to build accuracy and

automaticity

Ideas for an Elementary Classroom

Fits into Response to Intervention strategies

Use to help inspire students to love to write, and to write neatly and proficiently

Provide practice through authentic writing experiences

References

Maryland State Department of Education. Using the state curriculum. Retrieved from http://mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/reading/standard5/grade1.html

Handwriting Without Tears. Why it works. Retrieved from http://www.hwtears.com/hwt/why-it-works