Topic outline
Developmental Pre-Writing
When your student is struggling with handwriting, here are some developmental milestones, signs or 'readiness'. Your student needs to 'learn to write' before they can 'write to learn'.
Handwriting without Tears
What is Handwriting Without Tears (HWT)?
https://www.hwtears.com/hwtYou can use the HWT theory and methodology without having to necessarily buy all the materials. Many students need this adapted and you can be flexible if you try and not stray from the teaching order and the sequencing language. Look for more resources in this moodle for free adaptations and activities you can use without spending money.
Some example resources related to the program "Handwriting Without Tears" (HWT)Using LiteracyCenter.net to support Handwriting Without Tears curriculum for FREE.
For early learners or those who aren't ready yet for paper pencil activities, a favorite activity is to use Literacy Center website, which simulates the wooden letter pieces into an easy complete modeled puzzle for each upper case letter. You can perform these activities easily on a smart board to work on letter formations in a group or individual setting.
Click on the link to open Literacy Center and then select from a wide variety of early learning literacy activities. For the letter pieces game select the Uppercase option and then lesson 2:
http://www.literacycenter.net/play_learn/letters_en/letters_form_en.phpProper demonstrations and modeling of letter formations is essential. You can either set a student up individually or in groups to work on the formation sequences they need to focus on. On a smart board, you simply tap the letter, watch it being formed correctly and then try it out with an ink layer. Students at their desks can practice in the air or on a sheet of paper after watching the model as many times as they need.
Upper Case letters here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmQeh42FXrc
Lower Case letters here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFLAx3tRbsY
Awesome YouTube based HWT instruction from CaliOTChrissy
This video collection is awesome if you need to provide instruction to students using the HWT curriculum. If students are self learners this may be all you need for them. If you would like to learn how to teach the letter groups, this is a great resource as well. Please note, that these videos demonstrate how to teach the HWT letters in the proper sequence and within letter groups. However, traditional 3 lined writing paper is used, which can often be preferred for some.
The entire Video Collection is sorted for you here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/CallOTChrissy/playlists?sort=dd&shelf_id=14&view=50Resources beyond Handwriting Without Tears
Resources for the student/older student who is working on improving their written legibility.
- Booklet "Better Handwriting for Adults" File 2.6MB PDF document
Power Point Presentations
For an over view of handwriting issues, possible problems, and strategies to try
Handwriting Apps for iPad
There are tons of early learning printing types of apps available. Most of the free ones allow you to try it using a few letters, and the best ones require a modest payment between $3-5 to unlock all the features.
Letter School
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/letterschool-learn-to-write/id435476174?mt=8Letter school continues to be a huge favorite! It even allows you to work with specific letter formations such as HWT and/or D'nealian. It offers progressively difficult trials from near error-less tapping of starting points to free-style attempts to printing the letters. Highly engaging format that students really like!
HWT App
HWT offers their own "wet dry try" app. Some like it, and some do not. Read the well written review by an OT so you can manage your expectations.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/handwriting-without-tears/id548753732?mt=8