Handwriting Without Tears®
The Hands-On Curriculum for Student Success
Presented by:Corinne Tuck, BSc.OT, OT(c)Angela Rath, BSc.Kin, BSc.OT, OT(c)
Edmonton Regional Educational Consulting Services (ERECS)
Objectives – What we will do
Provide an overview of the HWT curriculum Accommodations and practical strategiesReflect on your current handwriting practicesHow the HWT curriculum could be applied in your classroom
Objectives – What we won’t do
Detailed training of the HWT Curriculum (www.hwtears.com) (If you want detailed training, talk to your OT or check the website for workshops near you!!)
Handwriting Curriculum Survey
What printing curriculum do you use?How is printing currently being taught in your school?How do you currently teach printing to your students?
Zaner-Bloser
www.zaner-bloser.comLong standing (100 years)Step by step approachContinuous stroke, vertical manuscript4 lined paper with red baseline, dotted midline and blue headline and a blue line below the baselineStudents use this interlined paper up to Grade 4 and then transition to double line paper in Grade 5 and on.
D’Nealian Manuscript
www.dnealian.comSlanted printMost letters formed with one continuous strokeMost lower case letters are pre-cursors for cursiveVaried starting places
Handwriting Without Tears®
www.hwtears.comManuscript vertical styleDouble lined paper used from beginning to endMulti-sensory
Letter Style
Print Style
Cursive Style
Letters
Take out a piece of lined paper and a pen/pencil…
Developmental Teaching Order - Printing
Developmental Teaching Order – Cursive
Three Stages of Learning
Imitation: The teacher demonstrates the letter formation. The child imitates the teachers. Copying: Children are asked to copy a model of a practice word by looking at the word. Independent Writing: Children are asked to write a word without demonstration and without a model. They have to write from memory.
HWT® is Multi-sensory
Hold on…you have to teach…
Posture
Posture Stomp Correct Posture
Paper Position
Looking out for “Lefties”
Pencil Skills
Tripod Quadropod
Page Layout
The more you do, the worse you get phenomenon!
Copy one model at a time
Double Line Paper
Take a look at space…
Double Line Paper
http://www.hwtears.com/aplus
Line Generalization
Review & Check Strategies
Screening
Screener of Handwriting Proficiency
Universal/whole class screening tool Determines where students are succeeding and where they are strugglingAllows for focused handwriting instruction http://www.hwtears.com/screener/about-the-screener.
Assessment
Print ToolComplete printing evaluation for students that are identified as needing further testingNot standardized assessmentAssesses capitals, numbers, and lowercase letter skills.Determines where students are succeeding and where they are strugglingAllows for focused handwriting instruction Skills evaluated: memory, orientation, placement, size, start, sequence, control, and spacing
Handwriting Difficulties
Results of an assessment (Print Tool or other assessment) allow handwriting instruction to target areas of difficulty
Special Populations
HWT can be used with various special populations
Autism/Aspergers SyndromeDown SyndromePoor VisionCerebral PalsyDysgraphia
Handwriting AccommodationsRecommendations put in place to help a child with writing tasks and achieve academic success:
Adaptations to handwriting • Adapted worksheets/paper, specific
handwriting curriculum, classroom seating, writing surface, pencil type/modification, etc.
Alternatives to printing• Scribe, digital voice recorder, word/phrase
banks on cards, keyboarding, software considerations (writing grids, graphic organizers, word prediction, etc.), etc.
Functional Printing
What is functional printing?What are the goals for printing for students with disabilities? For regular students? For at risk students?
Integrating: Handwriting & Reading
Language arts program of studies includes handwriting in several general outcomes across all grade levels Language arts & handwriting teaching strategies:
Separate handwriting and reading teaching ordersIntegrate handwriting and reading teaching ordersFollow the reading teaching order
Ways to use HWT® in your classroom
Whole class Small groupIndividual instructionWhole school Cursive
Success with HWT®
Students SucceedChildren of all learning styles and ability levels learn to write neatly and efficiently.Handwriting becomes a natural skill.Students can focus on content of their work rather than the physical act of writing.Handwriting success fosters student pride and interest in learning.Children who write well enjoy school more and perform better in all subjects.
Parents are ProudHandwriting is the most visible expression of a child’s performance in school.Parents are excited with student success.Papers start going up on the refrigerator.Excitement breeds parents’involvement, interest, and support.
Teachers are ExcitedLittle time is needed for class preparation.Easy for both new and experienced teachers.Short lessons that get results.No more wasted time reviewing illegible papers.Teachers are pleased with improved student performance and interest.
Administrators see Results
All students succeed using HWT.Continuity and consistency exist across all grade levels.HWT supports and integrates with other Language Arts curriculums.HWT reduces need for remediation.Student workbooks are affordably priced.
Useful Handwriting Resources
Handwriting Standards – “produces legible handwriting” is this enough? http://www.hwtears.com/standards.OT On-Hand http://www.capitalhealth.ca/EspeciallyFor/OTOnHand/default.htm.
Questions??
Feel free to contact us….
Angela Rath, ERECS [email protected] Tuck, ERECS [email protected]