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Guest Blog: A First Grade teacher’s take on Handwriting Heroes

Introduction:  My name is Kristen Shawley.  I am a first grade teacher in a rural school.  I had the opportunity to first implement the Handwriting Heroes program in the spring of 2022.  I saw amazing results in the short time that we had to work through this program and I am looking forward to implementing …

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Brain Science and Handwriting: The Areas of the Brain involved in Handwriting

Brain Science and Handwriting The Areas of the Brain involved in Handwriting Learning handwriting is glorious for the brain, it helps us become better readers by forging new connections and strengthening ones that already exist. That sounds great, but how does it happen? What is going on in the brain when we grasp a pencil …

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Brain Science and Handwriting: The Interaction of Writing and Reading

Learning handwriting improves reading skills! How does that happen? Well, we can thank NEUROPLASTICITY. Brains are neuroplastic which means their cell structure changes and grows as we experience new things and overcome challenges. Our brains are made of billions of cells called NEURONS. Neurons pass messages between the brain and the body to control everything …

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Making a Case for Lowercase

In today’s educational landscape, where less time is devoted to handwriting instruction, it is crucial to focus on the script that students require for functional writing tasks. Considering that lowercase letters make up approximately 95% of all letters in reading and writing, it becomes evident why teaching lowercase first should be the preferred approach. Let’s explore the compelling reasons behind …

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Saving the ABC’s for Generation Z

To become proficient writers, students need to know how to handwrite. Although technology is becoming more accessible in higher grades, students in lower grades still depend on pencil-and-paper for written communication. To handwrite, they need to know how to make their letters, and where the letters go on the writing line. Once handwriting is mastered, …

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Pencil Grip Tips

As an occupational therapist, I have seen children hold pencils many ways. Sometimes this is okay, and sometimes it isn’t. While many teachers do not have the time to address pencil grip during their busy days, the way a child holds a pencil directly affects his or her ability to develop legible handwriting. Here are …

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Investigating Poor Handwriting

“I can’t read this!” How many times have you seen this written on a child’s homework assignment?  When a child has bad handwriting, it is often assumed that they are lazy, not putting forth the best effort or just not sufficiently motivated to write neatly. It is especially confusing when the child’s performance is inconsistent, …

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