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 …
Guest Blog: A First Grade teacher’s take on Handwriting Heroes Read More »
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 …
Brain Science and Handwriting: The Areas of the Brain involved in Handwriting Read More »
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 …
Brain Science and Handwriting: The Interaction of Writing and Reading Read More »
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 …
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, …
The following video shares five core principles for making handwriting instruction highly effective and engaging. You will learn practical strategies that can be implemented in your classroom right away: Video Script Hi! Today we are going to discuss 5 essential practices to keep in mind when teaching handwriting. SMALL GROUPS The first is that handwriting …
Many students struggle with where to start their letters! Sound familiar? Using three-lined paper makes it easier for your students to know where to start and end their letters. In fact, the use of lines is critical to handwriting development! These easy-to-understand classroom tips and strategies demonstrate how you can use three-lined paper to help …
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 …
“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, …
HANDWRITING HEROES