Multisensory Activities

Teaching Order• Teaching order is

developmentally based and reinforces learning in the easiest,

most efficient way.• Correct formation and orientation

are benefits from this teaching order.

Developmental Order of Teaching Capitals

• Some have more than one diagonal stroke

• Some can be reversed

• Some change direction during the stroke

Some Capitals Are Easier than Others:

2-3 year olds

3-4 year olds

4-6 year olds

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Always call them:

- Big Line

- Little Line

- Big Curve

- Little Curve

Introducing the Wood Pieces

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Tactile Discrimination

Bilateral Hand Skills

Capital Letter Wood Pieces

Socialization, Language for Letters, Visual Skills

Positions in Space

Wet-Dry-Try

Teacher’s PartDemonstrate correct letter formation.

Student’s Part

WET DRY TRY

Letter Style• Letters are taught in a simple, clean,

vertical style, easy for everyone to learn.

• The continuous stroke print looks like the letters and words children read every day. It follows developmental principles, prevents reversals, and prepares children for a smooth transition to cursive.

Workbook Design• Simple, straightforward design: easy to use with

no visual distractions.• Large, step-by-step illustrated directions.• Child-friendly language: doesn’t assume children

know left/right, clockwise, forward/backward.• Double line design to decrease line use

confusion.• Generous spacing.• Left-hand friendly.• Reinforces left to right directionality with

graphics.

Here’s the Solution

Numbers

Teaching Strategies• Lessons & activities introduced in

developmental sequence: easiest taught 1st, then builds from there: letters taught in groups of similar formation.

• Multi-sensory Lessons: children move, touch, feel, & manipulate real objects as they learn habits/skills essential for writing.

• Instruction based on 3 stages of learning: imitation, copying, independent writing.

Do You See the Problem?

The More You Do, The Worse You Get Phenomena!

Line Success• With so many lines and so many styles,

children need paper that will prepare them for it all. HWT double lines quickly teach children how to place letters. Small letters fit in the middle space, tall letters go in the top space, descending letters go in the bottom space.

Why Double Lines Work

Research• According to a study published in 1992

(McHale & Cermak), 85 percent of all fine motor time in second-, fourth- and sixth-grade classrooms was spent on paper and pencil activities. A more recent study (Marr, Cermak, Cohn & Henderson, 2003) found that children in kindergarten are now spending 42 percent of their fine motor time on paper and pencil activities during the school day. These studies advocate the value of children learning handwriting skills.

• http://www.hwtears.com/files/HWT%20Research%20Review.pdf

Andy in Trouble – First Grade

Andy, after one month!

Print to Cursive – Keep it Simple, Keep it Familiar

Handwriting Without Tears

Other Method

Website• Check out the Handwriting

Without Tears on the web for more information &

resources:

• www.hwtears.com

Teacher Testimonials

• “…how easy it is to use as a teacher and how well the kids are responding to the instruction.”

• “…so much less frustration with making the letters – no more ‘monkey tails’ or ‘hooks’ on letters eliminates commonly mistaken letters.”

• We noticed 3 things, based on personal ‘working data’: 1. significant increase in automaticity with writing letters 2. significantly fewer reversals 3. kids were no longer ‘drawing’ letters, they were actually ‘writing’!”