Writing Journal A (K)

These materials are graded specifically and include both instruction and practice.

Handwriting Without Tears is a unique handwriting program that is truly multisensory! The 2022 Edition of Handwriting Without Tears is beneficial for all children, but the interactive, tactile approach is especially effective for children who struggle with motor skills. It has also been shown to be helpful for left-handed learners. Unique to this program, the practice pages use a two-horizontal-line format rather than the three-horizontal-line format typically found in writing programs. The manuscript letters are formed using a simple single stroke, including the cursive letters, which are taught without a typical slant. Teaching and practice sessions are short (10-15 minutes), without a lot of meaningless busy work. Handwriting Without Tears 2022 begins at the preschool/pre-kindergarten level and offers instruction through cursive in Grade 4. Older students who haven’t mastered handwriting may benefit from the Can-Do Print and Can-Do Cursive, which offer additional practice for grades 5-8. Each level of the 2022 Edition of Handwriting Without Tears consists of a Workbook and Teacher Guide. Manipulatives are required in the early levels, and multiple options are available to meet your individual needs.

The unique methodology makes the Teacher Guides highly valuable, especially for parents teaching younger children or an older struggling student. Along with guidance for the manipulatives, the Teacher Guides include teaching information, additional multisensory activity suggestions, remediation tips, strategies for English Language Learners and children with special needs, and cross-curricular suggestions. There is a 30-day trial of the publisher’s HITT (Handwriting Interactive Teaching Tools) with purchase of the Teacher Guide. These tools appear to be limited to schools and are an additional cost.  While this online support may be helpful, it is certainly not necessary to use this excellent program effectively. Suggested manipulatives are listed with the recommended grade level, and the grade-level Teacher Guide effectively explains the manipulatives.

Consumable Student Workbooks have horizontal pages in Kindergarten through Grade 2. Grade 3 and up offer vertical pages. Beginning in Grade 1, basic grade-appropriate language arts skills are included throughout the lessons. Student Packages contain the grade-level Student Workbook, Building Writers, and the Handwriting Without Tears Journal. The Writing Journals offer an additional writing practice space with the distinctive Handwriting Without Tears line spacing. Building Writers also uses distinctive Handwriting Without Tears spacing and gives students structured, grade-level practice in core writing skills.