Roll up your sleeves and get ready to conquer printing skills! This level assumes your student has had some practice with the Handwriting Without Tears Method. But if not—no worries! The Teacher Guide will provide all the direction you need to implement the included unique manipulatives, found in the multisensory and explicit instruction sections in the margins. The pace of letter formation is just a bit faster than in Kick Start Kindergarten. This package’s manipulatives will accommodate a second child using this same level; you may want to add a second consumable student book, perhaps a slate, and your desired number of Pencils for Little Hands. For a single student, you may want more than one of these just-right sized pencils as well. They’re perfectly sized to develop a student’s writing grip. See links below for individual products. ~ Ruth
In this level of Handwriting Without Tears, children start by learning the capital letters that are made with “frog jumps,” and “starting corners,” and then those that begin “at the center.” This level provides 26 pages for learning and practicing capitals. Students then progress to learning lowercase letters and, by the end of the year, to practicing words and sentences. The consumable student books are in horizontal layout. The necessary manipulatives include the Letters to Words Blackboard Set;13 wood pieces with mat; the blackboard with double lines; slate chalkboard with chalk bits; little sponge cubes; the pencil for little hands; and songs (available for free on YouTube®). Additional products can be chosen to tailor to your child’s needs. For example, one option includes these same products in a blue string bag with an additional Stamp & See Screen® kit.
The Teacher Book teaches parents the methodology step-by-step and provides additional learning options. The easy-to-follow teaching directions are scripted. Writing Activities include the study of syllables, sentences, punctuation, question and answers, paragraphs, vowels, rhymes, poetry, and sentences. ~ Ruth
