Parents of kindergarten students ought to have a handwriting curriculum for use at home. In the classroom Mrs. Garrison uses A Reason for Handwriting which focuses on proper letter formation, and she makes sure that each child practices their full name (first and last) and uses a proper grip. At home, a parent should be co-teaching proper formation of letters and proper grip as well.
How do I co-teach proper letter formation?
Some parents follow along with A Reason for Handwriting at home. Using the Kindergarten log sheet, a parent can know what their child is learning on any given week in order to reinforce the same skill at home. Other parents purchase their own Handwriting curriculum for home use. Handwriting Without Tears is a popular choice, and can also be started as early as Preschool or used over the summer for additional practice. For other families, picking up dollar store “Printing Practice” workbooks is a good option as well, or the Booklist-recommended My First Learn-to-Write Workbook by Rockridge Press.
How can I help my child with challenges?
For students who find handwriting difficult, additional practice will be necessary, and this is where mazes, dot-to-dots, coloring, and other drawing and tracing activities make for great handwriting help to build motor control. And keep practicing their name- these are the letters that will be most important to them personally when first starting out. Using a yellow highlighter to give children a visual model as they fill in letters on a practice page, or using a dry erase marker on a whiteboard or page protector, are all strategies for writing practice. And know that you are not alone. Many parents at CHA have stories about the extra effort it took to get their child writing!
How do we practice a proper pencil grip?
Generally, the tripod grasp is how you want your child holding their pencil. (Consult Google, YouTube, or one of our lovely primary grade tutors if you don’t know what this is.) Some suggestions from CHA parents on how to practice this are as follows:
Handwriting Beyond Kindergarten
A Reason for Handwriting is also used in 1st Grade by Mrs. Craig. At this grade level parents will get handwriting sheets sent home for work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A parent is still co-teaching proper letter formation and proper grip at this grade level. Also, since they will be writing sentences in 1st grade, spacing practice becomes an important skill that will require a parent’s watchful eye. (Note: Meltdowns at the table because you have told your child to re-write something neater is normal. Do not be alarmed!) Depending on your child’s skill you may need to supplement with additional writing practice. (See suggestions above.)
This is part of the Board Bits: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks series. Is there a question about CHA or homeschool that you would like answered? Submit inquiries to Tracey at tracey.willet@classicalcha.org
How do I co-teach proper letter formation?
Some parents follow along with A Reason for Handwriting at home. Using the Kindergarten log sheet, a parent can know what their child is learning on any given week in order to reinforce the same skill at home. Other parents purchase their own Handwriting curriculum for home use. Handwriting Without Tears is a popular choice, and can also be started as early as Preschool or used over the summer for additional practice. For other families, picking up dollar store “Printing Practice” workbooks is a good option as well, or the Booklist-recommended My First Learn-to-Write Workbook by Rockridge Press.
How can I help my child with challenges?
For students who find handwriting difficult, additional practice will be necessary, and this is where mazes, dot-to-dots, coloring, and other drawing and tracing activities make for great handwriting help to build motor control. And keep practicing their name- these are the letters that will be most important to them personally when first starting out. Using a yellow highlighter to give children a visual model as they fill in letters on a practice page, or using a dry erase marker on a whiteboard or page protector, are all strategies for writing practice. And know that you are not alone. Many parents at CHA have stories about the extra effort it took to get their child writing!
How do we practice a proper pencil grip?
Generally, the tripod grasp is how you want your child holding their pencil. (Consult Google, YouTube, or one of our lovely primary grade tutors if you don’t know what this is.) Some suggestions from CHA parents on how to practice this are as follows:
- Use small broken crayons or pencils (about an inch in length) ($)
- Try the Tri-Write Triangular pencil by Ticonderoga ($$)
- Egg grips or other specially designed pencil grips ($$$)
Handwriting Beyond Kindergarten
A Reason for Handwriting is also used in 1st Grade by Mrs. Craig. At this grade level parents will get handwriting sheets sent home for work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A parent is still co-teaching proper letter formation and proper grip at this grade level. Also, since they will be writing sentences in 1st grade, spacing practice becomes an important skill that will require a parent’s watchful eye. (Note: Meltdowns at the table because you have told your child to re-write something neater is normal. Do not be alarmed!) Depending on your child’s skill you may need to supplement with additional writing practice. (See suggestions above.)
This is part of the Board Bits: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks series. Is there a question about CHA or homeschool that you would like answered? Submit inquiries to Tracey at tracey.willet@classicalcha.org
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