Handwriting Without Tears

To prepare our students for formal handwriting instruction we utilize the Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) program. During the prekindergarten year the activities are informal and multi-sensory. The program supports developmentally best practice for four-year-olds. This program helps to prepare the children to hold a crayon, color, draw, and imitate capital letters and numbers. Young children need to participate in these readiness activities because they promote effective learning. These activities also appeal to the children's varied learning styles. Beginning writing skills prepare a child to do well in a more formal handwriting program in kindergarten.

The program uses many songs and movement to learn lots of important concepts.  Here the children are learning to listen and follow directions using two big lines.  Ask your child about the 'Tap, Tap, Tap' song.  What great listeners we are!!

Wood pieces and 4-year-olds and notice NO ONE is touching... why you may ask?

The wood pieces are in 'sleeping position!'

 These children are demonstrating 'ready position!'

'Play the big lines like a drum!'

'Touch the big lines to your head!'

 Tap,  Tap, Tap big lines!

The children have also been introduced to their right hand. The 'right' is over-emphasized and taught to help the children to learn proper directionality when reading and writing. Good readers and writers always start on the left and move toward the right!  (This does NOT mean that we teach left-handed children to write with their right hand!)

"Show me your right hand!"

Here the children are shaking hands with their 'partner' during our morning "Hello" song.

The children have also been introduced to the wood pieces from the program that we will be utilizing to teach letter and number production.  At this point, we are focusing on the names of the wood pieces.  Show your child the picture below and ask him/her to name the wood pieces.

(big curve, little curve, big line, little line)