Choosing a Handwriting Scheme

1 Choosing a Handwriting Scheme A r sum of known UK. Handwriting schemes Choosing a Handwriting Scheme The National Handwriting Association. is published by the National Aims to: Handwriting Association raise awareness of 2013 Handwriting as a crucial All rights reserved. Reproduction of any component of literacy promote and foster good part of this publication is not permitted practice in the teaching of without the written permission of the Handwriting publishers. provide support for those working with children and adults who have Handwriting difficulties First editions (known as Which Handwriting Scheme ?) To fulfil these aims we: 2001 maintain an up-to-date web Additional supplements 2002 & 3 site run in-service training in Printed version 2005 schools, clinics and other ISBN No. 1872832 19 9 centres Edited by Gwen Dornan and Jane Taylor run a 5-day course on for the NHA with additional help from Handwriting produce an annual journal for members of the Association our members to keep them informed on the latest 2013 Edition research, Handwriting Edited by Gwen Dornan practice and resources publish practical booklets and Grateful thanks to: other materials on specific The publishers of the schemes for aspects of Handwriting supplying materials, giving permission provide practical information for parents and professionals for copies of illustrations and keeping liaise with commercial us up-dated with any changes to their enterprises to give guidance schemes.

2 On the manufacture of writing equipment Hilary Cook for support and assistance. work with central and local Sheila Henderson for editorial advice. government to improve standards of Handwriting support research into Handwriting The Association has members from many professions in both educa- tion and health, including teachers, Special Needs Coordinators (SENCOs), educational psycholo- gists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and paediatri- cians. Membership is open to individuals;. to schools and other centres keen to keep up with developments in the area of Handwriting and to We expect to add to this resource when necessary. If you know of commercial firms who support our any Scheme that you think should be included in future editions aims (corporate membership). please contact Laraine Bateman: Please would the publishers inform us of any alterations to their Registered Charity Number: materials. 1051157.

3 Essential Information Contents Introduction 4. Which Scheme to Choose 5. At a Glance 7. Schemes Best Handwriting Andrew Brodie, Bloomsbury Publishing 8. Collins Primary Focus: Handwriting Sue Peet, Collins Education 11. Developing Handwriting Skills Christopher Jarman, NAPE 15. The Handwriting File Kath Balcombe, KBER 19. The Handwriting Rescue Scheme Pippa Chudley, Multi-Sensory Learning Ltd 23. Handwriting Today Andrew Brodie, Bloomsbury Publishing 26. Handwriting : The Way to Teach Separate and Joined Letters 29. Rosemary Sassoon, Special Direct Handwriting the Wessex Way Maureen Cox, AMS Educational Ltd 31. Joint Exercises for successful writing AMS Educational Ltd 33. Kingston Cursive Handwriting Programme Paula Morse et al, TRTS Publishing 35. Left Hand Writing Skills Mark & Heather Stewart, Robinswood Press 38. letter -join Better Skills 41. Morrells Handwriting Morrells Handwriting 45. Nelson Handwriting John Jackman & Anita Warwick, Nelson Thornes 49.

4 The Old Fashioned Writing Book Tom Barnard, Ward Lock Educational 54. One-A-Day letter Formation AMS Educational Ltd 56. Oxford Handwriting Practice Lida Kindersley, Cardoza Kindersley Workshop 58. Penpals for Handwriting Gill Budgell & Kate Ruttle, Cambridge-Hitachi 61. Revised Structured Cursive Writing Phillips & Leonard, Ann Arbor Publishers Ltd 66. Scholastic Literacy Skills: Handwriting Amanda McLeod, Scholastic Ltd 68. Start Write, Stay Right! Alison Harris & Janet Taylor, Special Direct 73. Support for Handwriting Louis Fidge, Learning Materials Ltd 77. Additional Resources 80. Contents WHAT IS A Scheme ? The minimum requirement for a publication to be considered Introduction to be a Scheme ' is the provision of material for the progressive teaching of Handwriting skills from the stage of learning to write single Handwriting schemes do not teach children to write any letters to mastering joins. Many publications of course more than reading schemes teach children to read.

5 offer more. The essential requirement is a teacher with knowledge of writing and how to teach it. AIMS. 1 Tibertius 2002 At the beginning of each Scheme is a synthesis of the aims as stated by the Handwriting is a complex skill requiring a combination of motor author/publisher. coordination and knowledge of the writing system. In order to become legible, fluent and fast, a great deal of practice is required. SAMPLE PAGES. A student who is unable to write clearly and quickly is at a from each programme give an disadvantage in today's schools. indication of the script, the illustrations and the layout. It The teacher's role in facilitating the acquisition of this skill is vital, should be noted that the extending from encouraging the preschool child to make a mark, printing quality, colour and size to motivating the top primary pupil to acquire the fluency and may not be as in the actual speed required for progress in secondary school.

6 A published publication. Handwriting Scheme can assist the teacher and his or her students on this journey but no Scheme is perfect for all students at all COMMENT. stages. Any Scheme needs careful consideration before purchase. We do not recommend any particular Scheme , as this is a Advantages of a Handwriting Scheme : judgment which can only be Functions as an important component of the Handwriting made by a school in relation to policy of the school. its own requirements. There is a short comment at the end of Provides a structure for the school's Handwriting programme. each Scheme which, along with Facilitates consistency as pupils move from class to class. the illustrations, will enable May provide ready-made material for lessons. teachers to make an informed Is helpful to incoming teachers who have not contributed to choice. the planning process of the school's Handwriting programme. PHOTOCOPY. Disadvantages: MATERIALS.

7 Following a prescribed Scheme may restrict teachers who are that form part of any Scheme creative and want to develop their own materials. are for use solely within the A Scheme can limit a teacher's ability to adapt to the needs of purchasing establishment unless otherwise stated. a particular group of children. Schemes can be expensive. The purpose of this publication is to give teachers an overview of available material on the market so that they can select publications that fulfil their requirements. Introduction 4. Note: It is important that pupils Which Scheme to receive proper instruction whenever they are presented with a Handwriting worksheet Choose and feedback on completion, with praise, being particularly important. Some considerations to think about: Illustrations give plenty of opportunity for pupils to Style of writing? colour, which should be considered an integral part of Most schools prefer to use an agreed style, at least in the early any Scheme for young children.

8 Stages of learning. In the UK there is not a prescribed national Colouring exercises the style and schools can therefore select one for themselves. In some up/down finger movement and countries, schools focus entirely on print or manuscript without the side-to-side wrist moving on to joined-up writing. In the UK, nearly all schools use movement, both of which are some form of joined-up script. Scripts used in the UK include: essential for fluent Handwriting and can be useful in Print or Manuscript - separate lower case letters establishing good pencil- A simple modern style' joined writing with open holding habits. descenders to g j y, and perhaps f, that give a natural break. Some versions also break after other letters b and p. Some of the publications that The first unjoined letters taught usually have exit flicks to we have included may only be suitable for a certain Key Stage facilitate easy joining. These alphabets were designed to be or age group of children.

9 Easy for children to write. Continuous/fully cursive style with looped descenders (and The current stages in England, Wales and N Ireland are: possibly looped ascenders). Some of these use an entry stroke Early Years Foundation Stage from the writing line as well as an exit flick. There are no Nursery, Playgroup, breaks in these styles. Reception Up to 5 years Key Stage 1 Years 1, 2. Entry stokes or not? 5 7 years old Some teachers prefer to use entry strokes that start from the Key Stage 2 Years 3 6. 7 11 years old writing line. This means children can be taught that every letter Key Stage 3 Years 7 9. starts at the same place and it can establish a rhythm to the 11 14 years old writing. However there are some factors to be considered: Scotland For young children writing their first letters using entry stokes Nursery 3 5 years old Primary 1 5 6 yrs makes the formation of some of the letters difficult to master Primary 2 6 7 yrs (the curve up to and across the top of an a, for example).

10 Primary 3 7 8 yrs If they have learned their letters with an entry stoke children Primary 4 8 9 yrs either need to be taught to join their letters right away (they Primary 5 9 10 yrs might need further practice of individual letters before they Primary 6 10 11 yrs are ready for this) or there will be a stage when each letter Primary 7 11 12 yrs within a word is written separately with both its entry and exit stroke. This is possible but does make words look long and Note that there have been complicated. changes in government When entry strokes are added at the joining stage the teacher recommendations since some of the schemes were written. needs to be aware that some children will consider them an add on' and write them in a downward direction after the letter is completed so rather defeating the purpose. Which Scheme to Choose 5. Care needs to be taken when the top exit Note that many recent schemes use typefaces, letters (o r v w) are written in joined style as few of which are as fluent as writing by hand, the following letter does not need a base line and teachers using these schemes need to be entry stroke and children often put in a loop aware of this.