Handwriting 

in 4K

All Waupaca 4K classes all use a program called Handwriting Without Tears which is part of the Learning Without Tears Company.  Check their website for more information: https://www.lwtears.com/solutions/writing/handwriting-without-tears  Name writing is an important skill that is taught and practiced all year long in 4K.  Below are some tips and tricks that can be used to help any struggling writer.


Note:  According to Rhoda  Kellogg (1898-1987) a researcher known for her work studying children's drawings, children go through 4 stages of drawing: pattern, shape, design, and pictorial.  Children go through all four stages at different times but stages are not skipped.  Below is a picture of the 20 different scribbles that she identified.


Correct pencil/crayon grip is an important and often difficult task for beginning writers.  We use this section of the "Crayon Song" to help students with correct finger placement.




Whenever possible use short writing tools such as: broken crayons, golf size pencils, and short markers like the Crayola Pip-Squeaks.  Shorter writing tools make it more difficult for students to hold the tool with their fist instead of  a tripod grip.


To help students begin the name writing process we often will write the student's name with a highlighter.  This way students can see their name written correctly and can write directly on the highlighted name.  Name samples written in dashed lines confuse students as they don't see the lines and curves needed to make letters but instead they just try to connect the dots.

Directionality is also confusing for beginning writers.  Without a starting point students will write all over the paper and often print their letters very large.  Draw a smiley face on the paper where you want the student to begin writing.  This will help them move their writing from left to right.  If their printing is too large, draw a box/rectangle for the student to write their name in. 

The Handwriting Without Tears program introduces uppercase letters in a specific order by the easiest to the most difficult to write.  All uppercase letters are made with big lines, little lines, big curves, and little curves.  The easiest letters to write have only straight lines such as: L, F, E, H, T, and I.  Letters with curves increase in difficulty: U, C, O, Q, G, S, J, D, P, B, and R.  And letters with slanted lines are the most difficult for students to write: K, A, M, N, N, V, W, X, Y, and Z.  Don't forget, all uppercase letters start at the top and go down.

The most import thing that you can do to help your child improve their handwriting skills is to do activities that will help strengthen their fine motor skills.