Resources-2
The following web resources, chosen by the curriculum writing team who revised this guide, may be used to help support handwriting instruction in early childhood classrooms. This list is not exhaustive; school teams may vet other resources or choose to purchase materials for handwriting practice.
Please note that while “dotted” letter formation practice sheets are readily available, consider the use of highlighter to modify copied pages or gray marker to create your own grayscale prior to running copies. This allows students to trace the letter with a fluid motion and develop muscle memory for the formation, rather than connect dots. Additionally, provide multiple exemplary models to trace on each line, with a gradual release as muscle control increases. It is important to stress quality over quantity and develop muscle memory for correct formation. By providing traceable exemplars that students can revisit several times on a line or page, you avoid students filling a page with incorrect formation and developing bad habits.
In addition to the web resources below, each team has been provided with a copy of Fine Motor Fun by Sherrill B. Flora (2006 Carson-Dellosa Publishing, LLC). It includes hundreds of developmentally age-appropriate activities designed to improve fine motor skills.
Websites
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http://www.coloring.ws/connect-difficulty.html
Links to an external site.
- This website has a variety of dot-to-dot pictures that practice upper and lower case letters and numbers counting by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s.
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http://www.designastudy.com/teaching/tips-1198.html
Links to an external site.
- Research about teaching handwriting.
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http://differentiatedkindergarten.com
Links to an external site.
- Very comprehensive website. Dedicated to the journey of creating a differentiated classroom to meet the needs of all students through fun, engaging and developmentally appropriate activities.
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http://www.first-school.ws/theme/handwriting.htm
Links to an external site.
- Use this site to make resource sheets to practice handwriting. The use of dots and dashes is discouraged, but there are other tracing resource sheets. This site has some pre-writing activities available to print, such as mazes and dot-to-dot pictures.
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http://www.handwritingforkids.com/handwrite/index.htm
Links to an external site.
- This site has an animated alphabet that shows the steps of letter formation and practice pages where you can select the picture shown for each letter.
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http://www.handwritingworksheets.com
Links to an external site.
- Use this site to make handwriting resource sheets. We suggest using the hollow trace.
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http://www.handwritinghelpforkids.com/teachertips.html
Links to an external site.
- A wealth of information about handwriting support and research. There are resource sheets and a question and answer section.
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http://www.ldonline.org/article/6206
Links to an external site.
- A site to show you how to start a handwriting club. There is an example format of a club meeting.
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https://www.lwtears.com/
Links to an external site.
- This site has additional cues that can be used to teach letter formation.
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http://www.meddybemps.com/letterary/guide_and_archives.html
Links to an external site.
- Spinner the spider will show how to draw a letter. Students can also practice writing with their mouse on a resource sheet.
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https://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2016/06/20/why-handwriting-is-still-essential-in-the-keyboard-age
Links to an external site.
- Good article describing that it is essential to teach handwriting to engage and stimulate the brain. There are benefits to teaching handwriting that can further help children pay attention to written language.
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http://www.mrsminersmonkeybusiness.com
Links to an external site.
- Use this site to find lots of Pokey Pin patterns (freebies and for purchase). Includes alphabet and seasonal designs.
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http://www.pearsonclinical.com/therapy/products/100000663/the-beery-buktenica-developmental-test-of-visual-motor-integration-6th-edition-beery-vmi.html
Links to an external site.
- Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration, Sixth Edition, The (BEERY™ VMI) Administration, Scoring and Teaching Manual.
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http://www.readingrockets.org/article/importance-teaching-handwriting
Links to an external site.
- Information related to why modest investments in time devoted to handwriting instruction in early grades is important; links to several related articles.
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http://school.familyeducation.com/penmanship/growth-and-development/38388.html
Links to an external site.
- A site to share with parents about at home actives to practice pre-motor skills
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http://www.senteacher.org/Worksheet/16/Handwriting.xhtml
Links to an external site.
- Practice resource sheets for making spirals, waves, and lines
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http://www.tlsbooks.com/kindergartenworksheets.htm
Links to an external site.
- Resource sheets for fine motor skills, found on the second page.
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https://www.zaner-bloser.com/
Links to an external site.
- This is the model that HCPSS has highlighted for handwriting instruction. The site has helpful hints for teachers and you can request sample materials with a CD-ROM of printable resources and a guide to letter formation.
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