Category Archives: Education
For Older Students
This comes from Steve Graham, a respected professor at Vanderbilt University. He is frequently quoted in the media. When an average paper written by a school-aged child is written less legibly (hard to read, but readable) versus more legibly, the … Continue reading
More Curious Cursive
There is so much misunderstanding about “cursive” writing that I am going to risk redundancy.. The original meaning of the word is flowing as a river flows, the course of the river, flowing freely. Before books were printed, they were … Continue reading
The Birthday Gifts
Mom: Happy Ninth Birthday, Alex! Alex: Thanks Mom! (Opens a small present.) Um…like, what am I supposed to do with this? Mom: It’s a pen. You write with it. It may help you to write in a more grown-up way. … Continue reading
News from Iceland
Too many years ago Gunnlaugar S E Briem encouraged the Iceland schools to adopt his italic handwriting program. Fast forward to now. The Ministry of Education in Iceland has formally adopted this fine program.
Beautiful Handwriting?
Beautiful handwriting? Beauty in anything is all in the judgment of individual eyes. However, legible handwriting that looks like the writer’s pen flowed freely usually will have my vote for good looks. The right look is achieved when the pen … Continue reading
For You in the Snow Zone
This lesson helps with a child’s hold on writing tools. It requires that you find some tiny beads, such as little crystals to represent snow, and some cotton balls for snowballs. Demonstrate holding a cotton ball in the palm of … Continue reading
Please Look
I just had another look myself! http://66.147.242.192/~operinan/index.html Go to “Handwriting Repair.” This relates to what I wrote about cursive in November, and tells about handwriting in such a clear and imaginative way. Briem is a valued mentor to me.
QUICK TIP For Pen/Pencil Hold
A relaxed hold needs an open palm. For young children ask them to write with a cotton ball held in the palm with the ring and little fingers. The writing finger drives the pencil; the thumb and third finger stabilize … Continue reading
A TURKEY FOR THE USA THANKSGIVING
Pencil hold help and fun for young hands: 1) Give a child or children some corn. Use candy corn or the hard corn found at this season. You could even cut up tiny bits of orange paper and pretend it’s … Continue reading