Category Archives: Pen/Pencil Hold
Joyful Learning
This comes from NPR today: http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/08/06/336361277/scientists-say-childs-play-helps-build-a-better-brain Apparently there will be more on the subject this week—from 8/6/2014 As stated herein before, we should leave forming letters and numerals until kids are ready. Their hands and fingers need to develop so … Continue reading
Pre-Writing Activities
Recently I observed a half hour Kindergarten handwriting class. It was exceptional! It was all about hand and finger strengthening and finger positioning as it applies to holding a writing tool. No letters. No numbers. 1) Lacing: Thread colored yarn … Continue reading
Kindergarten and Thereafter
Recently I observed a half hour Kindergarten handwriting class. It was exceptional! It was all about hand and finger strengthening and finger positioning as it applies to holding a writing tool. No letters. No numbers. Each child had a pre-writing … Continue reading
A Child’s Writing Tool
If you want to write fluently your hand and fingers need to relax. Some have unorthodox pen holds that work, but most are inefficient and too tight to allow easy movement. I just discovered Twist ’n Write, an ergonomic, automatic … Continue reading
A Versitile App
Eden tells me that she bought the app, Letters Make Words, to help her write when using a stylus on her iPad. I designed the app for young, beginning writers, and never thought that it might help adults as well. … Continue reading
Playful Activity for Good Pencil Hold
Tips to Fix Your Handwriting
Just posted to YouTube: Tips to Fix Your Handwriting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_F7FqCe6To More videos are in the works that I hope will be helpful.
Why Cursive Doesn’t Work
Advocates of the cursive that joins all lowercase letters within words say it helps fine motor skills. That’s not what I see in recent media images of children practicing their cursive, some even winners of handwriting contests! Students are hunched … Continue reading
More Comment than Review of The Missing Ink by Philip Hensher
The book is certain to have an impact on those who fret over the fate of handwriting. I especially appreciated the last chapter regarding our very human reasons for putting pen to paper. As one who has taught an italic … Continue reading
The Left-Handed Flop Drop
Some left-handed writers (even a few right-handers) have a hooked wrist when they write. It may simply be caused by the way they were told to position their paper. Left-handers hook so they can see what they are writing. The … Continue reading