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Ask Jan Archives

Jan Olsen, OTR, is the founder of Handwriting Without Tears®. She has answers to many of your questions, and you can find valuable information in the Q&As here.

  • I have been asked to teach lowercase letters first to kindergartners this year. How can I adapt the HWT curriculum?
    See the Answer  |  Discuss (8 comments)
  • What is the best way to prepare my child for kindergarten and make sure he can keep up with the curriculum?
    See the Answer  |  Discuss (10 comments)
  • Why do you start with capitals when teaching letter formation? It just makes sense! From a developmental perspective some letters are more difficult than others. Capital letters are much easier to form than lowercase letters. Here are some of the reasons:
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  • Dear Jan, What do you suggest for teachers who are introducing the Handwriting Without Tears® program with a reading curriculum that introduces the letters in a different order? They are concerned that it will be confusing to teach reading in one order and handwriting in another.
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  •  I need a quick cheat sheet for the verbal directions for all capital and lowercase letters.
    See the Answer  |  Discuss (2 comments)
  • I have been using the HWT curriculum to teach my older children cursive because the program we had been using was too frustrating. My left-handed child likes the HWT program but also likes loops because of the other method he had been using. Should I discourage his using loops and follow HWT's format entirely? He also tends to slant some letters.
    See the Answer  |  Discuss (4 comments)
  • You’re the expert and we’d like to hear from you! We would like to turn the tables and have you tell us what works for you and how you have been using the HWT program in your classroom.
    See the Answer  |  Discuss (13 comments)
  • I've been struggling with how to help students who use too much pressure when writing. For those who are using an inefficient grip, I find that grotto grippers usually help. However, I have some students who have a tripod grasp pattern and are still using too much force.
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  • When working with Pre-K children with developmental delays who don't necessarily have certain foundation skills (e.g. language, vocabulary, prepositions, positions in space), do you recommend waiting until they have these skills to use the HWT program? 
    See the Answer  |  Discuss (8 comments)
  • How do you accommodate a math curriculum that expects kindergartners to write numbers from the beginning, with very little time for instruction? The number 2 is really throwing these poor kids, most of whom had no structured writing instruction Pre-K or have had no Pre-K whatsoever! I can move around reading/language, but math is a bit trickier.
    See the Answer  |  Discuss (12 comments)
  • How do I ensure success in all writing activities, not just during handwriting time?A. The HWT workbooks and lessons are friendly and accessible to engage children in active learning. Most children will continue writing with good habits during all writing activities, but some children may need a little extra help. Here are some tips:
    See the Answer  |  Discuss (2 comments)
  • What are the benefits of handwriting camp compared to individual tutoring? Wouldn't a child do better with one-on-one instruction?
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  • Do I have to teach handwriting only on double lines? What if we have to use other styles of lined paper for other coursework?
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  • How should I handle name writing at the beginning of kindergarten?
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  • Why the emphasis on top-to-bottom letter formation? It seems like many students in preschool and kindergarten start their letters from the bottom. I had a teacher ask me, "Why do I need to teach top-to-bottom? Isn't legibility the only thing that's important?"
    See the Answer  |  Discuss (20 comments)
  • How do I ensure success in all writing activities, not just during handwriting time?
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  • I have 27 kindergarten students (with no aide) who range in ability from never having held a pencil to already printing their names, but with poor grips and incorrect letter formation. Where do I start, and how do I deal with all the different levels of instruction needed in the allotted time?
    See the Answer  |  Discuss (6 comments)
  • Why do you teach a vertical style of cursive? Doesn’t that interfere with a child’s development of individual handwriting style?
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  • Why do you use slates and blackboards instead of dry-erase boards? I use your blackboard and like it, but am often asked about dry-erase boards.
    See the Answer  |  Discuss (35 comments)
  • I don’t have time to go through the entire teacher’s guide. How do I get students going in their workbooks?
    See the Answer  |  Discuss (9 comments)