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Q: 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. How important is it that all the letters are straight up and down?

A: Slanted or vertical cursive is not a matter of correctness; it is just a matter of style. Most children, including most left-handers, find vertical cursive much easier to learn. However, if your child has developed a slant, check that all his letters are slanted uniformly. If he loops certain letters (such as h, k, p), then his letter formation should be consistent for those letters. Recognize that this is the child's personal style. The most important goal is legible handwriting.

Comments (4)

I get many referrals for handwriting; however, the older children (grades 4+) are the most difficult because they already have so much classwork and homework to deal with they don't really have time to practice writing. Also, many of them will work once per week with me but will not practice otherwise. At what grade/age do we suggest using assistive technology (i.e. laptops or Alphasmarts) for most of their writing assignments?

— Paul McDonald on May 6, 2010

I have been using and promoting HWTears curriculum for many years and have attended all three workshops. I have been asked to do a one hour presentation to a school to promote its use beyond just the work book. I would like some guidance on what you feel are the most salient points to share in my one hour presentation on June 15th so that K-3 teachers can expand its use in the classroom in the way it was intended? I have my own ideas but would like to hear from you and if you have aready made guideline to share that would be great. Thanks Diane Graham, OT

— Diane Graham on May 10, 2010

Paul,
Although children have more exposure to technology, a larger part of the classroom experience still involves putting pen to paper for note taking, drafts and written tests within the classroom. Keyboarding requires fine motor skills. It is being taught specifically in grades three and four in many school districts’ formal curriculum. The student’s teachers, the child-study team members or related services member on an individual basis may suggest using a laptop or Alpha smarts as a student becomes more proficient in terms of speed and legibility for communication and his ability to understand the use and care of this technology.

— Juliana Guzman on May 13, 2010

I have been asked to teach lowercase first to Kindergartners this year. Any ideas of how to adapt the HWOT curriculum?

— Deborah Weinstein on August 23, 2010

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