Handwriting Without Tears is a complete multi-sensory handwriting curriculum with resources for pre-K through fifth grade.
First developed by Jan Olson using her occupational therapy background in 1977 to help her first-grade son, this curriculum teaches letters using developmental teaching order. The letters are taught in a certain order to help children learn handwriting easily and efficiently. The program also uses a unique handwriting style developed to aid learners in writing easily.
This curriculum uses many resources and strategies that are unique to the program. Using multi-sensory play, children are taught directionality, imitation, positioning, and sequencing skills, as well as vocabulary. Some of the unique manipulatives available for this program are the Wood Pieces set; used to teach children the shape of the letters, Capital Letter Cards, Roll-a-Dough letters, CD's, and a slate chalkboard.
Educators have the children use their various senses to create letters...they will listen, shape, draw, move, position and otherwise manipulate various media while learning the necessary skills for writing.
As an example, the slate chalkboard is used not only to teach letter formation using chalk, but also teaches using the Wet-Dry-Try method. A child traces a letter or word onto the slate using water, then dries it with a sponge cube. After drying, the child then writes the same letter or word using chalk, firmly cementing the letter or word in the child's memory and hands.
Each of the many resources are specially designed and teaching them is covered in the very helpful teacher's manuals. Handwriting Without Tears also makes numerous training sessions available for parents, teachers, and home educators each year.
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Click below to see what others have said about Handwriting Without Tears...
HWT is acceptable for learning
letter formation
Handwriting Without Tears
Letters and Numbers for Me
2011
Likes - I loved using the wood pieces. It was a very hands-on way for my active daughter …
HWT K
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Levels Used: K
Dates Used: 2009, 2011
Likes: I like the way the letters are broken down into groups. Writing …
Great for Little Boys!
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Levels Used: 1
Dates Used: 2010-2011 School Year
Likes: Engaging; Short enough lessons to keep my 6 year old interested; …
Handwriting without tears... brought mom to tears.
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Levels Used: K and 1
Dates Used: 2007
Likes: I like how this book is great for struggling handwriters or for those …
Handwriting Without Tears
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Levels Used: Get Set For School-Can Do Cursive (Pre K-5th)
Dates Used: 2002-present
Likes:
#1 Easy to follow …
Handwriting without Tears
Handwriting without Tears
I have just started levels 1 and 2 with my girls and I'm impressed.
Likes:
- a somewhat traditional approach to letter …
We didn't want tears!
Product: Handwriting W/O Tears
Subject: Penmanship
Levels Used: ...from basic printing books (Letters and Numbers for Me, My Printing Book, Printing …
Handwriting Without Tears Cursive
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Subject: Penmanship
Levels Used: Cursive (2nd grade)
Dates Used: 2009
Likes: Tears--yes we had tears! My daughter …
Handwriting Without Tears
Handwriting Without Tears
Pre-k and Kindergarten
Dates used: 2008/2009 - Pre-K, 2009 (currently for Kindergarten)
"Handwriting Without Tears" is an …
Handwriting without Tears
Product: Handwriting without Tears
Subject: Writing
Levels Used: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Dates Used: 2003-4& 2009-10
Likes: I started with the 1st Grade …
Handwriting Without Tears
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Subject: Penmanship
Levels Used: K, Gr. 1, Gr. 2, Gr. 3, Gr. 4, Gr. 5
Dates Used: 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, …
Handwriting without Tears
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Subject: Writing
Levels Used: Get Set for School & Letters & Numbers for Me
Dates Used: 2007-current (2008)
Likes: …
Great Program for BOYS! :)
Levels Used: We've used Get Set for School, Letters and Numbers for Me, and My Printing Book (currently using).
Dates Used: 2004- current (will continue …
Handwriting Without Tears
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Subject: teaching handwriting
Levels Used: printing beginners
Dates Used: 2006-2008, twice
Likes: This is a very …
Handwriting Without Tears for the past 8 years
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Subject: Handwriting
Levels Used: PreK through 5th grade
Dates Used: 2000-2008
Likes: I like that Handwriting …
easy to teach, easy to learn, no flair printing and cursive
Product: Handwriting without Tears
Subject: Printing and Cursive
Levels Used: pre-K through 5th grade
Dates Used: 2004-present
Likes: I've started …
Handwriting Without Tears
My youngest daughter just started the Cursive book for 3rd grade. She's had some learning disorders and her handwriting isn't so great. She is doing very …
Handwriting Without Tears With 2 Boys
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Subject: Handwriting
Levels Used: Pre-K
Dates Used: 2008
Likes: WOW! Handwriting Without Tears' Pre-K material …
HWT: Handwriting Without Tears
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Subject: printing and cursive
Levels Used: K through 3rd grade
Dates Used: 2003 through 2008
Likes: I'd have to …
Best Handwriting!
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Subject: Handwriting
Levels Used: All of them.
Dates Used: 2003-2008
Likes:It is SO easy to use. Makes handwriting …
Handwriting-without-Tears made me stop crying!
Product: Handwriting-Without-Tears books, wooden letter pieces/mat and paper refills
Levels Used: Letters and Numbers for Me (Kindergarten), My Printing …
Handwriting LITERALLY without Tears!
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Subject: Handwriting
Levels Used: Pre-K, K, 1, 2, 3
Dates Used: 2002 - current
Likes: This program truly takes …
All Smiles
Product: Handwriting Without Tears
Subject: handwriting
Levels Used: Kindergarten, First Grade
Dates Used: 2007, 2008
Likes: This program was developed …
Love the interaction
Product: HWT My Printing Book
Subject: handwriting
Levels Used: 1st grade
Dates Used: 2008
Likes: I love how they explain the lettering formations. …
Handwriting without Tears
product: Handwriting without Tears
Subject: handwriting
levels used: PK and K
Dates used: 2007-2008
Dislikes: none
Likes: I love that HWT uses …