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

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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

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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

Posted in All ages, Beginners, Education, Older Students & Adults, Pen/Pencil Hold, Physical comfort, Posture | Leave a comment |
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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

Posted in Beginners, cursive, Education, Pen/Pencil Hold, Physical comfort | Leave a comment |
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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

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Playful Activity for Good Pencil Hold

Posted in Beginners, Pen/Pencil Hold, Physical comfort | Tagged , | Leave a comment |
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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.

Posted in All ages, cursive, Directional Movement, Education, Older Students & Adults, Pen/Pencil Hold, Physical comfort, Posture | 3 Comments |
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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

Posted in All ages, Beginners, cursive, Education, Older Students & Adults, Pen/Pencil Hold, Posture | Tagged , , | 5 Comments |
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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

Posted in All ages, Beginners, cursive, Education, News, Older Students & Adults, Pen/Pencil Hold, Physical comfort | Leave a comment |
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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

Posted in All ages, Directional Movement, Education, left-handers, Pen/Pencil Hold | Leave a comment |
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