In the Beginning....Before Pencil and Paper

Breaking bad habits is hard to do! Teaching the mechanics of handwriting correctly from the beginning saves time, energy, and frustration for all. The language of instruction STEPS uses to teach the manuscript or cursive handwriting stokes incorporates important directional words, "Start at the top and pull down.", "Form the circle "left to right.", "Now make that stroke half that size." Learning to listen and follow an oral direction is a bonus of this type of instruction. You can introduce the six basic stroke names and their form with tools that only require large muscle coordination and gradually move toward picking up the pencil paper. Read how teaching the Handwriting Strokes fits into the 25 STEPS.


The etch and sketch tools, like the one in the video, are perfect for repetitive practice, removing errors, and encouraging students to form the stroke quickly. Yes, even writing should be fluent and automatic! Always starting a stroke in the same place and forming it the exact same way saves lots of time and brain energy. Just imagine how many times your little darlings will take pencil to paper over a life time!

These practice suggestions fall under the category, "How brave are you?" Introduce and practice the handwriting strokes using shaving cream, chocolate pudding, or finger paint on a table top or tray. Depending on the season you can use a spray water bottle on hot cement, write with a stick in the sand or snow, take turns tracing the stroke on your partner's back and then naming the stroke. Get creative! Share your ideas here or on the STEPS Reading Center Facebook page.