I had someone suggest this to me today. I've looked at it online and it looks pretty good. I'm thinking my one daughter would do better with something more hands on. I just wanted to hear if anyone here has used it and if it seemed to work for you or not. Of course I wont' know if it works for us until/if we try it, but thought I would ask. Anything else like this out there you can suggest? Thanks so much!
I have heard good things about it, but I don't know any specifics. I would like to hear about it, too!
We use it. I like the type of script that is taught. It is somewhere in between print and cursive. Very good for children with handwriting issues and they use a lot of catchy phases to help the children remember how to form things and where to start. It is also really cheap unless you get all the extras (which can be created at home for the most part if you decide to use them).
Thank you! Are the wooden capital letters a must have? I'm not trying to be stingy, but just trying to figure out if we need those? She does know what the letters look like, it is just writing them that is the issue.
We don't have them and don't have anything to replace them. If you find you need them you can get thick foam sheets or foam core and cut your own. I think the wet/dry slate is the most helpful and you can pick up a small slate at the dollar store!
Do they use italics or D'nealian? I've never used it, but I've also heard wonderful stuff about it. (Hey! We just learned yesterday in history that italics was "invented" by some Italian printer during the Renaisance!)
It doesn't really use d'nealian or italics. . .;-) As far as the wooden pieces being necessary. . .I love them. I'm not convinced you need them but I think for kids with motor issues they are excellent. In fact the program is hunky dory but for kids who have motor issues or kids who hate handwriting I would highly recommend it. Oh--and for left handed kids. ;-) The reason I like them is that I have several kids so it provides letter practice etc. for the little ones. You can make them out of laminated card stock (I mean make them out of card stock and then laminate them) but I was given my set. I do like the chalk board and magnetic board though. . .but again. . .they were gifts. The wooden pieces are flat and are a long 'stick', a short stick, a big curve and a short curve.
Our experience with HWOT (we love it, btw!)... When ds had just turned 3, we used the wooden pieces and letter cards. He could make letters without writing! He loved it! I bought mine on Ebay from a guy who makes them himself (from the HWOT pattern). They were significantly cheaper, but that was three years ago. When ds turned 4, we started the pre-k program. We used the wooden pieces still, the CD (if you have a little one, you MUST buy the FUN CD; it's worth every penny!), and the Get Set for School Workbook. Still loved it. Later in the year (I think he got it for a Christmas present), we added the Stamp and See Screen which is perfect for littles! They get to stamp the letter on the screen (think magna-doodle) then trace it with a small magnet piece. It helps them learn fine motor skills and reinforces the order in which a letter is made. Last year, we used the K book when ds turned 5 (Letters and Numbers for Me). We implemented the slate (perfect!!). We hit a bump in the road when ds started lower case letters...so we stopped the workbook and used HWOT grey block paper to practice upper case letters. This year, we are continuing with Letters and Numbers for Me (almost finished). We will move on to the next workbook when ds finishes this one. I love HWOT...and we can reuse everything with our next ds (except the workbooks). ami*
Yes. And basically, there are only 4 strokes in HWOT (big curve, little curve, big line, little line). It really helps them to get familiar with the names of each stroke. AND you get to play the Hokey Pokey with the pieces if you get the CD. :lol: I liked the letter cards because (for B, for instance), I would say big line...and Elijah would put that in the right spot. Then I would say, next is the little curve at the top...and last is the little curve at the bottom. We talked our way through them about 1/2 dozen times before I let him "play" with them on his own (and he knew what to do). I thought it was a fabulous independent activity for a 3 yo!
This may seem like a dumb question, but I am REALLY not visual. The pieces are just for the upper case letters, right? And if you have used this program, about what did it cost you?
I'm so not visual either. They are for numbers too. You can basically make all of the letters using the four strokes above. . .big line, little line, big curve, little curve. So like a small 'a' would be a little curve plus a little line. A small 'd' would be a little curve plus a big line. A big 'd' would be a big line plus a big curve. A 'c' would be a big curve for capital and a little curve for lower case. . .does that make sense?
OK I'm getting what you're saying for those letters, but what about m or z or something like that? Do you have to have multiple little lines or little curves?
OK I think I was reading Ami's comment about 4 strokes as 4 pieces. So you have more than one of each piece I am guessing?
Oh yes. . .you have several big lines, little lines, little curves and big curves. So like a 'z' would be 3 little lines. And a capital 'z' would be a little line across the top, and big line diagonally, and a little line across the bottom. On a side note. . .bc it teaches letters in this manner, it is great for kids with special needs or kids who have motor difficulties and it is also very good for left handed students. (LOL which I never cared about until we realized that both twins are left handed!) Oh and regarding cost. . .the workbooks are not expensive. I'm not sure how much the whole thing costs bc my set was given to me. I think that if this is the type of program you need--it is well worth it.
Thank you all so much. I think we will order it. I've posted about this before, but the one daughter of mine is soo stubborn, you can't imagine. I just can't find what will click for her with this. Thanks again, you all helped soo much!
