I have been looking at this program and it looks like it is EXACTLY what my kids need. Question is can I just purchase the student workbook and the teachers manual? I will be purchasing the 3rd grade cursive books as well as the 1st grade printing books....
You don't really need the TM, just get the workbook. My child didn't like this one for some reason, so we now use Abeka and she loves it. But, the other one is good too.
We used this for a bit, then with my son we tossed handwriting altogether for a while, BUT... I think you really do need the TM to really get the most out of the program. BUT... that is just my thought and we only used it for a portion of K.
I couldn't afford both the workbook and the teachers book so I opted out of the TM.. We'll start out next month using this program. I'm really excited.. Maybe I can purchase the TM used somewhere. I found a few things on hs classifieds and vegsource,but I haven't heard anything from the sellers
We are using the HWT but just the student workbooks. I got our books at Paperbackswap for free with our book credits. You would only need the TMs if you were using the entire curriculum such as the wooden letters, chalk board, tapes/CDs. I have the TM for just the first two books and I made my own materials for some of the exercises suggested in the TM. We also use the free printables for Handwriting at Donna Young.org Here is the link: http://donnayoung.org/penmanship/index.htm
I have a lot of their materials, but when I taught preschool I used other curriculum along with it. It only focuses on uppercase, which I didn't like...so, the kids would learn their name and how to write it in all caps, only to have to relearn how to spell and write it later on which frustrated them. I don't know how it is for the older kids, but for preschool I used substitutes along with the curriculum itself. I still use a lot of the materials/manipulatives with my youngest who is learning his alphabet and numerals.
Thanks for the link to donnayoung! I had NO idea she had printables for it.. Going to check it out right now.
The teacher's guides have a lot of useful helps to determine handwriting issues and remediate handwriting problems. It doesn't just utilize the wooden letters and such. It helps you to use a door frame to help them visualize letters and such. I think the teacher's guides are a must if you are remediating handwriting and grip issues.
I want the guides but right now we can't swing them.. Christmas completely wiped us out. But...Paperbackswap.com has a few of the manuals. I don't have credits or $$ to purchase. Maybe in a few weeks I can get them.. I've noticed that there newer books out. Are the 1st edition books compatable with the newer books???
