Topic outline

  • Is handwriting instruction necessary?

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    The answer is YES!

    Researchers Karin James and Virginia Berninger explain how evidence from brain research supports the teaching of handwriting. Research shows that learning to write by hand has positive effects on letter learning, word reading, and writing. Research further shows that keyboarding complements but should not replace learning and using handwriting.

    In their words, "given the research evidence for effective handwriting instruction and its importance for literacy learning (both reading and writing), the question of whether handwriting is necessary in the computer era should be replaced with the following: How can educators justify not teaching handwriting as well as computer tools during the elementary and middle school grades?"1

    For more information from researchers, read Handwriting in the 21st Century (linked below), a summary of findings shared at an education summit about handwriting.   Visit Handwriting 21 Summit on Facebook.


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    1James, Karin and Virginia Berninger. "Brain research shows why handwriting should be taught in the computer age." Bulletin. Volume 51, No 1, Autumn 2019, pp. 25-30. Learning Difficulties Australia. https://www.ldaustralia.org/app/uploads/2021/07/1048-LDA-Bulletin-Autumn-2019_D4_WEB.pdf 
    [ Note: This is a Special Issue: Writing and Writing Difficulties ]

    • Handwriting should not be treated as a relic of the distant past.

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      Video 1. Alice Nine shares findings of the research. URL

      Video Sketch: Why should we teach handwriting skills? (10m 21s)

    • resource icon
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      Handwriting in the 21st Century? File
      488.3 KB PDF document

      Research Shows Why Handwriting Belongs in Today's Classroom. 
      A Summary of Research Presented at
      Handwriting in the 21st Century      ?
      An Educational Summit

    • How to Teach Letter Formation

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      Video 2. Alice Nine models teaching letter formation with phonograms URL

      Video Sketch:  Alice Nine models how to teach letter formation with the introduction of phonograms -- teaching letter, letter formation, and sounds.  (16m 00s)

      Please note: This is a training video from our professional development course JCSpell Word Study.

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      Video 3. Alice Nine shares helps for teaching letter formation. URL

      Video Sketch: Does JCSpell have student songs for letters? Should we use air writing for handwriting practice? Can we practice letter formation without pencil and paper? (07m 15s)

      Please note: This is a training video from our professional development course JCSpell Word Study.  It is one of several videos about how to teach handwriting; other videos include how to teach posture, pencil gripping, writing lines and margins, and how to assess handwriting. 

    • Invite Alice Nine to co-teach with you

      How?

      Subscribe to Alice Nine Academy and stream her student-facing videos into your home or classroom. Explicit letter-formation instruction is integrated with phonics in the following Alice NIne Academy courses:

      In the K-1 Subscription Package
      1)  "Letters, Sounds, Words" (K) -- Students form letters with playdough, with a plate of cornmeal, and with pencil and paper.
      2)  "The Phonograms" (1st) -- Instruction integrates letter formation and letter sounds as the first 26 phonograms are taught

      In both 2-3 Subscription Package and 4-5 Subscription Package
      3)  "The English Code" (2nd-5th) -- Students practice letter formation and letter sounds as the first 26 phonograms are reviewed

      A special 25-lesson course for cursive is available in both 2-3 Subscription Package and 4-5 Subscription Package
      4)  "Cursive Handwriting" (2nd-5th) -- Students learn that "cursive is a faster way to write" as they learn how to form and connect cursive letters overlaid on their manuscript writing.

    • url icon
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      Website: PhonogramPage.com URL

      Teachers share that this is one of the best online phonic / handwriting resources.

      View video clips that show the formation of each of the 26 lower case letters in manuscript (print). The clock face is used as a backdrop to form the letters.

      PhonogramPage is an Alice Nine website.

      Link to it on your school website or class page.
      Share with parents for their easy and free at-home practice of letter formation as well as phonograms (sounds with letters or letter combinations).

    • How to Teach Cursive

    • url icon
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      Video 4. Writing a cursive m URL

      Video Sketch: How do we write a cursive m? (01m 44s)

      Please note: This video is from our professional development course JCSpell Word Study.

    • url icon
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      Video 5. Writing a cursive z URL

      Video Sketch: How do we write a cursive z? (02m 06s)

      Please note: This video is from our professional development course JCSpell Word Study.

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      Video 6. Cursive Connections with JCSpell URL

      Video Sketch: What are the connecting lines we use in cursive? (05m 52s)

      Please note: This video is from our professional development course JCSpell Word Study.

    • "Cursive Handwriting" Lessons

      Alice Nine will co-teach with you as you stream her student-facing videos into your home or classroom.

      Subscribe to Alice Nine Academy
      (Available in Subscription Packages 2-3  and  4-5)
      A 25-lesson course



      View the first three lessons below.
    • url icon
      URL
      Cursive Handwriting: Lesson 1 URL

      Lesson taught by Alice Nine in our Academy course  "Cursive Handwriting."
      Open the link to view this video in Facebook.
      For best viewing, enter "fullscreen" and be sure to turn on your sound.

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      Cursive Handwriting: Lesson 2 URL
      Lesson taught by Alice Nine in our Academy course  "Cursive Handwriting."
      Open the link to view this video in Facebook.

      For best viewing, enter "fullscreen" and be sure to turn on your sound.

    • url icon
      URL
      Cursive Handwriting: Lesson 3 URL

      Lesson taught by Alice Nine in our Academy course  "Cursive Handwriting."
      Open the link to view this video in Facebook.
      For best viewing, enter "fullscreen" and be sure to turn on your sound.

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