How to Teach Longhand Writing

Most children learn longhand writing by imitating, copying and finally, independent writing. The student needs to watch how the teacher’s hand moves when forming the letters or words. By imitating your hand movements step-by-step on the chalkboard, the student begins to learn proper letter formation. Once the child feels comfortable with imitating the teacher, it is time to focus on copying to refine the child’s skills. When you have reached this point in teaching longhand writing it is important that the student learns how to hold a pencil properly, as well as placing the writing paper in the proper position to create the proper wrist position. Soon the child will be writing on his own, without needing to imitate or copy the teacher’s work. He will be able to think about what he wants to say and easily write his thoughts down on the paper. If you teach longhand writing to the class on a daily basis you will get amazing results.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Desks
• Chalkboard
• Writing paper
• Pencils
• Alphabet cards, large and small

1. Position the furniture in the classroom so the child is facing the chalkboard. Arranging the desks in this way allows the student to focus her attention on you and not her surroundings.

2. Keep the chalkboard in your classroom clear of unnecessary visual stimulation. You will need plenty of space to show the students how to write letters, words and sentences in longhand.

3. Teach the student to place her writing paper in the proper position. The slant of the writing paper needs to track the natural arc of the child’s preferred writing hand. Right-handed students need to place the right corner of the paper higher, and for left-handed students the left side of the paper should be higher.

4. Display alphabet cards above the chalkboard for the child to see during the handwriting lesson. It is also a good idea to provide each student with their own smaller version of the same cards to keep at his desk.

5. Show the student how to hold a pencil by placing the pencil on a table or desk with the sharpened end pointing away from you. Grasp the pencil between the thumb and first two fingers about 1 inch from the point. Hold the eraser and move the pencil around until it is in the most comfortable position for writing.

6. Write the alphabet in longhand on the chalkboard. Ask the child to come up to the board and trace over your writing with her finger. You can do this activity by bringing the children up one at a time or in small groups.

7. Keep your daily handwriting lessons short. Children work better in 15- to 20-minute increments. After this time the student’s attention begins to move away from the lesson and the writing may become messy and impossible to read.

Tips & Warnings

• Encourage the student to use longhand writing daily.

• Allow the child to stretch and exercise his arms and hands before beginning the handwriting lesson.