Handwriting
Your child will be
learning to form letters using the D'Nealian
Handwriting Program. The model letters of the
D'Nealian Handwriting Alphabet are somewhat
different from those you may have learned to
print. The letters slant, and many have ending
strokes. These ending strokes will make it easy
for letters to be joined later when your child
learns cursive handwriting. Each letter is made
with a single stroke except letters with a dot or
a cross bar.
You may notice that
your child's handwriting differs somewhat from
our sample alphabet. That's to be expected. In
the D'Nealian philosophy, individuality is
respected. If your child's handwriting is
readable, it is acceptable - so long as size,
form, and spacing are consistent. When practicing
handwriting with your child or when there is
written homework, please use the D'Nealian
alphabet below as your guide.
Students practice
their handwriting each day at school. It is
important to remember that writing is a
developmental process. Just as babies learn to
walk at different times, children learn to
control their pencils at different times. (This
goes for scissor control as well.) Children who
exhibit developmental youngness often have
difficulty with fine motor skills. Aside from
practice, there is little else that will speed up
the process.
Parents often are
concerned about letter and number reversals.
Reversals are common at this age, and sometimes
children struggle with reversals for several
years. The D'Nealian program helps with reversals
because the child does not pick up the pencil. If
you are concerned or have questions, I will be
glad to talk with you anytime.
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