Handwriting Without Tears: Building Strong Foundations

Over the summer I began  working toward my official Handwriting Without Tears Handwriting Certification, which means I’m learning even more about how to support children as they build early handwriting and fine motor skills. This training helps me understand and utilize the Handwriting Without Tears program we've used for years at FHS in bigger and better ways. I've been learning new strategies and hands-on ideas to bring into the classroom while keeping learning to write fun and meaningful for every child. 

The certification process is all about giving educators advanced strategies and hands-on tips to make the Handwriting Without Tears program even more effective. I'm excited to have learned some new techniques and have gained a fresh approach to using this program to help our students become proficient writers. My aim is to keep learning to write fun, meaningful, and most importantly, enjoyable for every child, so that each student can truly shine as they develop their crucial pre-writing and writing abilities.

What Is Handwriting Without Tears?

Handwriting Without Tears is a program designed especially for young learners. It helps children strengthen the small muscles in their hands, recognize shapes and lines, and begin to understand how letters are formed — all through movement, music, and multisensory play.

During our writing time we will be:

• Building letters with wooden pieces or playdough

• Tracing lines and curves in sand or on chalkboards

• Singing songs and moving our bodies to learn about lines and shapes

• Reinforcing how to hold a crayon or pencil the right way

Step One: Meet Mat Man!

We built Mat Man collaboratively using the same lines and curves we use to make letters.

Our first step in the Handwriting Without Tears journey is meeting Mat Man, a friendly figure made out of the same wooden pieces we’ll later use to build letters.

When we build Mat Man together, we use big and little lines and curves to form his body while singing a fun song that names each part. Without even realizing it, students are learning about:

• How parts come together to make a whole (just like when we form letters!)

• Spatial awareness (where things belong on a page)

• Body parts and vocabulary

• Sequencing and following directions

• Teamwork and confidence

After building Mat Man together we practice building him on our own and even drawing him!

Drawing Mat Man on a white boards helped reinforce what we learned at group time.

Mat Man has quickly become a classroom favorite! The children love seeing him “come to life” and often ask to build him again and again.

What’s Next?

Mat Man kicks off a whole year of learning to write! Our students will go from building people to making letters with the same shapes and wooden pieces, getting really good at making lines, curves, and eventually, the whole alphabet.

This program is set up to build skills step-by-step, making sure all students feel confident and successful every step of the way.

Keep an eye out for Part Two of our Handwriting Without Tears series, when we start building our first letters!