Primary Special Needs - A Passion for Handwriting
For headteacher Katy Brierley, dyslexia meant enduring rather than enjoying her school days. But it also gave her a passion for handwriting that she has since translated into an effective whole-school policy that ensures pupils are intensively coached in handwriting skills.
Dr Mary Howard of the National Handwriting Association points out that handwriting skills are of particular importance for special educational needs pupils; it's sometimes one of the few means of communication at their disposal.
This programme highlights how the head and class teachers at Northowram Primary School, near Halifax, lead a policy based on three main planks.
Pupils are taught to write in a cursive script, they are taught in short ten minute blocks daily, and teachers use multi-sensory and other fun techniques to embed the learning.
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Facebookbecky evans on 19 September 2008
I am trying to find out about the validity/views/experiences of introducing cursive script when children start in Recept ...
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- Duration: 15:00 minutes
- Published: 06 September 2006
- Licence information for Primary Special Needs - A Passion for Handwriting
Featured in
Support Materials
Useful websites
Primary Resources: English Downloadable handwriting resources for teachers to use with pupils
Left 'n' Write Information and contact details for teachers to seek advice about left-handed pupils
National Handwriting Association Information and contact details for the NHA
Anything Left-Handed Helpful instructions/advice for left-handed pupils
Northern Grid: SEN Handwriting Information, resources and ideas on teaching SEN pupils handwriting
The 3D Centre Information on the centre that provides help with specific learning difficulties through identification and assessment, teaching and courses for teachers and other school staff and professionals
NHA: Handwriting Problems Article on the handwriting difficulties experienced by pupils with Asperger Syndrome
National Literacy Trust: Handwriting Links to a series of reports highlighting the benefits to pupils with good handwriting skills, especially during examinations
Comments
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Cursive script - some advice please19 September 2008 - 10:56I am trying to find out about the validity/views/experiences of introducing cursive script when children start in Reception classes. Does anyone have any strong evidence that this is a good way to start writing for very young children, as i have reservations about how it might confuse them (particularly if they can already form most letters clearly without the 'lead up'!)
Becky
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Great- help!3 July 2008 - 11:08Is there a published handwriting scheme that uses the continuous cursive style as shown in the video?
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Re : Handwriting24 July 2008 - 14:53Have you looked at Write Dance published by Lucky Duck? There is Write Dance in the Nursery, Write Dance, and More Write Dance. I have found the books, particularly the last one, very useful and you can also buy videos to accompany them. The books come with an audio CD and the scheme links movement, art, music and literacy.
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continuous cursive handwriting13 March 2007 - 17:57As a teacher who has used this style with individual dyslexic pupils and as part of a whole school dyslexia friendly policy this video is excellent and reflects my own experience. Oldfield School in Maidenhead coincidentally produces a booklet and video which backs up the content of this programme.
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Great. Will be using this23 February 2007 - 16:57Great. Will be using this video to introduce new cursive scheme after Easter. Having just come from a school where we had fully implemented this same approach it's wonderful to have another school's positive evaluation to back me up!
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A Passion for Handwriting21 January 2007 - 21:37Very clear and well presented, focusing on Year 1 /2. It would have been useful to see how it works in the Foundation Stage as children commence letter formation. Samples of work from older children demonstrate the high standard of presentation of written work. It would have been interesting to hear if staff have found that it does help with spelling as suggested by Dr Mary Howard?
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cursive handwriting20 January 2007 - 16:00Currently working with Year 3 SEN children in a junior school who find writing very difficult and is obvious they have not been given clear instruction in their handwriting. Have had to begin at the very start but am definitely in favour of using cursive script as early as possible as it does help with securing spellings through movement.
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A passion for handwriting20 January 2007 - 14:29Many thanks! I have introduced fully cursive handwriting and multi-sensory spelling strategies in my school in the last 2 years. This programme shows how to combine them and will be a better "refresher" for staff than listening to the boring English manager (me!) droning on!
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http://www.teachers.tv/associates/node/81619 January 2007 - 17:04Very useful explanation of the theory and practice. It opens up the debate about teaching the cursive style throughout the primary phases.
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