POSTER TEMPLATE BY: Selection & Implementation of an Elementary Handwriting Program Stefanie Garber July 2011, EDLD 655 THE PLAN for SCHOOL YEAR Additional Resources OPTIONS GOAL OPTIONS (cont’d) 6 Questions Educators Should Ask Before Choosing A Handwriting Program By November 1, 2011 the staff of our Elementary will have selected a building-wide Handwriting Program & have established a year long action plan for implementation. Our elementary currently does not have a systematic plan for teaching our students handwriting. I found that each grade level does something different and thus when they reach 5 th grade, they are not able to complete assignments in cursive as has been the requirement. While informally talking to teachers, all grade levels expressed frustration except kindergarten. In addition, in examining the research about writing, if students don’t have a set, script that they have mastered, they expend their mental energy tending to the formation of the letters rather than the content they are trying to get written. Currently: Kinder = teaches ball & stick without lined paper 1 st gr. = teaches Handwriting Without Tears print 2 nd gr. = teaches D’Nealian print & cursive 3 rd gr. = practices D’Nealian cursive but students don’t use it in class work 4 th gr. = practices Handwriting Without Tears cursive, but students don’t use it in class work 5 th gr. = practices D’Nealian packets, but kids don’t use it in class work There are many different types of handwriting programs however no research was found on one being preferred or best practice over another. Rather, several things to consider when using a handwriting program. There are 33 different “font families” however the ones below are most popular in American elementary schools : We will look at what the research says about why a handwriting program is important and the standards for handwriting at each grade level. Then, we will explore samples of the top 6/most popular and select one for our building. The articles we will use include: Bounds, Gwendolyn. "How Handwriting Trains the Brain." Wall Street Journal 5 Oct Print. Asher, Asha V. "Handwriting Instruction in Elementary Schools." The American Journal of Occupational Therapy 60.4 (2006): Print. Kelley, Raina. "The Writing On The Wall." Newsweek 3 Nov Web. Lana, Brenda. "Six Ways the Handwriting Process Benefits Student Learning." Teachers and Parents Use - Feedback. Web.. Gentry, Ph.D, J.Richard, and Steve Graham, Ph.D. Creating Better Readers and Writers White Paper. RESOURCES COOL TOOL A primary grade Special Ed teacher has developed a program to help reinforce handwriting lessons. It has an animation of how to write each letter, both cursive and manuscript. FONTWARE Educational Fontware, Inc. designs, manufactures and sells handwriting fonts based on workbooks produced by companies DIFFERENT PROGRAMS (Zaner-Bloser) (Handwriting Without Tears) (Barchowsky) (D’Nealian) (Palmer Method) (Getty-Dubay) “ QUESTION 1 Which alphabet is developmentally appropriate? 2 Which alphabet is easier to write? 3 Which alphabet is easier to read? 4 Which alphabet is more easily integrated? 5 Which alphabet is easier to teach? 6Does slanted manuscript help with students’ transition to cursive? Teaching a slanted alphabet to young students seems like a good idea. However, after several years of use in some schools, research has found surprising answers to some key questions in the ongoing debate of vertical vs. slanted. July 19-Order samples of the 6 top programs August 31-Present Plan to Elementary Staff Educate ourselves using articles about why a handwriting program is important Examine State Standards for handwriting Welcome staff to reach out to other schools and learn what they do & then bring this back to the group. They could also complete additional internet searching. September 14In small groups analyze the 6 different programs (will get through 3) September 21Finish small group work completing analysis of next 3 programs. September 28Have a meeting in which each person comes with their top 3 in order, with pros and cons written for each of the 3. Discuss Make the decision of which program we will commit to. October 3Submit order for program October 17Hopefully receive program October 19Examine pacing guides & program. Establish small committee to write action plan for implementation. November 2Plan presented to staff & begin implementation MonthlyEvaluate program implementation plan & determine areas needing modification. Committee seeks feedback from staff at each staff meeting May 2011Final evaluation of the year’s work & make suggestions for school year Committee revises plan and has the new improved plan ready for the school year. ResourceActivity Time -10 Meetings with teachers prior to the deadline -5 to 20 minutes at each monthly staff meeting -Outside of these meetings time for teachers to network and research to learn what other schools do -Committee members time to develop the plan $$$$$ -Anywhere from $1,677 to $5187 for workbooks depending on which program is selected for our 260 students -Additional teacher support materials or trainings Patience For all staff to get on board (including teachers and all support staff)