Children who struggle with handwriting often avoid writing. They may be viewed as unable to express themselves in writing when the issue is actually a lack of fluency and competence in the formation of letters. And as with reading, their writing development suffers from this avoidance. The Benson Handwriting program includes everything you need to develop fluent and legible student handwriting.
Letter Formation
• Clear, Consistent Formation Descriptions
Letters and numbers are taught as a sequence of strokes. Strokes complement and reinforce the directionality of reading—top-to-bottom and left-to-right.
• Letters Introduced Based on Formation
The letters are organized and introduced based on similar strokes used in their formation, beginning with letters formed using vertical and horizontal lines.
• Manuscript Letter Formation That Transfers to Cursive Letter Formation
Many letters are continuous stroke similar to the formation of cursive letters, making the transfer to cursive seamless.
• Appropriately-Sized Writing Lines with Color Guidelines
Colored guidelines help children know where to begin their letters and understand the relative size and position of the letters.
Self-Assessment
Self-assessment prompts ask children to review and evaluate their work. Letter-specific criteria are offered to help children analyze all aspects of their letter formation.
Teacher Modeling and Instruction
Handwriting instruction follows the principles of guided practice. The teacher models the formation of the letter while verbalizing the formation directions. Children have auditory and kinesthetic opportunities to practice letter formation before putting pencils to paper. Their first experience involves tracing appropriately sized and positioned letters.
Integrated Language Arts Skills
Grade-appropriate language arts skills are integrated to provide relevant practice. Language arts standards for the skills covered are listed in the teacher edition.
STUDENT BOOK
- Clear, consistent guidelines for letter formation
- Integrated language arts skills for relevant practice
PRACTICE MASTERS
- Lesson-specific masters provide added practice
- Reproducible letter forms offer kinesthetic reinforcement
TEACHER EDITIONS
- A three-step presentation—Present, Practice, and Proceed
- Detailed formation directions for the capital and lowercase forms of the letter for the teacher to verbalize while modeling
- Letter-specific suggestions for children having difficulty, including those for kinesthetic learners
- Letter-specific evaluation statements.
- Activities to reinforce and extend the grade-appropriate language arts focus of the lesson.
DESK STRIPS
5cm x 46cm (2” x 18”) strips
Removable, self-adhesive desk strips provide letter models and formation guidelines for every student. 35 strips per roll.
WALL POSTERS
20cm x 56cm (8” x 22”) sections
Sectional wall posters feature capital and lowercase letters with formation arrows and numbers.
TEACHER PACKAGES
Includes a Teacher Edition, Practice Masters, Desk Stips, and Wall Posters.
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