Peterson Handwriting

Summary and rating: 4  This is a VERY interesting way to teach students to write, whether you are teaching a small child beginning printing, an older child cursive, or even to improve the writing skills of a left-handed or injured adult writer. The learning method is based upon the fact that the act of writing is muscle based. So…just as you can teach your muscles certain repetitive motions…you can also use muscle memory as an integral part of the writing process—to use muscle memory to make letter strokes using rhythm and action rather than visually guiding the strokes. The Peterson studies have shown that to use this process results in better handwriting.

I really enjoyed having Rand Nelson help me choose which software to use. We met in a customer service online meeting room, which was cool, to discuss the program. At that point I was able to download my lesson e-workbooks. As I am teaching a budding writer, I have the beginning print levels.

After my download and watching some videos on the site, I did get the BIG picture—and very much wanted to teach handwriting in this fashion. It seems like a very straightforward and common sense way to learn to write. But, I felt a little overwhelmed as I am not a creative type. Drawing in the air? I needed a bit of help.

Although you can go to the Peterson customer support people, I went to my TOS Crewmates to ask how some of them were doing. I felt better when one of the women I respect highly agreed that it took some work to learn exactly how to use the materials.

I ended realizing that, for me, I needed to lighten up a bit and enjoy drawing in the air and drawing on our erase boards…and just go slowly through the four main steps of the curriculum’s method:

1. Illustrate and describe: Use large visual pictures and a word chant to describe each letter stroke.
2. Air writing: Practice using large strokes (such as in the air) to train the muscle memory
3. Finger tracking and chant: Students use finger-tracing on paper—but lead with their voice, not visually
4. Write and Say: Using a pencil they write—first on unlined paper then lined. If all the above steps are properly processed, this should come pretty naturally.

The company has an in-depth website and they recommend using their online support all through the process of using the curriculum, from having an expert help you choose which level lessons to pick, to reviewing data on scope and sequence, to watching videos about how to understand and use the program. They do have good customer service.

You can watch a method presentation to see how this works! Go here. Or, just go browse the Peterson website. You can see some neat items, from homeschool kits to animated letter cards to a software program for the curriculum that uses pen tablets. Price points vary, as there are many options.

I have to admit, May is not a good time to start a new curriculum. With my daughter having Spring Fever, I am hard pressed to really dig into the curriculum. I do think she enjoys it and I plan to use it when we start back to school in late Summer. I will let you all know how we do!

I hear that some of the reviewers who jumped into this right away are seeing positive results. To read reviews from my TOS crewmates, click here!

I received downloads of the beginner print series to write this review for the TOS Crew. I have given my unbiased opinion.