The Easy, Fun (and FREE . - Progressive Phonics

ProgressivePrinting 5½ T.M.ageThe easy, fun (and FREE!)way to teach handwriting.Step 1Step 2Step 3Book 1: The BasicsLetters:t, c, a, d, n, m, h, r, s.Shapes taught: Vertical and horizontallines, the “c” shape, “bunny hops” (arches).Step 4Take the test! Is your childready for handwriting?Print out these instructions andworksheets. For more than onestudent, print copies of the“Worksheets Only” version ofthis booklet.One lesson a day! If youhave extra time, startingAFTER lesson 4, use the“Extra Worksheets” for extrapractice (but don’t overdo it).Don’t skip the “Air Writing” – thebig motions help commit thepatterns to memory. The motionsalso help strengthen the shoulderand arm muscles for writing.

TestBeginner Handwriting TestBefore startingCheck readiness.Full Name:For more than one student, save paper by printingcopies of the “Test Only” file.1Age: Date:Important!Although some children learn to read at anearly age, most children aren’t ready forhandwriting until age five or six.This is because, unlike reading, handwritingrelies on physical strength and coordination.2Take the testHave your child/students copy each shapein the empty box next to the shape.If a child can draw the shapes and is usingany pencil grip other than a “fist” or “overhand”grip (see examples on the next page), then he/sheis ready for handwriting instruction.If the shapes are poorly executed (seeexamples on next page), then the childshould wait until he/she is older and hasdeveloped more physical strength andcoordination.Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Handwriting(cut or fold)You aren’t looking for perfection, you arelooking to see if lines are lines (they don’thave to be perfectly straight), if angles areangles (not squiggles or blobs), and ifcircles are “roundish.”Progressive Phonics Beginner Handwriting

Assessing pencil grip.Pencil GripCheck readiness.Test ResultsAssessing the results.(See website for more info)(See our website, ProgressivePhonics.com, for more information.)Fist Grip or “Overhand” Grip NOT READYFISTGRIPOVERHANDGRIP #1Do not force a child to adopt a different pencil grip.Let them grow out of it naturally, at their own pace.ALL OTHER PENCIL GRIPS ARE OKAYFOR BEGINNERS. (See website for examplesLines are inside theboxes (mostly), and theshapes look more or lesslike the desired shapes.This shows enougheye-hand coordinationand hand-strength tobegin handwritinginstruction, but don’tmove too quickly – ittakes time to developmuscles. A little bitevery day is morebeneficial than a“marathon.”OVERHANDGRIP #2Almost all children use a “first grip” or “overhand grip”at some point in their development. Unless they havea physical disability, most children “grow out” of thesegrips, but only when their arm and hand muscles arestrong enough. A child who uses one of these grips isnot doing anything wrong – he/she is simply not readyto hold a pencil differently, and is NOT READY FORHANDWRITING INSTRUCTION.and more information.)PASSNOT A PASSMultiple lines are outsidethe boxes. Only a fewshapes look more or lesslike the shapes beingcopied.Eye-hand coordinationis not yet developedenough to engage in ahandwriting program.Needs more time andpractice with coloringpages and simplecrafts to develophand strength andmotor skills.

onsseL1nsoseLHow to write the letter ‘t’1(Demonstrate on a blackboardor piece of paper.)continued.Air “Writing”The letter t is like a little tree.“Write” the letter t in the air, using big armmovements, saying:It has atall trunk.“Tall line down. Littleline across.”And littlebranchessticking out.Then have your child/students “air write” theletter many times, also saying the steps outloud. Make sure they are (1) “drawing” the tallline from top to bottom, and (2) “drawing” theside line from left to right.When we write the letter t , we alwaysdraw the tall line first, always going fromtop to bottom, and then we draw thesideways line, always going from leftto right.Writing BIG letters in the air (while sayingthe steps out loud) helps to place the “pattern”in a child’s memory. Air writing also strengthensarm and shoulder muscles for writing.1Note: Children/students should use the armthey write with.(cut or fold)2Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 HandwritingCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

Lesson 1 – practice page (A)Lesson 1 – practice page (B)(Name)(Name)1tttttttttttttttCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting(cut or fold)2tttttCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

onsseL12nsoseLHow to write the letter ‘c’2(Demonstrate on a blackboardor piece of paper.)continued.Air “Writing”We are now going to learn how to writethe letter c –“Write” the letter c in the air, using big armmovements, saying:The letter c looks like a little catlying down.“Start at the cat’s ‘nose,’go around and stop.”Then have your child/students “air write” theletter many times, also saying the steps out loud.To write the letter c , start at the nose,go all the way around, and then stop atthe tip of the tail.Go all thewayaroundStart atthe nose.(cut or fold)Stop atthe tip ofthe tail.Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 HandwritingCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

Lesson 2 – practice page (B)(Name)(cut or fold)Lesson 2 – practice page (A)Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting(Name)ccccccccccttttttcccccCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

onsseL13nsoseLHow to write the letter ‘a’3(Demonstrate on a blackboardor piece of paper.)continued.Air “Writing”The letter a looks little bit like an apple –a“Write” the letter a in the air, using big armmovements, saying:“Make a c , but don’t stop!Draw a little line up, then alittle line down. Don’t lift yourpencil until you are done.”To write the letter a :(Or, for short, “Make a c ,then a little line up and alittle line down.”)Then, insteadof stopping,go back upto the dotwhere youstarted.Write the letter in one continuing movement.Don’t lift your pencil until you are done.Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzThen have your child/students “air write” theletter many times, also saying the steps out loud.Then, withoutlifting your pencil,make a straightline down to thegrass.Progressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting(cut or fold)First makea letter c .Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

Lesson 3 – practice page (A)Lesson 3 – practice page (B)a(Name)a(cut or fold)a aaa aa aCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting(Name)aaaaccccaaaaccccCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

nsoseL14Writing letters on the right lines(Demonstrate on a blackboardor piece of paper.)1) Show your child/students thelines and explain to them whatthe different lines mean.Most of theletters fit in themiddle area.2) Then have your child/studentsdo the next two student practicepages.Some letters have armsthat reach up into the sky.sky areaAll letterssit on the“grass”(green line)cat dogmiddle areaundergroundareaSome letters have legsthat dig into the ground(they go “underground”).Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

Lesson 4 – practice page (A)Lesson 4 – practice page ht 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting(cut or fold)cccccCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

Lesson 5 – practice pagenssoLe15(Name)Writing the letter ‘t’ on the lines(Demonstrate on a blackboardor piece of paper.)12Let look at how the letter t fits on the lines –The letter t is tall,so it reaches upinto the sky.But not tall enoughto touch the top ofthe sky. It’s a “little” t , so it doesn’t goall the way up.(cut or fold)The “cross” part goesright here, where themiddle meets the sky.Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 HandwritingCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

Lesson 6 – practice pagenssoLe16Spaces between words(Demonstrate on a blackboardor piece of paper.)(Name)a caWe put spaces between words, so that itis easy to see where one word stopsand another word starts.Right:ca a caA rat sat on a cat.Wrong:Aratsatonacat.a ca a(cut or fold)How much space? About the size ofone letter a , so think of it like puttinga little apple between each word.Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwritingca a caCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

onsseL17nsoseLHow to write the letter ‘d’7(Demonstrate on a blackboardor piece of paper.)continued.Air “Writing”The letter d looks a little like a dogsitting down –“Write” the letter d in the air, using big armmovements, saying:“Start with a c ; then a tallline up and a tall line down.”Then have your child/students “air write” theletter d many times, also saying the stepsout loud.To write the letter d :Then, insteadof stopping,go all the wayup to the topof the sky.Then, withoutlifting your pencil,make a straightline all the waydown to the grass.Write the letter in one continuing movement.Don’t lift your pencil until you are done.Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting(cut or fold)First makea letter c .Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

Lesson 7 – practice page (A)Lesson 7 – practice page (B)(Name)(Name)d d d d d dad dadaaaaadad cat(cut or fold)d d d d d at dad catCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 HandwritingCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

onsseL8nsoseLBunny Hops8(Demonstrate on a blackboardor piece of paper.)continued.When we draw bunny hops on paper,we always go from left to right, like this.(draw on blackboard or show on paper).Does anyone know how a bunny hops?(Have your child/students show you withtheir hands.) (A “bunny” is another namefor a rabbit.)That’s right – a bunny hops like this.(draw some arches on the blackboard oron a piece of paper).Draw bunny hops in one continuingmovement – you don’t lift your penciluntil you are done.Air “Writing”Some letters have this shape – like theletters ‘n’ and ‘m’ and ‘h’ (draw them onthe blackboard or on a piece of paper).Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting(cut or fold)n m hDraw bunny hops in the air, using big armmovements, saying, “To write ‘right’ bunnyhops, go to the right.to the right.to theright.” (Say “to the right” for each bunnyhop you draw in the air.)Then have your child/students “air write”bunny hops, also saying the words out loud.Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting

Lesson 8 – practice page (B)(Name)(Name)(cut or fold)Lesson 8 – practice page (A)Copyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 HandwritingCopyright 2014, 2015 Miz Katz N RatzProgressive Phonics Beginner Book 1 Handwriting