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ElisabethGrace
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| Posted: Jan 09 2006 at 9:50am | IP Logged
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I am interested in using this program with my almost 4yo. If you have used HWT, would you share what products you used or that you recommend?
Thanks so much!
Angela in TX
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Martha
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| Posted: Jan 09 2006 at 11:24am | IP Logged
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I've used every book made so far.
Frankly, I don't use the sticks and consider them a large expense for little return. The mat is only needed if you want the sticks.
I do like the laminated cards and had 1 child use the sticks with the cards, but all the kids have used the cards - sticks or not.
The chalk boards are worth it.
The dough borads and such could be done much cheaper on your own, IF you even decide you want them. I'd just get a small cookie sheet and use shaving cream. There's also those magnet mats at walmart for about $10 that would work just as well.
The workbooks and teacher guides and chalkboards are fine all alone without the other stuff, imo.
If you have a lefty or a child that is easily over-whelmed with too much practice, HWT is VERY worth it. There's enough practice to get the job done without busy repetition. Very basic.
The teacher guides are not needed so much for daily lessons as for tips on making writing better. For example, my oldest had a horrible habit of pressing down hard when he wrote. Simple solution the book gave? Place the mat or pice of corrogated cardboard underneath the page! If he pressed too hard, it put a hole in it. there were several such tips in the guides that I would not have thought of or thought of as quickly on my own.
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Martha
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Yes, they're all ours!
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Taffy
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| Posted: Jan 09 2006 at 1:15pm | IP Logged
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I have the teacher's guide and the first three printing books. I will probably be purchasing the cursive writing books as well. It's a VERY good program with a lot of built in success. The only issue I have is the copywork is a little dull. That's easily ammended as there is a blank sheet in the back of the book that can be photocopied for extra practice (the lined pages aren't the standard inter-lined ones).
I haven't bought any of the other stuff from them. I found some chalkboards at our local Dollar Store and used those instead of the HWT brand. I agree with Martha, the chalkboards are definitely worth it!
For your 4-year old, I would go with the teacher's manual and the chalkboard only. There's a lot of ideas in the teacher's manual and the chalkboards offer a lot of early success. The other stuff might be fun but not really needed. And the first level printing book isn't necessary for age 4 in my opinion.
Hope that helps!
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Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
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kingvozzo
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| Posted: Jan 09 2006 at 3:53pm | IP Logged
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I am using HWT with my 4 yo dd right now, and my 7 yo ds is using their Printing Power. Ds started the program in first grade, so I only bought the books (teacher and student), slate, and a supply of their writing paper. However, with my 4 yo, I did decide to get the wood pieces. They are terribly expensive at the HWT site  , but I was able to get the wood pieces, mat, and cards (which I laminated myself) from someone on ebay.He was also willing to combine shipping for the items for me, so it ended up being quite a lot less than at the HWT site.
My dd has enjoyed the wood pieces and cards a lot. I haven't yet used the student book with her.
I think it's a great program--we've been very pleased.
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Noreen
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Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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mom3aut1not
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| Posted: Jan 09 2006 at 5:39pm | IP Logged
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I love HWT. I have disabled children so I never really considered any other program. To be honest, tho', the PreK program is really meant for disabled kids -- most of it is not really necessary for normal kids. I used most of it with my autistic son. I am now doing the K program with him, and that is going as well as I can expect it to. Although the "sticks" are not so useful now, it helped him in the beginning. However, IIRC, you can make the "sticks" from a manila folder for much less. (There used to be a template in the teacher book for this.)
Actually, I want to find someone to pass my HWT materials to when I am done with them -- preferably somone with limited funds and/or a handicapped child. I have already passed on some of the PreK stuff, but she won't need it for too long.
In Christ,
Deborah
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mary
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| Posted: Jan 10 2006 at 12:27am | IP Logged
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i think their prek dvd is fantastic. my son (and now dd) loved the songs. they also play with the sticks as often as i can get them out. we don't have the mat and haven't missed it.
i think we have everything but the dough boards.
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Martha
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| Posted: Jan 10 2006 at 8:01am | IP Logged
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mary wrote:
i think their prek dvd is fantastic. my son (and now dd) loved the songs. they also play with the sticks as often as i can get them out. we don't have the mat and haven't missed it.
i think we have everything but the dough boards. |
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The pre-k book is less "handwriting" and more "getting ready for school" - colors, shapes, etc... Although they get some motor skill practice out of it, it's no better than the hand motor skills they get else where. I get the pre-k handwriting book because my littles like having a handwriting book like their big brothers/sister.
I had the opposite experience with the pre-k CD - my 2 littles just hated it. It is VERY boring to them and very ...well... preschool-ish and they are used to just chipping in with whatever the older kids are doing and didn't appreciate it. lol
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Martha
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ElisabethGrace
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| Posted: Jan 10 2006 at 11:13am | IP Logged
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I really appreciate each of you taking time to share how you've used HWT. My almost 4yo already knows all the colors and shapes so I think I'll go look at the workbooks at our Mardel's. I'm now thinking maybe I need a handwriting book since he can draw all of the shapes. I was in there before and was completely overwhelmed with all of the choices!
Noreen, thanks so much for the ebay link! I guess I need to decide what I need first! 
Thanks for sharing everyone. You've saved me some $! I definitely don't need another product that won't be used! 
Angela in TX
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Alcat
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| Posted: Jan 22 2006 at 10:25am | IP Logged
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Just a side note... insted of using the sticks (for making the letters) I used the craft foam and cut out the shapes: big line, little line, big curve, little curve etc...
It didn't take much time, but no one really used them- yet. I found the little black board for wet dry try very handy- you can find these at craft stores and put on you own smiley face. I would only order the basics- books and the tm you can do the rest your self.
The program is great, especially for children who need more help with their fine motor skills. They do claim to avoid having problems with reversals- we still ended up with this problem 
God Bless,
Alison
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Helen
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| Posted: Jan 22 2006 at 2:03pm | IP Logged
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HWOT has been wonderful in our family. Last summer, I attended one of their workshops. The program is not about a workbook - it's about teaching handwriting. So, the chalkboards are indispensible. Manipulatives first and then chalkboards. In fact, the program is really all about chalkboards. The child is to learn, practice, become confident in chalk and then move to paper. This holds true in the later books as well. So, we use chalkboard paint on a louan (sp?) door, to continue to learn to write. The CD is fabulous, a favorite with my two year old. I have two lefties and OT issues which the program deals with beautifully.
There are a lot of prompts in the teaching manual, for example, if your child has a problem remembering to put his helping hand down to hold the paper, you are to give the helping hand a "name". So, instead of speaking to your child, "you forgot your hand again" you say to the hand "hey Nick! Where are you? We need you." The program is full of gentle ways of getting around difficulties with your child.
We use the sticks. In reading lessons, I use them to make phonograms with children who can't write yet. We build phonograms instead of write them.
We love it in our house.
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Ave Maria!
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Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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Victoria in AZ
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| Posted: Jan 22 2006 at 2:14pm | IP Logged
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HWT was the first cursive program to be successful for ds. I am pleased with the program, but dh does not think the cursive very attractive.
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Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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kingvozzo
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| Posted: Jan 22 2006 at 3:17pm | IP Logged
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Alcat wrote:
| Just a side note... insted of using the sticks (for making the letters) I used the craft foam and cut out the shapes: big line, little line, big curve, little curve etc... |
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Another mom I know made her shapes out of sandpaper, which she said were also very helpful for her kids. I think the texture of the sandpaper was helpful in tracing the letters with fingers.
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Noreen
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Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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ElisabethGrace
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 11:22pm | IP Logged
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I wanted to thank you all for sharing your experiences with HWT. They really helped solidify my decision to purchase the products.
My little man was sooo thrilled to have a package of "schoolwork" delivered just for him by "the package man" (Gotta love the men in brown! )
Noreen, thanks for the idea of the sandpaper. I think I forsee a project for big brother (11) to complete for little brother.
Angela in TX
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Handwriting Without Tears
