Handwriting Without Tears

Handwriting Without Tears is a complete collection of handwriting instruction for Pre-K through Grade 5 children. Developed by an occupational therapist, the materials are straightforward and easy to use.

Starting with the Pre-K and Kindergarten curriculum, children explore the capital letters using a clever set of blocks which include four shapes: big curve, little curve, big line, and little line. These four shapes allow you to make the uppercase version of every letter of the alphabet except J and U (although you can "cheat" and even make those). Children also experience the letters by making them in clay, writing them on a magnetic slate, and writing them on a specially shaped chalkboard. A CD of songs gets you singing, "Where do you start your letters? At the top!" and other tunes to help children remember how to form the letters. All three of my children have enjoyed building the letters with the special blocks before they had the fine motor skills to write the same letters.

Later grades use less extra tools, but the materials continue to be clear and easy to use. The workbooks are inexpensive and fun looking without being flashy. For grades one through four, two workbooks of print are followed by two workbooks of cursive. Fifth graders have the choice of a print or cursive book.

Handwriting Without Tears uses an unusual line design with a base line and middle line but no top line. Their cursive font is upright rather than slanted. The writing style is simple and neat. The letters are introduced by the shapes used rather than by order in the alphabet.

The company has recently come out with a whole series of early math and literacy materials which I haven't used, but I can definitely say their handwriting series is a great resource for anyone looking for a handwriting curriculum. It is especially suited for children who have difficulty with fine motor skills.

"You Decide!": Studying the Bill of Rights

Many say the Constituion of the United States of America in an inspired document. But, when it came time to ratify the Constitution, many states felt that it did not guarantee specific rights to the people. Without this "bill of rights," the Constitution faced rejection. So with a promise to work on a Bill of Rights, the Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787. The Bill of Rights followed over four years later, on December 15, 1791.

No American education is complete without studying this vital document. What rights are guaranteed? Why did the founding fathers feel compelled to address these specific issues in the first ten amendments to the Constitution? How have these rights been challenged and upheld? What is the process?

You Decide! Applying the Bill of Rights to Real Cases, from The Critical Thinking Co., helps students learn about the Bill of Rights by casting the students as judges in ruling on 75 cases that went before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Each sections follows the same format:

You Be the JudgeStudents read two U.S. Supreme Court cases and answer questions about how they would rule.

What Does the Amendment Say?Students read the actual amendment. Then, the amendment is broken into segments, new vocabulary is defined, and then restate the amendment in their own words.

Some Past Decisions of the Supreme CourtA number of cases, with their backgrounds, are presented. Students use the Guide for Analyzing Cases, which helps the students break out the main facts of the case, what amendment was involved, what particular clause of the amendment was involved, what state law or provision (if any) was allegedly involved, what were the issues of the case, what the U.S. Supreme Court decided, and why the Court decided as it did.

What are the Origins of the Various ClausesThe Bill of Rights was not written in a vacuum; it can only be understood within its historical background. While the Court must rule with present considerations in mind, deeper comprehension comes with learning the reason the founding fathers felt these rights must be guaranteed in writing.

The Amendment TodayHow do these amendments affect our lives today? How have the Court's rulings secured and honed our rights?

The workbook and answer guide (You Decide! Instruction/Answer Guide Applying the Bill of Rights to Real Cases) are designed to be used in a student/teacher situation. Discussion points, question sheets, multiple-choice questions, and the Guide for Analyzing Cases provide thoughtful interaction and comprehensive methods to gauge understanding.

Another option for studying with the books is to use them as a jumping off point for family discussions. In our family, we instituted "Constitutional Law at Dinner." The name appeals to our children, but what they really enjoy are the discussions. Once or twice a week, while eating dinner, we work throught the book together. One night we read an amendment and discuss what it means. Another, we talk about its historical context. On yet another, we read two or three cases and say how we would rule and why. Sometimes we agree, but often we don't. Each person must support their opinion. If they struggle with their reasons, we work through it together. Then we read how the U.S. Supreme Court actually ruled and discuss why we agree or disagree. Occasionally, we really haven't understood the ruling, so we go back through the specifics of the case. Although we may still disagree with the ruling, we better understand it.

We can easily stay on one amendment for a couple of weeks, as You Decide! presents many cases and plenty of background information. Although the workbooks are geared toward grades 6-12+, by discussing them as a family, younger children will pick up concepts and vocabulary, as well as learn how to participate in friendly debates.

With You Decide!, our entire family has gained a deeper appreciation for the Bill of Rights and for the impressive document it is.

"Mind Benders": Deductive Reasoning Made Fun

Mind Benders, published by The Critical Thinking Co., tackles deductive reasoning skills for students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Its stated purpose is . . . to improve deductive reasoning, reading comprehension skills, and organized analysis skills. My son would argue that it is just plain fun.

I originally purchased the A1 workbook because my son saw it on the back of another workbook he enjoyed and asked that I get it. When he first glanced at Mind Benders, he was unsure what to do with the problems and charts. After reading a few problems, he found one that he felt comfortable doing, and figured out his own way of completing the charts. (The book does have instructions and explanations, but why bother reading those, when you can just plow ahead and figure out things on the fly?) After that, he did not want to stop, and ending up finishing the entire workbook in one day.

 A sample problem from the A1 book looks like this:

Who Are The Twins?

Edmund, Ida, Joanne, and Tony are two sets of twins. Tony is a month younger than Edmund. Joanne is a month older than Ida.

Which pair is the younger set of twins?

Which pair is the older set of twins?

In the A1 version, the pages contain lots of white space for jotting down notes and thoughts about the questions. By not crowding the pages with text and diagrams, and using large text, the publisher allows the reader to focus on the problem, without feeling overwhelmed with information.

We have since started working on level C1, which is far more involved, and we have spent a few days working through some of the challenges. Spending days focused on a problem, instead of minutes, teaches patience, promotes creativity, and gives a strong sense of accomplishment. Students realize that not everything has a quick and easy answer, and that persistence has value.

In addition to detailed solutions in the back, the workbooks include examples with step-by-step procedures showing some of the ways to tackle the problems. Some students will find this helpful, especially if gone through with an adult; others may find it confusing or repetitive. Regardless, this section can be useful in showing alternate ways of approaching a problem, as well as reinforcing ideas already introduced.

Deductive reasoning transfers to so many areas that honing this skill should be integral to any learning experience. The Mind Benders series provides an entertaining way to practice and succeed in this essential area of thought.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson