#76: Skip the Worksheets! Here’s How to Really Teach Handwriting with Kelli Fetter
The Struggle is Real: Why Teaching Handwriting Feels Overwhelming
If you’ve ever handed a worksheet to a kindergartner and watched them grip the pencil like a caveman wielding a club—you are not alone. Maybe you’ve felt the pressure to get kids writing all their letters by October, or had an administrator question why your students were “just playing with Play-Doh.” As veteran K-2 teachers, we’ve seen handwriting pushed to the sidelines, yet we know that putting pencil to paper is still a vital part of early literacy.
In this episode of the podcast, Malia sits down with pediatric occupational therapist Kelli Fetter, founder of Handwriting Solutions, to unpack what handwriting instruction should really look like in today’s classrooms.
What Makes Handwriting Instruction Actually Effective?
Handwriting is more than letter formation—it’s brain development, literacy, and student confidence all rolled into one. Kelli breaks down the science and explains that handwriting should be taught explicitly, systematically, and developmentally. Here’s what that means:
- Start with Play-Based Foundations: In pre-K, build fine motor skills through play: think scissors, Play-Doh, and pipe cleaners.
- Teach Letters in a Developmental Order: Skip the “A is for apple” routine and follow a sequence based on motor development.
- Make It Multi-Sensory: Use tools like wiki sticks, broken crayons, and adaptive paper to support various learning needs.
- Cursive Isn’t Dead: Introduce cursive around 3rd grade to improve composition, retention, and even spelling.
How to Teach Handwriting: Practical Strategies You Can Start Now
Here’s how you can ditch the ineffective workbook pages and create meaningful handwriting instruction:
- 15 Minutes a Day: That’s all you need. Focus on modeling, guided practice, and short bursts of independent writing.
- Use Consistent Language: Whether you choose Handwriting Without Tears or another curriculum, keep your formation cues consistent.
- Embed Fine Motor Work Into Your Routine: Rotate in activities like coloring, lacing, or small-piece games to build hand strength.
- Offer Writing Tools That Work: Try shortened pencils, erasable pens, or pencil grips to support reluctant writers.
- Support All Learners: For kids with dysgraphia, use adaptive paper, assistive tech, or verbal spelling assessments.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
- Why handwriting is still essential—and backed by research.
- The best age to introduce cursive writing (it’s earlier than you think!).
- How to build writing skills before kids ever touch a pencil.
- What to do when a student shows signs of dysgraphia.
- The low-tech tools that make a big difference.
Bringing It All Together
Teaching handwriting doesn’t mean killing joy with drill sheets. When we take a developmentally appropriate, multi-sensory approach, we’re building the foundation for literacy and learning. And yes—even if your students look like they’re just “playing,” they’re growing the muscles and mindsets they need to become confident writers.
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LINKS
Email: Kelli@handwritingsolutions.org
FREE: Multisensory Activities
FREE: Developmental Teaching Order
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Wow! This was a fantastic podcast on the importance of handwriting and its link to other areas of reading and spelling! Over the past twenty-plus years, I have observed a significant increase in the number of students struggling with letter formation. Thank you for getting the word out to parents and teachers on this critical area with tips and strategies for us to incorporate at home and in school.