Handwriting in Foundations 

Logic of English® Foundations A incorporates handwriting instruction for lowercase letters while teaching the A-Z phonograms. While reading is a visual experience of language, handwriting is the kinesthetic element. Learning how to form letters helps students recognize them more readily for reading. There is a connection between reading and learning how to handwrite letters.

Handwriting is taught in Foundations through large-motor motions, with lots of active movement and various sensory experiences. Students can begin learning to write the letters even if their fine motor skills are still developing. When working on handwriting pages in the Foundations lessons, be sure to have your student choose their favorite line size for practice. Do not require them to write more than a few letters at a time.

Students Not Ready for Handwriting

If your child is not ready to write with paper and pencil, consider the following:

• Continue to teach the handwritten phonogram each time the student learns to read a new phonogram and use their finger to trace over the sandpaper letter.
• Use a whiteboard, sidewalk chalk, finger paints, etc., to keep practicing writing. 
• While working on spelling activities, feel free to allow the student to use magnetic letters or phonogram tiles to form words. 
• Encourage the student to say the phonogram sounds as they practice writing or use the phonogram tiles, reinforcing their visual and auditory knowledge.
• Keep handwriting practice playful, large motor, and short. 

Weak Fine Motor Skills

We do not recommend using writing practice to strengthen weak fine motor skills. This can lead to frustrated students who hate handwriting, and there are other more effective ways to develop fine motor skills. Instead, practice handwriting using large motor movements and work on fine motor development separately. For ideas, see our article Teaching Handwriting to Young Children. 

Handwriting Mastery

The purpose of handwriting instruction in Foundations is because of its connection to reading, not to develop perfect penmanship. 

Students do not have to master handwriting at this stage. It is fine to keep moving through the Foundations lessons even if handwriting is coming slowly. Provide frequent opportunities to practice connecting the physical motions of forming each phonogram with the phonogram's sounds.