AVKO Handwriting
Curriculum | Let's Write Right

AVKO's handwriting program consists of:

• Let's Write Right with its companion book, Rimes and More Rhymes.   Although this does have pages which have letters and words that may be traced, the order of presentation of the letters is quite different than traditional methods. It is designed to teach reading and spelling as the letters are learned. Cursive can be taught at the same time as manuscript or afterwards. Teacher's choice.
   
• Starting at Square One. This 300+ page book not only teaches reading and spelling as it teaches the writing of the alphabet (manuscript and cursive) but it also can be used for teaching the computer keyboard. This is   FREE to AVKO Members as an E-book.

Both programs use a research-based approach designed specifically to teach reading and spelling skills through the backdoor of penmanship (manuscript or cursive handwriting) exercises:
  

• Emphasis is on legibility - Wide latitude is given for individuality provided the letters cannot be mistaken for another.   Legibility is essential.  Orthography (correct spelling and letter formation) is stressed, and opportunities for calligraphy are available for the advanced students.  Students diagnosed with dysgraphia should find this method a great help to prevent illegible handwriting.
    
• Students learn spelling/reading sequentially as the alphabet is taught - not after. With just the letters abc and d, we have: a cab, a dad, and bad.   Next we introduce the letters r, s, and t out of order.  Why?  Because they are so useful.  Now we can have a car, a card, and a cart as well as a tar, star, tart, tarts, start and starts etc. In Let's Write Right  the rest of the alphabet follows in alphabetical order.   By using rst early, q naturally is followed by u.  In Starting at Square One we also place the y and w out of order so that we have this order of presentation of letters: abcd rst y efghw (the wh, ch, sh, th, digraphs are taught here) ijklmnop q uv x z .
   
• Just by learning to make the connecting strokes, students learn to write cursive. With just the letters a, b, c, and d, we have: a cab, a dad, a dab, and bad.   Teachers using D'Nealian and/or Getty-Dubay Italic handwriting textbooks or any other continuous stroke penmanship book can use these texts for lesson plans and adapt accordingly, but stressing legibility.
    
• Teachers can help their students learn to read cursive as they are learning to write manuscript. The handwriting text does not have bunny rabbits and balloons that tend to be demeaning to older students. Yet, there is room for students to illustrate their own text. This can be fun for both the younger and the older students.  
    
• Students practice writing manuscript and cursive letters in context of phonically consistent patterns rather than in isolation within unrelated words.  As they practice their handwriting they are learning to spell without having to memorize words or spelling rules.  This, in turn, prevents illegible handwriting.

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