HWT: Great hands-on program, disappointing app
Community Review for Handwriting Without Tears: Wet-Dry-Try Suite for Capitals, Numbers & Lowercase
My Take
I am a big fan of the Handwriting Without Tears program and its use of multi-sensory approaches to teach letter formation; however, this app would best be used with students who need just a little more practice in forming letters. Use of the app should be supported by hands-on activities to improve fine motor skills. Additional visual aspects or auditory feedback would be most beneficial. Currently, the app would likely be placed at the Substitution level of the SAMR model. In order to move up the SAMR ladder, students could be required to write complete words using given letters to add a phonics component to the app, or choose words that have the same beginning or ending sound as the letter they are practicing.
How I Use It
I used this app with students who have special needs and fine motor difficulties. Students became very frustrated because when tracing the lines for the letters, their tracing was not spot on, which is required to move on to the next letter. Frustration occurred when students traced very closely to the guides provided, but not close enough to advance.