Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction (ECRI)

Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction

Parent Resources/Homeschooling Materials

Print/Manuscript Handwriting Workbook

This handwriting workbook is designed to aid homeschooling parents to effectively teach the print (or manuscript) handwriting skills to their child(ren).

Cursive Handwriting Workbook

This handwriting workbook is designed to aid homeschooling parents to effectively teach cursive handwriting or penmanship skills to their child(ren).

Start Reading: Set A (5 Storybooks and 5 Workbooks)

A comprehensive system to teach beginning readers. Set A includes stories: Ann, Top Dog, Tip, Up and Up, and Get Set with an emphasis on short vowel sounds.

Start Reading: Set B (5 Storybooks and 5 Workbooks)

A comprehensive system to teach beginning readers. Set B includes stories: Red Plane, Green Jeep, White Bike, Blue Boat, and Brown Mule with an emphasis on long vowel sounds.

Start Reading: Set C (5 Storybooks and 5 Workbooks)

A comprehensive system to teach beginning readers. Set C includes stories: The Whale, The Shark, The Chimp, The Queen, and The Thing with an emphasis on digraphs.

Start Reading Full Series (15 Storybooks and 15 Workbooks)

A comprehensive system to teach beginning readers. The full series includes all stories from Sets A, B, and C with an emphasis on short and long vowel sounds, as well as digraphs.

Start Reading Instructor's Manual

The Start Reading Instructor's Manual includes procedures and directives for teaching letter names, sounds, new words, spelling, and handwriting skills.

Keyboarding, Reading, and Spelling (KRS) Software

Keyboarding, Reading, and Spelling is an instructional program that enhances reading achievement and keyboard skills. The program uses a phonetic approach to reading, with the computer being an essential component of the instructional process.

Item Details

Print/Manuscript Handwriting Workbook

Item Description

This handwriting workbook is designed to aid homeschooling parents to effectively teach handwriting or penmanship skills to their child(ren). It contains a practice page for each upper- and lowercase letter and numbers 1 through 10. Each practice page has twelve rows of practice.

The first row is a model with number(s) and guide arrow(s) to indicate starting points and stroke directions. Children should trace these models. There are two more rows with full models that should be traced. Three rows are given as prompts where the child traces the partial model and completes the letter. Two more rows provide a prompt for where to start each letter. Finally, four rows are given for independent practice.

The workbook is spiral bound so it can lay flat on a desk.

Why teach penmanship in this age of computers?

During research the Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction (ECRI) found that:

“It is through penmanship instruction that beginning readers and writers develop the visual memory for the alphabet letters and, ultimately, the visual sequential memory necessary to read words. …As pupils learn to write legibly and rapidly and spell what they read, their reading levels increase, and they use their ability to express themselves in writing more frequently.” (Reid, 1997, pp. 12–13) ^[1]

Parents, to effectively use this workbook, you will actively instruct your child(ren). Instructional pages are provided, which explain the effective teaching process for you to use. Additional pages are provided as you model the behavior while providing instruction.

Verbal responses (having the child say what they do as they write) aid in the development of visual memory, which is necessary for reading to become effortless. It is highly suggested you teach the child to describe the strokes as they practice.

^[1] Reid, E. R. (1997). Teaching Manuscript and Cursive Penmanship. Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction.