{"id":752,"date":"2012-02-22T02:11:52","date_gmt":"2012-02-22T02:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/?p=752"},"modified":"2024-08-28T14:07:02","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T14:07:02","slug":"handwriting-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/?p=752","title":{"rendered":"Handwriting Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>On January 23, 2012 a Handwriting Summit\u00a0took place in Washington, DC. It is the firm belief of the www.blendphonics.org website that handwriting, cursive in particular, is an indispensable component of good phonics, spelling, and reading instruction.<\/p>\n

The decline in good, directed handwriting instruction is an unmitigated disaster for the school children of America. Much of the illiteracy in our country is directly attributable to the decline.<\/p>\n

The sample handwriting is from my Uncle Albert Potter, my seventh-grade teacher and principal. The long document is handwritten. Every word and every letter is just as beautiful, legible, and fluent as you see on this cover page. He had a cursive handwriting lesson every day in our seventh-grade classroom. He taught us correct, light grip, and fluent letter formation: under-curve, down-curve, over-curve, slant.<\/p>\n

I was taught cursive-first beginning in 1953 under the careful oversight of Mrs. Pearl Monroe at the Cass Union Elementary School near Rising Sun, Indiana. I am blessed to teach at a cursive-only school here in Odessa, TX – where I see the overwhelming benefits of starting with cursive with every paper the children write.<\/p>\n

The Three Pillars<\/strong> of the Blend Phonics Nationwide Educational Reform <\/em>are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Phonics-First<\/li>\n
  2. Elimination of Sight-Word Memorization<\/li>\n
  3. Restoration of Cursive handwriting<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I have sought to collect all the information available on the advantages of teaching cursive-first over manuscript-first. Read Samuel L. Blumenfeld’s article, How Should We Teach Handwriting? Cursive First, Print Later<\/a>, which I have augmented with information from numerous other scholarly sources.<\/p>\n

    Fundamentals of Cursive<\/a> teacher training video. I teach my approach to teaching cursive on this video. I also include alternative strokes from popular handwriting programs so the video will be of benefit to anybody teaching cursive with any of the currently available programs.<\/p>\n

    My\u00a0Shortcut to Cursive<\/a>\u00a0is my contribution to restoring cursive to its proper place of pride in American curriculum. I have taught this to many students including first grade classes.<\/p>\n

    Shortcut to Manuscript for Right Hand Students<\/a>. This is a teacher training video.<\/p>\n

    My Alpha-Phonics Cursive<\/a> program was designed to go with Samuel Blumenfeld’s Alpha-Phonics. It follows a phonetic sequence.<\/p>\n

    The leader in handwriting instruction today is\u00a0Peterson Directed Handwriting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    I have collected a lot of information on handwriting on Don’s Handwriting Page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    What Amaerica Lost: Decades That Made a Difference<\/a> (Tracking Attituded Changes Through Handwriting by Sallie Ferrell Bloich (2009). A penetrating look into the devistation caused by the schools’ failure to teach good cursive handwriting.<\/p>\n

    See my Blend Phonics Handwriting Sheets<\/a> near the end of the Blend Phonics Supplements page.<\/p>\n

    Pen Grip Videos:<\/strong> Proper pen grip is exceedingly important. It should NEVER be overlooked, but monitored continual so the children develop the proper grip from the very start before difficult-to-break poor habits are established. Here are two YouTube Clips on Proper Grip<\/a>, Proper Grip 2<\/a>. It is impossible for a child to make progress until a correct grip is established. Here is another excellent, very detailed, and highly convincing presentation Proper Grip 3<\/a>. Some times kids can teach better than adults: Proper Grip 4<\/a>. Here is an excellent animated grip video: Proper Grip 5<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    How do You Measure Administrative Incompetence?<\/h2>\n

    Poetic Reflections on a quote
    \nfrom     The Administrator’s Guide to Whole-Language<\/a>,
    \n<\/em><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 “In primary school classrooms there is no need to teach handwriting formally.”<\/em><\/p>\n

    I hate to admit it, the truth is right there,
    \nThe kids don’t know their letters.
    \nThey’re all up in the air.<\/p>\n

    They hold the pencil like a screwdriver
    \nTurning a screw,
    \nWatching their knuckles all turning blue.<\/p>\n

    Their letters are jumbles like jack’s in a box,
    \nTumbling out
    \nWithout attention or thought.<\/p>\n

    Since good handwriting’s the foundation,
    \nOf good reading and spelling,
    \nWhy was it forsaken without consideration.<\/p>\n

    Who stole our handwriting books long years ago?
    \nFrom our classroom they took them,
    \nAnd ripped out our soul<\/p>\n

    I know an example close at hand,
    \nIt starts at the top,
    \nDraw a line in the sand.<\/p>\n

    The name of \u00a0a book tells it all very brief,
    \nThe Administrator’s Guide to Whole-Langauge<\/em>,
    \nMake no mistake, that’s the thief.<\/p>\n

    On page forty-eight, you can read it yourself,
    \nJust get a copy of the book,
    \nTake if off the shelf.<\/p>\n

    Ask your administrators, look them straight in the face,
    \n“What have YOU done with our handwriting books?
    \nCan you explain this disgrace?”<\/p>\n

    By Donald L. Potter, 3\/8\/12. Written in response at the poor handwriting of ALL the students coming to me for tutoring and out of deep appreciation and respect for my elementary teachers in the 1950’s who were highly skilled in the fine art of teaching fluent penmanship. The Administrator’s Guide to Whole Langauge <\/em>was written by Gail Herald-Taylor, 1989. I am not joking. Check it out for yourself.<\/p>\n

    Couplets Dedicated to My New 21 Year Old Tutoring Student<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    I take a young adult and show her how to write,
    \nThen throw in some phonics to turn on the light.<\/p>\n

    To illuminate a thousands words,\u00a0long hidden from view,
    \nAnd liberate her intellect, in a daring rescue.<\/p>\n

    So take all your iPads, and IBM’s, too.
    \nGivum to the monkeys and chimps in the zoo.<\/p>\n

    I’m tired of you messing with our little kids,
    \nStealing their brains and flipping their lids.<\/p>\n

    So here’s a pencil and piece of paper, too.
    \nWe’ll take back our kids and give you the zoo.<\/p>\n

    We’ll teach them how to read, write , and spell,
    \nGaining knowledge too precious to sell.<\/p>\n

    And to top it off, we’ll throw in cursive.
    \nTo make sure we’re truly subversive,<\/p>\n

    In our plans to undermine ignorance and crime,
    \nTaking literacy to levels sublime.<\/p>\n

    Don Potter 3\/29\/2012.<\/p>\n

    The couplets above were partially motivated by another student coming to me from an elementary school where every student has an iPad, yet the little lad could not write more than six poorly formed letters from memory, nor could he sound out a word as simple as bag<\/em>. I have an iPad, but to teach reading and spelling, nothing can beat a good phonics-first teacher at the chalkboard and attentive students writing at their desks. (This was written before the introduction of the iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil, of which I have both. 4\/15\/2016 Comment)<\/p>\n

    Joy Over Recent Zaner-Bloser Adoptio<\/strong>n<\/h3>\n

    I was almost in despair
    \nThinking miracles have ceased,
    \nWith God’s power on hold,
    \nNothing left but grief.<\/p>\n

    But then it happened,
    \nRight out of the blue.
    \nZaner-Bloser shows up,
    \nAnd kids get their due.<\/p>\n

    Let’s pray this keeps up,
    \nThis miracle of old,
    \nWhere kids learn the basics,
    \nTheir writing’s pure gold.<\/p>\n

    Now how about spelling,
    \nMath algorithms, science & history.
    \nLet’s take it over the top
    \nWith poetry and mystery!<\/p>\n

    \u00a0Don Potter, 7\/4\/12 Written upon hearing that the teachers in my district had wisely decided to adopt the Zaner-Bloser handwriting program.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0An Earnest Plea to Curriculum Directors<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    I know you think you’re doing right,
    \nSaving lots of money.
    \nBuying material for the tests,
    \nThinking handwriting’s just baloney.<\/p>\n

    But cutting edge cognitive research,
    \nMakes it as plain as day,
    \nTo cut out handwriting instruction,
    \nLearning will delay.<\/p>\n

    Don Potter 10\/21\/12.\u00a0Written in response to having my hopes dashed to the ground when I learned that my school district was not going to fund the purchase of the handwriting adoption. Is it not ironic that my district uses cursive with all their dyslexic kids, but denies it to regular students, who also would benefit? Perhaps we would have less dyslexia if everyone learned cursive.<\/p>\n

    On June 30, 2013, I received distressing news from Zaner-Bloser that my district was not going to fund the purchase of the handwriting books for the year 2013-2014. Let’s hope they have a change of mind before schools begins. Can anyone tell me what an “embedded handwriting program is? I haven’t found it yet.<\/p>\n

    Reflections on a recent (8\/20\/13) spelling workshop where I learned that the only children in my district truly learning cursive
    \nare in dyslexia (Take Flight) classes.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 It strikes me as odd.
    \nI can’t figure it out.
    \nDyslexic learn cursive
    \nWhile Johnny’s left out.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 If it’s good for dyslexics,
    \nAs everyone admits.
    \nThen teach it to everyone
    \nFor the the full benefit.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0by Donald Potter, 8\/23\/13<\/p>\n

    Special Note<\/strong>: Handing a student a cursive worksheet sheet and telling him or her to trace and copy the letters is NOT true cursive handwriting instruction. Cursive handwriting is a skill that can ONLY be taught by direct instruction in the hands of a well trained teacher – anything less is a cruel farce.<\/p>\n

    CURSIVE IS COOL WINNERS FOR 2015<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \"\"

    Mr. Potter\u2019s Cursive Handwriting Champions<\/p><\/div>\n

    I am proud that three of my cursive handwriting students won the 2015\u00a0Cursive is Cool International Handwriting Competition<\/strong>\u00a0sponsored by The American Handwriting Analysis Foundation<\/a>. My girls won second grade, third grade, and fourth grade girls’ cursive. Gayna Scott of Cursive is Coo<\/a>l told me that the competition was very stiff this year.<\/h3>\n

    The girls received beautiful German made Pelican fountain pens. Annie was the third grade winner last year. I taught them my Shortcut to Cursive<\/a>\u00a0at the Odessa Christian School.<\/h3>\n

    I was very proud to be notified that I had been chosen to receive the Outstanding Teacher Award.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    On January 23, 2012 a Handwriting Summit\u00a0took place in Washington, DC. It is the firm belief of the www.blendphonics.org website that handwriting, cursive in particular, is an indispensable component of good phonics, spelling, and reading instruction. The decline in good, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9vqf6-c8","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":740,"url":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/?p=740","url_meta":{"origin":752,"position":0},"title":"Blend Phonics with Cursive","date":"September 25, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0Blend Phonics with Cursive Here is a picture of a recent (September 2017) first grade Blend Phonics Lessons and Stories class. The first lesson includes short a words with all the consonants and u in qu. The picture shows the story, \"Sam, a cat.\" I am convinced from both theoretical\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Handwriting"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/52.200.218.39\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/IMG_3488-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":746,"url":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/?p=746","url_meta":{"origin":752,"position":1},"title":"Guided Reading","date":"October 13, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Part-to-Whole Phonics versus Whole-to-Part Phonics Making Guided Reading Work Guiding Reading Manuals Many schools today are using Irene C. Fountas & Gay Su Pinnell's Guided Reading program. \u00a0I purchased their method books in 2012, when I made this post:\u00a0Guided Reading: Good First Teaching for All Children and Word Maters: Teaching\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guided Reading"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":748,"url":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/?p=748","url_meta":{"origin":752,"position":2},"title":"Book Reviews","date":"March 29, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Introduction:\u00a0 Here I will be reviewing books that I have found valuable in my reading research. There will be choice excerpts that I consider of value. \u00a0Just click on the titles to purchase from Amazon. Review 1 Find the Vawol - Read the Rime - Learn to Read \u00a0The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book Reviews"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":754,"url":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/?p=754","url_meta":{"origin":752,"position":3},"title":"No Guessing Zone","date":"February 13, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"NO GUESSING ZONE The sign to the left is a gift from two of my tutoring students. I had taught them Mr. Potter's Secret of Reading, \"Look at all the Letters the right way, and no guessing.\" They came up with the sign. I would like to invite every first-grade\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "No Guessing Zone"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blendphonics.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_2540-e1527125032616-1024x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":750,"url":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/?p=750","url_meta":{"origin":752,"position":4},"title":"Doctor Seuss: A Different Perspective","date":"March 2, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is Dr. Seuss Day\u00a0March 2, 2012. This is a picture of me with a copy of Dr. Seuss' famous The Cat in the Hat. I am afraid very few people know the true story \u00a0behind Dr. Seuss' books: their origin, purpose, and some unintended effects on literacy in America.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Dr. Seuss"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/52.200.218.39\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_1764-225x300-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":742,"url":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/?p=742","url_meta":{"origin":752,"position":5},"title":"Testimonials for Blend Phonics","date":"July 31, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Testimonials for Blend Phonics Over the years I have received literally hundreds of testimonials praising Hazel Loring's Blend Phonics. It never dawned on me to publish them to encourage others to teach the program. Unfortunately, I have not kept very many of them, but here are a few: \"I want\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/752"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=752"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1305,"href":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/752\/revisions\/1305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/52.200.218.39\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}