TOS Review: Logic of English

Over the last month we have been reviewing Rhythm of Handwriting from Logic of English.  We have been trying out the cursive handwriting book.

I will be honest, before we received it, I was a little unsure what we would think.  I wasn't quite *sure* I was ready for Mustang to start learning cursive handwriting.  But, I figured that it was as good as any to give it a try!  Boy, am I glad we did!

We were sent The Logic of English Cursive Handwriting by Denise Eide, which was just renamed The Rhythm of Handwriting.  We also received The Rhythm of Handwriting Cursive Chart.

Each school day, I requested that Mustang try the handwriting book (after the review period it will be added to her work plan and she can choose if she wants to work on it or not).  She was willing to try it out, and actually was very excited about it.  This curriculum is super duper easy to use!

Presentation of a letter was very simple.  We would read the letter description at the top of each page together.

Then, we would take turns tracing out the letter on the sample lines.  I DO really wish we would have had a set of tactile/sandpaper letters to work with.  I am going to have to get some very soon.  This presentation took all of about 10 minutes.  Afterwards, Mustang would go and work on her handwriting for about 20 minutes.

Different from other curricula I remember as a child, there are no tracer lines.  Simply, there are three lines.  The first sets are small, and the sets get wider as you go down the page.  Mustang remarked that the smaller letters are much easier to write.

The book is separated into lowercase and then uppercase letters.

The lowercase are then divided into:

• swing letters
• curve letters
• loop letters
• bump letters

The uppercase letters are divided into

• roll letters
• loop letters
• circle letters
• slash letters
• miscellaneous letters

There are also sections where the letters are combined to make words, showing how the letters flow together.

At the beginning of each letter lesson, there is a description on how to form that letter.  The descriptions are short, easy to understand, and they work!  But, what if you want to go back to a letter you already wrote and don't feel like turning all the pages in the book?  Well that is what the cursive chart is for!

The chart is a thick, glossy card stock. Very sturdy and the colors are very eye catching.  The helpful letter descriptions all in one place!

We have chosen to do one or two letters at a time-usually Mustang tires after one.  At that rate, we will likely be working on this book for quite some time!  But, I can certainly see that she is learning from The Logic of English!

I had read many times that Maria Montessori felt children should learn cursive before manuscript.  She gave all these reasons why, but I had a hard time accepting this one of her ideas!  After all, I learned manuscript first and came out just fine.  But, after seeing the cursive lessons in motion, I am having a change of heart!

I really enjoyed reading over an article on the Logic of English website called Why Teach Cursive First.  The article gives many great reasons why to bypass manuscript and go straight to cursive.

What I really enjoyed is that this curriculum is so easy, that I will be able to implement it with any age that I want to.  I am very likely to go ahead and start Mini Cooper on her cursive letters rather then manuscript.

The Rhythm of Handwriting retails for just $15.00 and the Cursive Chart retails for $10.00.  If you check out the product page, there are a number of sample downloads to view if you would like to try before you buy.  Also, the company JUST changed the cover of the book, so be sure to look for the one above rather then the one we tried out.

Overall, I think The Rhythm of Handwriting is a good product!  It is easy to use, affordable, and it works!  Other members of the crew tried out this program, and others tried some of the other products from The Logic of English.  Be sure to check out the crew blog and see what they thought!

Thanks for stopping by!
God Bless,
Lisa

TOS Review: Handwriting Without Tears Wet Dry Android App!

You've probably heard of Handwriting Without Tears before.  If not, they are a popular curriculum for teaching children, grades K-5 how to write.  Their program is used in many schools and homeschools around the country-including many Montessori programs.  Their multi-sensory program uses music, manipulatives, and workbooks to teach handwriting-without tears.  Well, Handwriting Without Tears has added a new portion of their program-an app for tablets!!

Over the last few weeks, we have been trying out this little gem on our Android tablet.  The Wet Dry Try app opens with this screen.  In the settings, you can create up to 4 different profiles to play the games.  As you can see, this profile is for Dad.

You can choose from two different activities.

The first one, Pick and Practice, has the child pick any of the letters to practice that they want to.  They practice each letter 3 times and then they receive a letter badge.  As you can see, Dad has received badges for letter A and C in this game. {Please excuse the way my camera picked up all the lint on the screen.  It doesn't look that way in person *sigh*}

Here is the C badge up close.

HWT's Winning Order follows the order of the workbooks and introduces the letters in order of the easiest to write.  Once they are mastered, harder letters are unlocked.

Here is a screen shot of the letters in the 'Winning Order.'

The app is supposed to be a virtual chalkboard.  Using their fingers, children trace the letter three times-once with a virtual sponge-to wet the letter, once with a virtual towel-to dry the letter, and the third time with a virtual piece of chalk-to try the letter.

Once a letter is successfully traced, the student receives a star.  When three stars have been earned, a letter is passed and they unlock letters.

Settings in the app can be adjusted to determine the stroke tolerance, game play options, and audio control.

Mini Cooper, 3,

and Charger, 5, were both willing participants in this review.  

Every time we tried it, it quickly became a family affair.  Dad was willing to oversee the learning (since the tablet belongs to him) and everyone else patiently waited their turn (or not so patiently since Explorer didn't get a turn).  Mustang, 7, was not interested in the least.  

Did we like The Wet Dry Try app?

Well yes, and no.  

Charger did very well with the app. Mini-Cooper, however, seems to have been a little too young and almost ended up in tears a couple of times despite the name of the program :).  To be fair, she is at the very bottom of the age for this program.

We really enjoyed it as a fun app with educational concepts, though we are not sure it has actually improved their writing.  They do get a better idea of how to write the letters, but they do all the writing with one finger rather then with a pencil grasp on a piece of chalk (like they would with a real chalkboard).

Playing it myself, I also found something that could affect a child's success with the program.  I'm going to take some screen shots here and see if I can explain our issue.

As you can see here, I used a virtual sponge to write a C.  I wrote it on the very edge of the C, but since I touched the white at all times, I passed.  Then, I dried the letter with a virtual cloth which I didn't get a shot when I was done.

For step three, you use a virtual chalk piece to write the letter.  As you can see, I am still touching the dark black of the original wet in the picture above, but because I wrote that C on the very edge, I am no longer on the original white.  I got an 'oops try again' even though I was still on the line.  I understood why, but I am not sure that your average 4 or 5 year old would get it.  Mine didn't.

Other then those things (which I point out only because I hope the writers of the program might read this and consider improving upon it) we actually liked the program.  The children begged to work on the Wet, Dry, Try app, and Charger really liked it.  And, at only $4.99 it's affordable, educational, fun for our whole family.  

One last thing we hope is that HWT will consider adding an app for the Kindle Fire.  We allow the kids to use the Kindle Fire without supervision, but not the Android tablet.  Even my husband said he hopes they add it.  But, if you have an iPad or an Android Tablet, I highly recommend the Handwriting Without Tears Wet, Dry, Try app.  

The Schoolhouse Review Crew has been reviewing not only the Wet, Dry, Try app, but also Handwriting Without Tears' brand new line of workbooks!  Check out their reviews on the crew blog!

Thanks for stopping by and God Bless!!

Disclosure:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, we received the Wet, Dry, Try app for free.  In exchange, we agreed to use the product in our home and write this review.  No other compensation was received.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.