A New Way to Practice Handwriting

I'm a stickler for handwriting. When offered the chance to review this innovative way to practice handwriting, I jumped at the chance.   I'd like to tell you about the APP that helps your child learn to form print letters.  

Letters Make Words is an extension of the Barchowsky Fluent Handwriting system.  This system is an italic handwriting system.   In this system, the print letters flow naturally into cursive as the student gets older.    The app we reviewed for iPad helps your child form letters (in addition with some phonics instruction) by tracing them on the screen.   Tracing of letters leads into words using those letters, which then leads into a silly sentence for copying on paper.   

Itunes Description: 

The user can select any letter. Each one comprises a complete unit of instruction for that letter, a warmup pattern, the letter and a word to trace and to sound out. When a letter has a different sound depending on its usage in words, choose from either of two words. The next screen has three words to sound out with a silly sentence for the child to write on paper.

A friendly voice coaches the child to finger trace with the index finger, thereby encouraging good pencil/pen hold when actually writing. It’s the index finger that should push a pen to make marks with the greatest ease of movement.

Lowercase letters are featured. An app for capitals and numerals will follow soon. Lowercase are the ones we most need when we write, and are the easiest to form.

Letter-related warmup patterns start each unit to help the child with formations.

Starting points and directions for strokes are clearly defined, graphically and by the audio that guides a child through all finger tracing and pronunciation.

Letters are designed for ease of writing and legibility. Reversals (b for d, etc.) are never an issue with the formations used in this app. 

This is a screenshot from our iPad... basic patterns are taught and then the print letters "sit" on the pattern.   Other words with this letter are then taught (with attention being called to the phonetic sound) and then a silly sentence is given to copy on your own paper.  

To view more screenshots and read additional information about the app, visit the iTunes store directly.  This app is recommended for ages 4 and up. 

Our Impressions:

I was very excited about this and thought it looked great!  My son (7), however, was less than impressed.    The encouraging voice was actually a bit babyish for him and the tracing of the letters went a bit slow.    

With all of the amazing things you can do on an iPad, this didn't really seem to hold his interest.  Again, I was enthralled and amazed at this approach to teaching handwriting; my seven year old - not so much.  

I can see the value in this style of writing and its easy translation into cursive.  I thought the teaching of letters was sequential and appropriate.   I liked the phonetic connection to other words and then a sentence to copy.  Maybe another child would have enjoyed this program, but mine did not.  He prefers his regular handwriting copywork we do each day. 

This app is available for download through the iTunes store - now for an introductory price of $2.99.    Several of my crew mates have also reviewed this app, so you can read their reviews as well.  

Disclaimer:I received the above named product from TOS Crew in return for my honest review. I have not been compensated in any other form.

I Can't Run The Race Any More!

I've been overwhelmed with my blog lately; overwhelmed with what it takes to keep two blogs going, and overwhelmed at how LITTLE that investment pays off in my life.  

To be honest, I do not see how so many bloggers keep all of the balls in the air.   I KNOW some balls have to fall, and generally - if the blog looks beautiful and perfect and if the author is always Tweeting, Facebooking, and engaging with their "audience", how in the world are they engaging with their precious little audience sitting at home with them?  I DON'T KNOW.  (I'm not saying this to be judgmental - just that I cannot do it and I think I'm a pretty productive, driven person.)  

I know there are a myriad of posts about making good use of your time, but for me, blogging is all consuming.  My mind never stops formulating posts - it never stops coming up with ideas.  This is a blessing and a curse.  

Although I can't go into details here, I also have a huge stumbling block in the blogging world, and it's one I'm not willing to deal with any longer.  It's the kind of obstacle that stares me in the face everywhere I go online - and now it's even rearing it's head in real life.  I don't have the energy to compete, and that's not what my life is about.... because in any earthly competition I feel we all lose.   

I guess it's like a race I've been running, and now I'm going to just walk for a bit so I don't fall out completely.  Does that make sense? 

Life is too short and my children are only little for so long.   

I'll continue to blog our homeschool adventures for my children.  I can't, however, continue to actively engage in social media and lots of commenting, and just everything having a blog takes.  I hope to post 2 times each week.... and I hope you'll stick with me if you genuinely like my blog.  (one of those times will always be Collage Friday!)

I want to blog for ME.   I want to blog for my FAMILY.    I love being a Thinking Mother... that will continue.    I believe in The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew.  That will continue.    

I can't, however, run the race any longer.  I'm tired and I do believe my family will probably be glad when I tell them this news.  

I'm also wondering how alone I am in this --- I think I'm a pretty normal person, so I'm thinking many bloggers must go through this same thing.   Is anyone raising their hand?  

If I really think about it - this is how my blog was supposed to be from the beginning.  When I started blogging, this is what it was about.  I remember sharing my blogging idea with a friend from long ago - I was so excited about this new fun exercise in writing and sharing.  Somewhere along the line it became more about numbers and comments.  Somewhere along the line I lost the joy.  Somewhere along the line I lost focus, and I'm just thankful to be trying to regain that focus now.     

I look at this picture and am proud of the blog I've built.  I'm proud of the connections I've made, the products I've reviewed, and the community that has been built.   I'm not proud, however, that I feel it's been done at the expense of my family.   I also look at this picture and see a mom that is tired, sometimes grumpy, and not very fun.  I see a mom whose primary mission needs to be EDUCATING HER CHILDREN not RUNNING HER BLOG!  

It all comes down to these cliche (yet wise) words:

EVERYTHING IN MODERATION

Please let me know if you've experienced similar feelings -- even though I know this is a wise decision, I still feel as if I'm letting someone down (who that person is, I don't know! ha!).