Date of Award
5-2015
Document Type
Action Research Project
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Education
Department
Education, Montessori
First Advisor
Amanda Perna
Department/School
Montessori Elementary Education, Montessori Early Childhood, Elementary Education
Abstract
Abstract This action research studied the impact of Handwriting Without Tears® (HWT) cursive instruction on handwriting skills for kindergarten students. The study occurred in an early childhood (ages 3-6) classroom at a private Montessori school. Eight students received multisensory HWT cursive instruction twenty minutes per day for six weeks. Sources of data included participant print and cursive writing samples analyzed with a rubric, HWT print assessments, scored attitude scales of participants’ feelings about handwriting, a tally sheet of writing works chosen, and a teacher journal. Following the intervention, participants’ scored higher on the HWT assessment, especially in the section regarding correct orientation. Cursive and print writing sample scores also improved. Participants’ feelings about looking at their handwriting increased. Since HWT cursive instruction improved students’ print and cursive, I will use HWT print and cursive curriculum in my classroom, give kindergartners regular HWT print assessments, and remediate as necessary. Keywords: handwriting, cursive, print, Montessori, kindergarten, Handwriting Without Tears®, multisensory
Recommended Citation
Carlson, Amy J.. (2015). Cursive Handwriting with Kindergartners. Retrieved from Sophia, the St. Catherine University repository website: https://sophia.stkate.edu/maed/105
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons