Penmanship Pals: Print Handwriting & Fine Motor Skills Practice (Ages 8-12)
Print handwriting instruction and fine motor skills practice for learners who have basic skills in print handwriting. Please note: There is a separate Penmanship Pals course for cursive handwriting.
Jennifer Howell
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(277)
What's included
1 live meeting
25 mins in-class hours per weekAssessment
There will be no formal assessment.Class Experience
Each time we meet, we will work on a project. This will include making lists; creating correspondence; and copying poetry, song lyrics, quotes, and other materials -- in their entirety or portions thereof -- in print handwriting. Learners will also have an opportunity to suggest material to be copied or listed. Most of the projects will be completed in print handwriting; but for fun and variety, we will sometimes exercise fine motor skills by writing in a different font, a language other than English, or codes and symbols. Projects for each class are listed below but may also be customized based on the interest and suggestion of the learners in attendance that day. Week of Sept. 2 We will make a list of Olympic and Paralympic events that have or will take place this summer in Paris. Week of Sept. 9 We will copy the quotes of English author and poet A.A. Milne (1882-1956), best known for his books about Winnie-the-Pooh. Week of Sept. 16 We will copy English translations of some of the most celebrated Japanese haiku poetry. Week of Sept. 23 We will make a list of mountain ranges from each continent of the world. Week of Sept. 30 We will copy the quotes of German-born, theoretical physicist, and Nobel Laureate Albert Einstein (1879-1955). AUTUMN BREAK – No Penmanship Pals classes the Week of Mon.-Sun., Oct. 7-13 Week of Oct. 14 We will copy the lyrics to the well-loved showtune, "A Spoonful of Sugar," from the 1964 Disney film, "Mary Poppins.” Week of Oct. 21 We will make an A to Z list of horse breeds. Week of Oct. 28 We will copy the quotes of German-born Jewish girl Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank (1929-1945), who kept a diary documenting her life in hiding amid Nazi persecution during the German occupation of the Netherlands. Week of Nov. 4 Our fine motor skills activity will be drawing stick figures in action and practicing the technique of Sketchnoting™. Week of Nov. 11 We will make a list of classical composers (Claude Debussy; Frederic Chopin; Joseph Haydn; and so on). Week of Nov. 18 We will copy quotes from “Oklahoma’s Favorite Son,” Will Rogers (1879-1935). Week of Nov. 25 We will copy the lyrics to a 1970s folk song, "Sunshine On My Shoulders," recorded and co-written by American singer-songwriter John Denver. Week of Dec. 2 We will make an A to Z list of precious and semiprecious stones recognized by the International Gem Society. Week of Dec. 9 We will copy quotes by and about American baseball legend George Herman “Babe” Ruth (1895-1948). Week of Dec. 16 We will copy the lyrics to the well-loved "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" holiday song, which was written by Johnny Marks and is based on the 1939 story, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, by Robert L. May. WINTER BREAK – No Penmanship Pals classes the Week of Mon.-Sun., Dec. 23-29 Week of Dec. 30 We will copy the acrostic poetry of others and create our own acrostic poetry. Week of Jan. 6 We will make a list of aquatic animals, including marine mammals, seabirds, sharks, and shellfish. Week of Jan. 13 We will copy the quotes of U.S. National Women’s Hall of Fame (2007) and U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom (2003) recipient Julia Child (1912-2004), chef, cookbook author, and television personality. Week of Jan. 20 Our fine motor skills activity will be writing a letter to a friend, family member, pet, or fictitious character in mirror image. Week of Jan. 27 We will make an A to Z list of modern constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union.
Learning Goals
Penmanship Pals appeals to a wide variety of learners who enroll in the course with unique goals. The course is popular among learners who struggle to achieve legible handwriting and, therefore, usually dread having to practice. It is also an enjoyable, creative outlet for young artists who gain much satisfaction from forming letters and punctuation symbols.
For a student's handwriting skills to improve, practice is required. Extra, focused work is often essential for learners with dysgraphia or other fine motor skills challenges, those of whom are left-handed, and those whose training in handwriting has been sporadic. Handwriting exercise for these students can also be very frustrating and tedious and, therefore, it is difficult to find the motivation to hone their skills.
The Penmanship Pals curriculum provides a variety of handwriting activities with the hope that each student will find some or most of the topics of interest. For example, if a learner is not excited about the horse breeds or folk song lessons; perhaps they will enjoy the Olympic sports or mirror letter handwriting activities. Great care has been taken to make handwriting practice fun so that students are more likely to practice often and for longer periods of time and so that all students – whether handwriting challenged or budding calligraphy artist – will be inspired.
Other Details
Supply List
Learners will need a pencil or pen and some paper. There are no other requirements for supplies; however, I recommend the following: ruled paper (preferably ½” ruled, or larger) No. 2 pencil It would also be nice to have basic art supplies handy to frame class projects for display at home or to create greeting cards and gifts using class projects.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined June, 2018
4.9
277reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Western Governors University
When I attended elementary school in the 1970s, neat, legible, print and cursive handwriting was an important part of our education. I received good grades then and compliments throughout my life on my beautiful penmanship. In recent years, I’ve also dabbled in hand lettering and calligraphy art and have participated in events such as The Graceful Envelope Contest and IAMPETHvirtual2021. I am a member of IAMPETH (International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting).
I have taught over 100 sections of Tails and Curls: The Art of Cursive Handwriting and Penmanship Pals: Handwriting and Fine Motor Skills Practice. Students find me to be patient, cheerful, and fun.Reviews
Live Group Class
$7
weekly1x per week
25 min
Completed by 379 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
1-10 learners per class
