Boulder Valley School District Statement on Handwriting
Print:'
The$Common$Core$State$Standards$and$BVSD’s$Curriculum$Essentials$Document$(CED)$both$identify$the$expectation$that$
students$are$to$publish$a$wide$variety$of$legible$texts.$Therefore,$BVSD$has$an$expectation$that$handwriting$is$taught;$however,$
it$is$not$an$expectation$to$provide$exclusively$whole$group$handwriting$lessons.$It$is$BVSD’s$position$that,$handwriting$is$best$
developed$while$students$are$engaged$in$authentic$writing.$Teachers$are$encouraged$to$formatively$analyze$student$writing$in$
order$to$determine$what$skills$each$individual$needs.$Lessons$can$then$be$developed$for$what$all$students$need,$some$students$
need,$or$one$student$needs.$Differentiation$is$the$teacher's$responsibility$to $help $children $achie ve$the $skill$of$prod ucin g$legible$
published$products.$$With$this$approach,$students$can$ultimately$use$their$handwriting$skills$to$show$evidence$of$mastering$the$
Evidence$Outcomes$listed$in$the$CED$for$composing$quality$writing.$$$
Resources:$
l Verbal$Paths$are$one$method$for$enhancing$handwriting$instruction.$$These$can$be$used$by$the$entire$school$staff$and$are$highly$
recommended .$$Ea ch$a do pte d$h an dw riting $pro gram $h as$a $uniq ue $verb al$p ath$in clud ed $in$the ir$ma terials.$Fountas & Pinnell Verbal Path
(LLI & Reading Recovery use this tool)
l iPad$App$Writing$Wizard$This$app$can$be$used$as$is$OR$it$allows$you$to$record$your$own$teacher$voice$saying$or$singing$the$letter$name,$sound$
and$verbal$path.$$
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l iPad$App:$PocketPhonics$
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l iPad$App:$LetterSchool$
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Cursive:''
The$Common$Core$State$Standards$and$BVSD’s$Curriculum$Essentials$Document$(CED)$do$not$require$$cursive$writing$instruction$
in$grades$th re e $th ro u gh $f ive ,$th ere fo re ,$B V SD$teachers$ar e$n o t$r eq u ire d $to $fo rmally$teach$c u rs ive .$$T he $re q u ire m e n t$is $to $e n sure$
students$can$independently$produce$high$quality$published$products.$Some$teachers$may$determine$that$cursive$writing$would$
be$one$way$to$ensure$this$and$may$have$students$learn$to$write$and$read$it.$$Realize$that$teachers$must$hold$students$
accountable$for$what$they$teach.$$If$time$is$spe n t$te a ch in g $st u d en t s$to $write$legibly$in $cu r siv e ,$w e $n e e d $to $e xp e c t$st u d en t s$to $d o $
it$regularly$to $d ev elo p $t h e$s kill$& $f lu en c y$o f$writing$in$curs ive .$We$would $b e$d o in g $stu d e n ts$a $d is se rvic e $if$w e $ta u gh t$t h em$to$
write$in$cursive$and$did$not$expect$them$to$use$the$skill.$$See$links$below$for$alternatives$to$whole$class$cursive$lessons$that$
provide$opportunities$for$students$to$learn$and$practice$using$cursive.$$
l iPad$App:$$Cursive Writing HD is an useful application for all ages who are taking their first step into learning cursive writing.
l iPad$App:$Cursive Writing is a great way for the family to practice cursive writing. Select the options in the "Settings" screen. Play
until you master the game.
Technology'Statement:$
A$formal$keyboarding$class$should$not$be$required,$just$like$we$would$not$have$a$multiplication$class$but$work$on$multiplication$
throughout$our$m ath $curricu lum .$Ou r$elem en tary$tea che rs$sho uld$b e$introd ucin g$typ ing$skills$w ithin$w riting$an d$class $com pu ter$
time.$Typically,$students$sp end $abo ut$10 $m inute s$of$the ir$com pu ter$tim e$w orkin g$on $typing $skills$then$the$rest$of$the$time$is$
used$creating$products$that$are$"cornerstone$tasks$for$curriculum".$Last$year$2012-13,$the$Educational$Technology$Department$
purchased$Typing'Pal.$This$software$is$available$for$all$2nd$-$8th$grade$students.$Typing'Pal$is$a$web$based$pr og ra m$allowing$
students$to$improve$their$accuracy$and$speed$either$at$school$or$at$home.$Teachers$should$see$where$students$are$and$
advocate$for$them$to$practice$their$skills$during$computer$time$at$school$and$at$home.$Your$teacher$librarians$and$tech$co n tac ts $
have$information$about$this$program.$$
Thanks'to'the'following'for'providing'input'and'feedback: Samara'Williams,'Robyn'Hamasaki,'Ellen'Berns,'Diana'Baumgartner,'Robin'Marshall,'
Margaret'Wynn,'Taren'Villecco,'Jason'Kaminsky,'Emerald'Faculty,'Elementary'Curriculum'Council'
Resume Templates 1210 Document(s)
