Why is the Handwriting Without Tears teaching order different? How does it work?

Our unique letter teaching order is successful because it follows a scaffolded developmental teaching sequence. We teach easy letters first, beginning with capitals, and then teach lowercase letters in groups of similar stroke sequence. When students master easier skills, they are better prepared to learn more difficult groups—those prone to reversals or having diagonal lines. The teaching order allows children to gain mastery and confidence more quickly and can focus on the content of their work rather than the mechanics of letter formation. This results in writing that is fluid, legible, and automatic. 

If our teaching order isn’t ideal for your school or district’s ELA needs, it can be customized to fit any requirement.