Squiggle Squad Handwriting
A fresh approach to letter and number formation that lays the groundwork for reading, writing, and reasoning.
Squiggle Squad was designed around the natural development of little learners. Instructional techniques and resources focus on the learning process—not simply the end result—so that handwriting becomes easy, efficient, and useful for the student.
Learning to Write One Stroke at a Time
Meet the Squad
Lines the Lemur
Motor Skills
All Squiggle Squad resources provide activities that incrementally improve a child’s gross and fine motor skills needed for handwriting. Pathway Posters, Finger Fun, and Pencil Paths are program elements strategically designed to move young learners toward writing readiness and helps you monitor your students’ progress. They are designed to be fun and so developmentally appropriate that kids learn as they play. Exercises introduce movement patterns for letter and number formation before little learners even hold a pencil. Once ready, little hands practice pencil grip and writing posture while “playing” on playsheets with their new friends on the Squiggle Squad!
Stroke by Stroke
Each of the five handwriting strokes is represented by a member of the Squiggle Squad. This group of fun and friendly animals are designed to teach, motivate and encourage little learners in their handwriting efforts. Young students practice the strokes in isolation accompanied by their Squad friend. By naming the strokes and pairing them with an animal friend, teachers have a useful language to use with students when talking about handwriting.
Letter & Number Formation
Learning to form letters and numbers efficiently with ease is the ultimate goal of Squiggle Squad handwriting instruction. After introducing each stroke, the Squiggle Squad animals come together to “play” and form letters! Because the kids already know stroke direction and verbal cues, learning letter formation is less frustrating or confusing. Plus, the friendly, well-designed playsheets makes the new letter challenges fun and memorable!
Symbol to Significance
Early in their development, children can visually recognize and name letters much as they recognize and name shapes. As students make the kinesthetic connection to letters, they begin to understand that the letters represent sounds. Eventually, they come to understand that the letters together create words that carry meaning. Letter names and recognition should be taught while students are practicing the strokes. Once kiddos are comfortable controlling their pencil and begin forming letters themselves, they will begin to connect letters to sound. Seeing, saying, and doing leads to greater understanding between what is seen and what is meant.
