Handwriting Without Tears: My Printing Book

Handwriting Without Tears: My Printing Book is the first-grade workbook in the Learning Without Tears handwriting curriculum, building on the foundation established in kindergarten with Letters and Numbers for Me. This workbook introduces children to writing on double lines while reinforcing and refining the letter formations they learned the previous year, with increased emphasis on lowercase letters and beginning sentence writing.

The program continues its signature developmental approach, teaching letters in groups based on their formation patterns rather than alphabetical order. First graders work through capitals review, then focus extensively on lowercase letter families — letters that share similar strokes are taught together, helping children see patterns and build muscle memory efficiently. The lowercase teaching sequence begins with "Magic c" letters (c, o, a, d, g, q), followed by letters that start with a similar stroke pattern.

My Printing Book transitions students from the gray block paper used in kindergarten to double-lined paper, which more closely resembles standard ruled paper. This gradual progression helps children adjust to conventional writing lines without the shock of moving directly from blocks to narrow-ruled notebook paper. Each page provides ample practice space with clear letter models and simple, age-appropriate practice words and sentences.

The workbook includes activities designed to build both handwriting skill and early literacy simultaneously. Students practice writing high-frequency words, simple sentences, and short paragraphs as they progress through the book. This integration of handwriting with meaningful writing gives children authentic reasons to practice their letter formation, increasing both motivation and retention.

Occupational therapists and special education professionals frequently recommend Handwriting Without Tears because of its research-based approach to motor skill development. The curriculum considers hand dominance, pencil grip, posture, and paper positioning — foundational physical skills that many handwriting programs overlook. The teacher guide (sold separately) includes detailed instructions for addressing common handwriting difficulties.

My Printing Book is used in thousands of classrooms and homeschools nationwide. Homeschool parents particularly value its straightforward lesson structure, which requires minimal preparation and can be completed in 10-15 minutes per day. The program pairs well with any reading or language arts curriculum and provides the systematic handwriting instruction that many comprehensive programs lack.