The Case for Letter Sense
Did you know …
In early grades, handwriting practice improves students’ letter recognition skills, and the ability to identify letters is the most reliable predictor of future reading success? Handwriting strengthens fine motor skills, and children with strong fine motor skills do better not only in literacy tasks but also in kindergarten math!
Students who lack good letter sense tend to struggle with manuscript and cursive skills development. They spend more time on letter formation than creative expression. Less-developed handwriting technique can also impact written assessment of ideas, as evaluators are often influenced by the delivery over the actual content.
Zaner-Bloser Supports Letter Sense Development
Fortunately, Zaner-Bloser provides daily, explicit handwriting instruction to help all Texas students develop strong letter sense and formation as a key foundational skill!
How Zaner-Bloser Meets the IMRA Requirements – Handwriting
Zaner-Bloser Handwriting and Zaner-Bloser La escritura help Texas students master the basic strokes for manuscript and cursive writing in grades K-5.
- Daily, systematic instruction
- Embedded self-assessment
- Instruction in just 15 minutes per day
- 3-Step lesson model
- Print and online student and teacher delivery
Handwriting & TEKS Alignment At a Glance
- Zaner-Bloser Handwriting
- Zaner-Bloser La escritura
Developmental Progressions and Scaffolding
- Developmentally appropriate stroke sequences build on existing skills
Student Engagement and Motivation
- Zaner-Bloser Handwriting promotes autonomy and confidence through self-evaluation, multisensory learning, and home-to-school connections.
Assessment and Progress Monitoring
- Zaner-Bloser Handwriting includes embedded self-assessments for students and print and online progress monitoring tools for teachers.
Zaner-Bloser Handwriting – Rubric / Program Round Up
Explicit & Systematic Handwriting Instruction Rubric 7.1a
- IMRA calls for materials to include explicit (direct) and systematic handwriting instruction in alignment with grade-level TEKS.
- Zaner‑Bloser Handwriting offers explicit, direct instruction in manuscript and cursive (grades 2–6) according to four “Keys to Legibility” (Shape, Size, Spacing, Slant), using a clear three‑step lesson model (Model, Practice, Evaluate) that requires just 15 minutes of instruction per day.
Frequent Practice Opportunities Rubric 7.1b
- IMRA requires that materials include frequent opportunities for students to develop and refine handwriting skills in alignment with grade-level TEKS, including guided practice and independent practice.
- Zaner‑Bloser Handwriting integrates guided and independent practice in the daily lesson, with a combination of perforated student practice pages and digital handwriting quests to reinforce learning.
Feedback Guidance for Educators Rubric 7.1c
- IMRA calls for materials that include guidance for educators to provide feedback to students to develop and refine their handwriting skills in alignment with grade-level TEKS.
- Zaner‑Bloser Handwriting delivers with print and online teacher support!
- Print Teacher Editions with point‑of‑use support: provides guidance on giving feedback and evaluating student handwriting against the Keys to Legibility rubric.
- MyZBPortal.com empowers teachers to monitor and respond to student Handwriting Quest performance, and to give actionable feedback aligned with TEKS.