About the Going to Kindergarten Club
Send your child to kindergarten ahead of the game and set them up for lifelong handwriting success
Have you ever thought...
“Is that how he should be holding his pencil? “
“Why isn’t she interested in learning how to write her letters?”
“Why is it so hard for her to write her letters?”
“He just isn’t very confident when drawing or writing “
“She gets so frustrated when she tries to write and gives up”
“What is the best way for my child to learn to write?”
“My child has to take kindergarten admission tests– will she be ready for the fine motor and handwriting portions?”
OR
Has your child’s teacher ever told you:
“He needs help remembering how to write his name”
“Her drawings are a little immature for her age”
“He doesn’t spend time in the writing centers”
AND
you thought…If your child would just work with you, then you could help. But when you try, it usually ends with both of you upset and frustrated…
We have a simple solution
Lots of children want or need enrichment in handwriting. In fact, when I started my career in occupational therapy in 1998, the number one referral from teachers, psychologists, and parents was: handwriting concerns. Today, handwriting concerns are STILL the #1 source of referrals.
Perhaps your child is about to enter kindergarten or maybe he/she has already begun kindergarten … either way, it’s not too late for your child to learn how to write letters correctly and efficiently through our program. The class was developed using all the best parts of the most successful handwriting programs out there along with all the tips and tricks I’ve used teaching children for the past 20+ years. I basically turned my “live” in-person handwriting sessions into an online class. You and your child will get the best instruction possible AND it’s going to be a wonderful kinesthetic experience so that your child REMEMBERS and ENJOYS it. We certainly can all agree that children are more likely to learn if they are active and having fun, right?
WHAT IS THE CHILD’S TRANSFORMATION? Enhanced legibility, efficiency, and retention. Do you know what this equals? Less frustration and more willingness to complete handwriting activities! Along the way, I’ll teach your child foundation developmental skills of fine motor, pre-reading, gross motor, and direction-following skills that are critical to being a successful student. Check out the before and after pictures and the parent testimonials.
Don’t worry–this program will teach your child handwriting with minimal paper and pencil tasks! Boys rejoice!
The program is self-paced and done in the comfort of your home. It’s a super value, too. It would take me at least 19 hours to teach this program to your child in person… and my rate for coaching/tutoring is $150 per hour… so you are getting this whole program for just a fraction of that cost. I believe you will agree that this rate is worth it if it means your child getting the enrichment that will help him/her to become a more successful student!
I’m looking forward to your child joining our class!
Happy handwriting!
PS. I had lots of help creating the Going To Kindergarten Club and couldn’t have done it without Kelly Long, COTA/L and Crystal Smith, COTA/L. Many gracious children (Bria, Ellie, Maz, Arthur, Olivia, and others) and parents helped to pilot the program and submit feedback and videos.
How Does It Work?
Once you sign up, you will receive instant access to modules, chapters, teaching videos, workbook, PDF’s and all curriculum supports. The module is laid out in a “Parent Section” and a “Student Section”. The student sections are teaching videos where Stephanie will instruct the student on the target letter and then will allow time for the student to perform as well. The modules are laid out in the order in which a student needs to complete them in order for the highest level of carryover. The videos can be paused or played again as many times that is necessary.
How do you know if your child is progressing?
It is highly recommended to have your child complete the informal assessment before you start the program, in the middle, and again at the end. You will be prompted to upload the informal assessment so that our OT’s can review and give you feedback. Seeing the before and after will also help you see the progress. If you need support with the program or feel that you need your child to make fast progress, you may always choose to add on our coaching support.
Here are some of the perks YOU will receive :
🏆Access to all of the below for ONE FULL YEAR
🏆View the module on a computer, laptop or on phone via Kajabi app
🏆 22 self-paced instructional handwriting videos for children that can be paused and replayed at any point
🏆 10 self paced BONUS instructional videos for children (pencil grasp, fine motor, letter ID, and more)
🏆 All PDF’s can also be used on touchscreen device and stylus
🏆 37 page printer friendly workbook (can be used on touchscreen device as well)
🏆A link to enroll in my special Google Calendar, that will push one super developmental activity idea to your phone per day
🏆Easy to source materials
🏆Links to extra resources and our own Spotify playlists
🏆Access to our occupational therapists and other parent members for troubleshooting through our members-only community page
🏆Valuable tips through our members-only emails
🏆A wave of relief! You can rest assured that these activities will help your child to learn handwriting and …therefore increasing academic potential!
Parent Testimonial
Yes, I need this !
$125 for a full year of access
What materials do I need?
Maybe the best part about this program is how versatile it is. Once you have the main materials listed below, you’ll find that you’ll be using them in lots of fun and creative ways.
Included in the module:
- All digital worksheets, teaching videos, and resources
- Suggested order of implementation
Not included but needed:
(A comprehensive sourcing list will be sent to you after your purchase)
4×6 framed chalkboard, letter building shapes, a variety of crayon colors, a few pieces of chalk, a few sponge cubes or fingertip-sized pom poms, a few short pencils with erasers, a plastic lid from a water bottle, child-sized scissors, 20-30 golf tees, lid off of a styrofoam cooler or piece of styrofoam, and small rubber bands.
*Our program works great with materials from the Handwriting Without Tears program! *
Meet the Authors
Take A Look at Some of the Activities and Digital Downloads
Pencil grasp/fine motor enrichment
Pre-reading
Yes! This course will compliment other handwriting programs (it may use strategies from several popular handwriting programs) such as Handwriting/Learning Without Tears, Zaner Bloser, and First Strokes.
After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for a full year – across any and all devices you own.
Developmentally, its easier for a child to learn handwriting in this order : Uppercase letters, Numbers and lowercase letters. Your child will be more successful if they are competent and confident in uppercase letters before starting numbers or lowercase letters. Additionally, the courses are set up to work best in the order above and developmental activities will build in the same order.
Yes! I suggest that your child consistently recognize at least 10/26 uppercase letters. The course will also help your child to recognize the other letters!
Private schools usually require entrance testing to determine which kids are developmentally and academically ready for the demands of kindergarten. This program is definitely considered “enrichment” and along with some coaching my help your child to better prepare for testing.
The course starts now and you’ll have access to it for a full year! It is a completely self-paced online course – you decide when you start and when you finish. Your child can start it now and then if your child needs a review at any point, he/she can review any or all of the course.
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.
Yes. If your child is already enrolled in kindergarten and needing enrichment in handwriting, this course will be appropriate for your child.
Private schools usually require entrance testing to determine which kids are developmentally and academically ready for the demands of kindergarten. This program is definitely considered “enrichment” and along with some coaching my help your child to better prepare for testing.
Your instructor
Hi! I’m Stephanie Wick and I’ve been a pediatric occupational therapist since 1998. I’m a native of Virginia and graduated from Emory and Henry College and Shenandoah University, but I’ve lived in Charlotte NC since 1999. I’ve worked for 14+ years in the public and private elementary and preschool settings. I began Learning Charms in 2008 and had a clinic with a 1000 square foot gym that I filled up with mainly preschoolers looking to enrich their fine motor and developmental skills prior to kindergarten. I’ve always loved technology and so in 2019 began working on a project to create an on-demand handwriting class. Along with running a therapy group, I enjoy creating on-demand programs, classes, and professional development for teachers, parents, and students.
Research
Early fine motor writing skills are more and more being recognized as an important school readiness skill associated with later academic success (Carlton and winkler, 1999: Dinehart and Manfra, 2013; Feder and Majnemer, 2007: Grissmer et al., 2010; Jackman and Stagniti, 2007; Rosenblum et al., 2003; Son and Meisels, 2006; Sortor and Kulp, 2003). Many public school systems took away individualized handwriting lessons in the past decade, which may also account for the increase in referrals for handwriting related problems to occupational therapists. In addition, few teachers feel prepared to teach handwriting (Graham et al., 2008). In 2003, Marr et al. reported that children in a preschool setting spent about 37% of their day engaged in fine motor activities and only 10% of those activities involved paper and pencil. In kindergarten, the shift to using handwriting during the day was significant. Kindergarteners spent nearly half their day engaged in fine motor skills and of that amount, 42% was spent on paper and pencil tasks (Marr et al., 2003). Even before a child enters elementary school, the current literature finds that developing “handwriting readiness” may be beneficial because it 1) supports the development of reading skills (James and Engelhardt, 2012; Longcamp et al., 2005) and 2) it may increase the likelihood of academic success in later year.
References:
Graham S, Harris KR, Mason L, et al. (2008) How do primary grade teachers teach handwriting? A national survey. Reading & Writing 21(1–2): 49–69.
Carlton MP and Winsler A (1999) School readiness: The need for a paradigm shift. School Psychology Review 28: 338–352.
Dinehart LHB and Manfra L (2013) Association between early fine motor develop- ment and later math and reading achievement in early elementary school. Early Education and Development 24(2): 138–161.
Feder K and Majnemer A (2007) Handwriting development, competency, and intervention. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 49(4): 312–317.
Grissmer DW, Grimm KJ, Aiyer SM, et al. (2010) Fine motor skills and early com- prehension of the world: Two new school readiness indicators. Developmental Psychology 46: 1008–1017.
Jackman M and Stagnitti K (2007) Fine motor difficulties: The need for advocating for the role of occupational therapy in schools. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 54(3): 168–173.
James KH and Engelhardt L (2012) The effects of handwriting on functional brain development in pre-literate children. Trends in Neuroscience and Education 1(1): 32–42.
Longcamp M, Zerbato-Poudou MT and Velay JL (2005) The influence of writing practice on letter recognition in preschool children: A comparison between hand- writing and typing. Acta Psychologica 119(1): 67–79.
Marr D, Cermak S, Cohn ES, et al. (2003) Fine motor activities in Head Start and kindergarten classrooms. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 57: 550–557.
Rosenblum S, Epsztein L and Josman N (2008) Handwriting performance of children with attention deficit hyperactive disorders: A pilot study. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics 28: 219–223.
Son SH and Meisels SJ (2006) The relationship of young children’s motor skills to later reading and math achievement. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly 52: 755–778.
Sortor JM and Kulp MT (2003) Are the results of the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration and its subscales related to achievement test scores? Optometry and Vision Science 80: 758–763.
If your child isn't quite old enough or not interested in learning to write yet, check out the FUNdamental Foundations: Preschool program below.
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Stephanie WickFUNdamental Foundations: Preschool
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