Why Handwriting Matters in the Slingerland Approach
In the Slingerland Approach to Structured Literacy, handwriting is a foundational component of literacy, deeply connected to how children learn to read, spell, and write fluently.
For students with dyslexia or other language-based learning differences, handwriting instruction must be explicit, systematic, and multisensory. Slingerland handwriting was designed precisely for this purpose.
Handwriting Is a Language Skill—Not Just Fine Motor Work
Many programs treat handwriting as a motor activity that develops naturally with practice. Research and decades of clinical classroom experience show this is not true for many learners, especially those with dyslexia.
In the Slingerland Approach, handwriting is taught as a language skill that integrates:
Visual processing (seeing letter shapes accurately)
Auditory processing (linking letters to sounds)
Kinesthetic–motor memory (feeling the movement of each letter)
This simultaneous Auditory–Visual–Kinesthetic–Motor (AVKM) integration helps the brain store letters efficiently and retrieve them automatically during reading and writing.
Why Slingerland Handwriting Is Different
Slingerland handwriting instruction is based on the original neurological principles developed by Dr. Samuel Orton, refined by Anna Gillingham and Bessie Stillman, and adapted for classroom and tutoring settings by Beth H. Slingerland.
Key features include:
1. Explicit Instruction
Children are not expected to “pick up” letter formation incidentally. Each letter is:
Taught deliberately
Modeled step-by-step
Practiced with guided verbalization
Students learn how a letter is formed, not just what it looks like.
2. Careful Letter Sequencing
Letters are introduced in a strategic order, not alphabetically.
The sequence avoids:
Visually confusing letters (b/d, p/q, m/n)
Auditorily similar sounds introduced too close together
Instead, letters are grouped by:
Similar motor patterns
Ease of sound production
Early usefulness for spelling and word building
This reduces reversals, confusion, and frustration.
3. Multisensory Letter Formation
Each letter is learned through a structured progression:
Large motor movements (air-writing, board work)
Tracing with verbalized strokes
Gradual transition to independent writing
Students say the letter or sound while forming it, strengthening memory through multiple pathways.
4. Automaticity Is the Goal
The purpose of Slingerland handwriting is automatic, legible, efficient letter production so that:
Cognitive energy is freed for spelling, sentence construction, and ideas
Writing becomes fluent rather than exhausting
Reading and spelling development are supported—not hindered
When handwriting is not automatic, it competes with higher-level language tasks and can significantly slow academic progress.
The Connection Between Handwriting, Spelling, and Reading
In Structured Literacy, handwriting, spelling, and reading are inseparable.
When students write letters while saying sounds:
They reinforce sound–symbol relationships
They strengthen decoding and encoding pathways
They build durable orthographic memory
This is why Slingerland handwriting is always integrated with:
Phonics instruction
Spelling rules
Word and sentence dictation
Handwriting becomes a tool for learning language, not a barrier to it.
Why This Matters for Students with Dyslexia
Students with dyslexia often struggle with:
Letter reversals
Poor spacing and alignment
Slow, effortful writing
Avoidance of written work
Slingerland handwriting directly addresses these challenges by:
Teaching letters explicitly and systematically
Reducing memory overload
Building confidence through mastery-based pacing
For many students, improvements in handwriting lead to noticeable gains in spelling, reading fluency, and written expression.
Handwriting at Lamorinda Reads
At Lamorinda Reads, handwriting instruction follows the Slingerland Approach and is:
Explicit and multisensory
Individually paced
Integrated with reading and spelling instruction
Responsive to each child’s learning profile
Whether your child is just beginning to write or struggling with writing fluency, Slingerland handwriting provides the structure and support needed to build lasting literacy skills.
Want to Learn More?
If you’d like to know how Slingerland handwriting can support your child’s reading and writing development, feel free to reach out or explore our Structured Literacy services.
