Review: TV Teacher handwriting program uses multi-sensory approach

Many special needs kids struggle with handwriting, particularly kids on the autism spectrum. The TV Teacher uses a multi-sensory approach -- visual (the video), auditory (a rhyme about each writing skill), touch (holding a marker and drawing)-- to build writing skills.

Ms. Marnie, an occupational therapist and co-creator of the program, is the host of the series. Her co-creator, Susan, is the mother of a boy, Ryan, diagnosed as autistic at the age of 3 1/2. They watched Ryan's handwriting improve dramatically after his OT sessions were recorded and played back on video. They tested this method with other children, both special needs and neurotypical, and found that most kids the worked with learned quickly by watching and imitating handwriting skills.

The series is divided up into progressively more difficult skill sets. The first DVD is "Strokes, Shapes and Scenes," where kids learn the basics of drawing lines and shapes and creating pictures based on those shapes. For instance, in the circle "chapter," kids progress from a basic circle to drawing a face, a balloon or a drum.

Each shape -- or letter, once kids advance to letter-writing DVDs -- is accompanied by a little rhyme to help kids remember how to draw it.  The little song for rectangle is sung to the tune of "Farmer in the Dell:"

A rectangle has four sides/
a rectangle has four sides /
short side, long side, short side, long/
A rectangle has four sides.

There are two letter-writing DVDs: "Alphabet Beats," upper case and lower case. Accompanying each DVD is a workbook where kids can practice strokes, shapes and letters. A lined dry-erase lap board allows kids to practice anywhere.

A complete set of materials, including all three DVDs, the workbooks, and dry erase board is $112.00, but a single DVD can be purchased for $35.

The rhymes are catchy and the host is appealing. There aren't, however, a lot of support materials, such as a Teacher's/Parent's Guide, for instance, to help guide someone in implementing the program, but the video and workbooks are simple enough to follow.  Ideally, this or any handwriting program would be implemented under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist, such as the child's Leon County school OT, if indicated on the student's IEP.

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