According to the Department of Education every child should be writing their names and simple sentences by the age of five and joining up their letters by seven. Fact is a whole third of a class from every primary school in the UK is leaving at aged 11 unable to do this.
Melanie Harwood’s daughter was one of those 1 in 3. Her daughter’s inability to write her name cost her a place at primary school, so Harwood decided to do something about it. In the process she invented a method that teaches children the life-enabling skill of handwriting, which she currently delivers as after school clubs. In just seven weeks her Start-Bee handwriting method can get any child writing their names in a legible, neat, cursive script.
Handwriting is a skill that is fundamental to unlocking an individual’s potential in life. Scientific evidence proves that children who can write are able to access the entire education curriculum more efficiently than children who cannot write. Even in a digital age, whilst computers are still barred from the exam room, children need to be able to write fluently and quickly if they are to pass exams.
Now Melanie is turning her method it into handwriting kits and the accompanying lessons into films that will be broadcast over the Internet. The kits are being presold from 8th September to crowdfund enough money to realize that ambition. Everything a learner needs to master handwriting has been carefully selected to teach every child, including those with SEN and Dyslexia, how to write, to expand their vocabulary and to read whilst having fun learning. Packaged up in a specially designed Start-Bee Trunki, you’ll find items such as bespoke pencils, puzzles, posters, ink pads, light box, exercises, support materials, folders, paper and stencils. The kit works in conjunction with 310 exercises, which will be broadcast as 70, one-hour lessons over the Internet.
More information at http://www.start-bee.com/
For your chance to win a Neutral Handwriter’s Kit (as seen above) complete with Trunki plus 4 lessons (worth approx £300 in total) you can enter via the Gleam entry form below.
The giveaway ends at 11.59pm GMT on 1st October 2015.
Leaving a comment is mandatory but there are additional entry methods available also.
Please refer to the T&C in relation to dispatch times for this prize.
Please refer to the T&C in relation to dispatch times for this prize.
Good luck!
WIN a Neutral Handwriter's Kit, Trunki and Four Lessons
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Little bumblebee pencil toppers ? :)
ReplyDeleteI think the kit looks wonderful! I have been writing a journal since the beginning of the year. It may only be a paragraph or two a day but it has been helpful to note down my thoughts - it is the first year I have one this!
ReplyDeleteI have been writing thank you notes
ReplyDeleteAShleigh
i have been writing my diary
ReplyDeleteI have been writing letters to my friends that I don't get to see so often as more personal
ReplyDeleteI have been trying to teach my son how to write. He's just about to go into his last year of nursery but doesn't hold pens or pencils the 'right way' yet. I would add fun pencil toppers or stencils to this kit :) xx
ReplyDeletekeeping a diary
ReplyDeleteI almost never write, but my son will be writing a few thank you cards soon for all the lovely birthday presents he's opened today.
ReplyDeleteI would add 4 silhouettes: a family :)
ReplyDeletewriting in my journal
ReplyDeleteI've just started up a handwritten journal again and have missed doing it!
ReplyDeleteI write in my little boy's baby book :)
ReplyDeleteI have been writing in my diary about my grandkids
ReplyDeleteMy son is starting Reception next week, we have been practising writing his name together.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I seem to write is shopping and 'to do' lists.
ReplyDeleteThe kit looks great and would be perfect for my daughter who starts reception next week
ReplyDeleteWriting a diary.
ReplyDeleteKelly glen.
I'd have some pretty stickers to help my writing look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAnd I would write a journal
I think the kit looks quite comprehensive and I'm sure she has thought out all of the contents from her experience of teaching the method. Perhaps what is missing would be some sort of reward sticker?
ReplyDeleteI don't do a lot of writing these days. I think the last thing I wrote was a phone message.
I've been writing my thoughts in my diary as really helps with my wellbeing xx
ReplyDeleteI recently wrote a massive to do list in my diary!
ReplyDeleteI have been writing lists, lots and lots to do. x
ReplyDeleteI think a mini diary would be nice
ReplyDeleteI love writing list and there is nothing better than crossing everything off a to do list
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid recently all I have written is shopping lists.
ReplyDeletea rubber pencil gripper, to make it easier for little fingers to hold a pencil.
ReplyDeleteI write to my little girl every day.
ReplyDeleteThe kit is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI have been keeping a diary and update it every evening, it contains my thoughts, feeling and emotions. It is incredibly moving to look back on previous entries because they capture so many special memories and fleeting feelings.
I have just started a weight watchers journal, it is fab and will hopefully keep me on track :)
ReplyDeleteIve wrote a lovely poem about Autism and how perfect my son is x
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely kit!. I spent a considerable amount of time with my son writing his name before he went to school, I knew by the amount of practice we had done, that he was left handed.... I had informed staff of this but unfortunately, no notice was taken and he was made to use his right hand :(
ReplyDeleteAmongst other issues, we decided to take him out of this school and he will be going into Year 3 next week, but is able to comfortably use his left hand and we have spent a lot of time over the summer practicing his hand writing :) So proud of how he is coming on xx
So I have been keeping a diary of his progress :)
DeleteI write in my diary, daily!
ReplyDeleteShopping lists
ReplyDeletei write lists constantly.
ReplyDeleteshopping lists, to-do lists, things i need to buy for my daughter when she arrives, moving house list.
oh so many lists
i wrote a letter to my boyfriend
ReplyDeletei'm usually wrting to do lists
ReplyDeleteI have helped my daughter to make a scrapbook of our summer holiday, so I've been writing in that.
ReplyDeleteLast thing I've written would have been a shopping list but before that it was a huge pile of Birthday cards as majority of Birthdays in our extended family fall into August :)
ReplyDeleteI think the kit looks wonderful. I've written a letter to my Gran about how much she means to us. I wanted to get her a gift to say thankyou for looking after my girls whilst I was working (currently on maternity leave) but nothing seemed appropriate- she doesn't use 'smellies' or wear jewellery and EVERYONE gets her orchids, so I thought, how about something from the heart x
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge to-do list writer!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a writer in the slightest!! Recently though I wrote a lovely poem for my grandads funeral <3
ReplyDeletei have been writing my diary daily - leanne w
ReplyDeleteI've recently written a thank you note! The kit looks lovely!
ReplyDeleteI have my own little online space for writing, not really sure what i write, i just like it ;) https://lindamcgarrigle.wordpress.com/
ReplyDeleteI write. Everyday in my recovery diary...its something I've been doing for the last ten years ..since I got into a twelve step programme and I find it helps me so much!
ReplyDeleteI write. Everyday in my recovery diary...its something I've been doing for the last ten years ..since I got into a twelve step programme and I find it helps me so much!
ReplyDeleteMaybe adapters for the pens / pencils for kids with learning difficulties so they can grip to learn to write / draw
ReplyDeleteI think its perfect as it is
ReplyDeleteI write blogs, freelance writing, currently writing a novel, I write poetry, lists...
Sadly, the latest thing I've written is 2 reports about inappropriate behaviour in my taxi!
ReplyDeletekeeping a diary
ReplyDeletewriting in my journal
ReplyDeleteI write short stories for my own enjoyment x
ReplyDeleteThe kit looks great! I have been trying to write in my pregnancy diary regularly :)
ReplyDeleteit is just in my diary or emails that I write x
ReplyDeletemaybe a reward chart for child to work towards when improving handwriting skills
ReplyDeleteI think a folder with slip covers to keep past work and to track improvements
ReplyDeleteThe only writing I do, is my magazine puzzles and postal competitions
ReplyDeleteI have been keeping a diary with my boys of what we did on a day to day basis over the summer holidays. They have loved writing little paragraphs and drawing or taking accompanying pictures and sticking them in. It will be a lovely memento for them to look back at to remember a wonderful summer.
ReplyDeletepur clubs team sheets
ReplyDeleteLove writing with my daughter who has just started primary 1.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice to include some fun tracing, mazes, and connect the dot activities to help develop the skills in another way.
ReplyDeleteLists!!!! I always write Lists! I once had a friend ask me why I didnt put my lists on my ipad or computer and I answered.. because I like writing!
ReplyDeleteI'm always writing little post it notes for remembering things :)
ReplyDeleteI seem to write lists on a daily basis but also love to write thank you notes
ReplyDeleteI recently wrote thank you cards on behalf of my 2 year old for birthday presents
ReplyDeleteI wrote postcards whilst on holiday.
ReplyDeleteI have written a "To do before i'm 50" list :-)
ReplyDeleteI have kept a diary since I was young:)
ReplyDeletei have been writing out my christmas gift and wrapped list
ReplyDeleteLists of all the things my son needs to take to Uni this weekend
ReplyDeleteI have been writing travel diary
ReplyDeleteBeen writing thank notes on my sons behalf for his pressies
ReplyDeleteI have written a section of the book "Of the River People: Memories of a Midland Childhood by Anthony Perry" published a few months ago.
ReplyDeletewriting a complaint letter re our recent holiday
ReplyDeleteI tend to draft most of my blog posts out by hand in a notebook. Any excuse to use a pretty pen and notebook
ReplyDeleteWedding save the date cards
ReplyDeleteKay Panayi
I'm still writing thank you card for all the lovely gifts Lisa got and shes 4 months old. oops! no time
ReplyDeleteJoanne O'Neill
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a progress or reward chart as this always had a positive impact on my eldest daughter x
i have been writing shopping lists pretty boring i know!
ReplyDeleteSome stripy bee border paper would be super.
ReplyDeleteThe only writing I seem to do is shopping/ to do lists!
ReplyDeletei wrote a letter to friend recently
ReplyDeleteI wrote a letter to a friend, an actual letter, not an email!
ReplyDeleteI seem to be writing a hell of a lot of birthday cards lately...is everyone born in August, September and October or what!? ;)
ReplyDeleteI wrote in my babies keepsake book for saying her first word. Da da
ReplyDeleteI have written shopping lists
ReplyDeletebegin writing a diary
ReplyDeletei've been making lists of what i need to do a halloween party
ReplyDeleteI have several postcard pals and I have been writing to them with my favourite purple pen :)
ReplyDeleteI've written a letter to my daughters teacher, I always tend to handwrite into the school rather than type/email
ReplyDeleteI love to write ...from filling out competition entries to writing poems and helping my daughter with her homework
ReplyDeleteI used to write a lot of poems. Unfortunately I don't anymore. Perhaps if I did, my two sons would imitate me. They don't like to write at home and have bad handwriting.
ReplyDeleteI have not managed to write anything but my son has just had a short story published in a book called Grimm Tales which I am very proud of :) It is his own take on The three little pigs story :)
ReplyDeleteI write lots of postcards through the Postcrossing scheme
ReplyDeleteI've been writing in the baby book x
ReplyDeleteNumber 9 brings back so many childhood memories :).......
ReplyDeleteI seem to write lists after lists, filling in the childrens homework diaries, filling in forms x
i love writing lists x x x x x
ReplyDeleteI've just moved house and have found myself writing endless lists of things I need to buy and things I need to fix!
ReplyDeleteI have started writing about things I like in my scrapbook
ReplyDeletei regularly scrap book, id love fancy hndwriting
ReplyDeleteRather sad really but very proud to write an epitaph for a close friend
ReplyDeleteI have baby books and scrap books for each of my three children, that I regularly update x
ReplyDeletei write in my diary daily :)
ReplyDeleteMyself and my two bubs aged 6 and 5 wrote to NASA, with some questions about space. It was a fun way to get them writing and we got a reply with stickers and pics of some real life astronauts!
ReplyDeleteI write lots of to do lists
ReplyDeleteI might add something for larger motor skills - being able to control arms comes before hands and fingers
ReplyDeleteI would add a maths book
ReplyDeleteI have been writing my sons Christmas wish list!
ReplyDeleteWe found pencil grip aids a big help. My son refused to hold a pencil with his fingertips as he said it hurt his fingers. But with the help of rubber pencil grip aids we managed to work through it.
ReplyDeleteI always liked writing personalised poems on birthday cards for family :)
ReplyDeleteI have been writing reports on my engineers
ReplyDeleteI have been writing a blog post
ReplyDeleteI wrote a note to the teacher to let them know my son's reading record wasn't in his homework bag but we had completed the reading book and discussed the story.
ReplyDeleteThe bumblebee Trunki to keep all of the amazing learning tools in.
ReplyDeleteI have written a letter recently
ReplyDeleteAlways hand write letters rather than type them, makes it feel more personal :)
ReplyDeleteI write stories with my daughter. x
ReplyDeleteI would like to see a sheet showing how kiddies should be forming their letters correctly. Where the pen should start and finish.
ReplyDeleteMe and my little boy wrote a poem last week for a competition at his school :)
ReplyDeletePerhaps add a hotter/notebook for drawing pictures and writing a story about it, next to or underneath.
ReplyDeleteI used to love creative writing as a child/teenager but sadly the most I get to write these days is the shopping list!
ReplyDeleteI have been writing a little piece about how wonderful old cats are for a charity.
ReplyDeletewe love writing stories together. We take turns to write parts.
ReplyDeletei love to write poems myself, mainly about family
ReplyDeleteI love writing poetry - I have been writing them for more years than I can remember
ReplyDeleteI wrote my mum a poem :)
ReplyDeleteI've encouraged son to write the sort of fantasy stories he enjoys with pictures.
ReplyDeleteI write lists every single day and cross out things as i do them.
ReplyDeletei do try and write a journal xx
ReplyDeleteAt the moment I am writing a lot of cover letters trying to get a job
ReplyDeleteKeeping a diary. Making training notes at work
ReplyDeletea novel
ReplyDeleteI have kept a journal whenever we have been out and about in our caravan for the last 30 years. Great to look back on 3:)
ReplyDeleteI do very little writing now, I struggled with it as a youngster and had to have lessons. My 7 year old son is having the exact same problems as me so most of the writing I do is for him to copy! The kit looks great, perhaps some grips would be a good addition?
ReplyDelete