By HOLLY WAGNER

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

LIBERTY, Ill. -- Kindergarten teacher Julie Radel was as frustrated as her students when it came to handwriting lessons.

There has to be a better way, she thought. That's when Radel rediscovered a book called "Handwriting Without Tears" that had been given to her by an occupational therapist.

"I was extremely impressed," Radel said. "It follows such a logical developmental sequence; it's very well-grounded in research. The children seem to understand the terminology, and they are excited about using it.

"After learning this method they are very less frustrated."

Radel used the "Handwriting Without Tears" methods when she switched to preschool, a class that included the twin daughters of Liberty Elementary Principal Jody Obert.

"She saw what it was doing for her children," Radel said.

"It was just so easy," Obert said. "As a parent, to be able to look at what they're doing in the classroom and think 'I can do this at home' and not confuse them. ... To me, it's simple."

On Thursday, Liberty's pre-K through fifth-grade teachers attended a workshop on "Handwriting Without Tears" led by Kathy Van Haute, an occupational therapist from Omaha, Neb.

"Fifty percent of our knowledge is judged through our written work," Van Haute told them, stressing the importance of laying a good foundation for handwriting in the preschool years.

"Handwriting Without Tears" is a multisensory learning method that comes with a set of flat wood pieces, both rounded and straight, that can be used to build letters and to teach spatial references. A CD contains songs that reinforce the lessons. A rectangular chalkboard replaces practice work sheets. There are stories, sounds and motions to employ all the senses in reinforcing the techniques for creating letters.

Children need to learn organization before handwriting, and the early years are the time to teach it. Van Haute demonstrated a lesson in social skills that also teaches children which is their right hand. Each day, she recommends greeting children with a handshake and rubbing their right hand, or applying a sticker, or dabbing lotion on their right thumb, which the children then spread to each of their other fingers, practicing an important physical skill for holding a pencil.

"Handwriting Without Tears" methods provide a foundation for lifelong learning that was developed by occupational therapists 30 years ago, Van Haute said. Its methods cover the teaching of cursive writing, as well.

Children have so much to say but say so little of it when handwriting is difficult, Van Haute said. This method makes writing easy, removing one of the basic frustrations of school and setting children up as lifelong learners.

Obert sees its value for students of all developmental levels. She plans to introduce it in the preschool and kindergarten classes and build on it each year into the upper elementary grades.

"But honestly, after I speak with my staff, I think they might just want to go for it," she said. "That's what I'm hoping."

-- hwagner@whig.com/221-3374