Improve print handwriting through pioneer passages and body strengthening exercises — for grades 1-3.
With Write Like a Pioneer, you'll connect handwriting practice to content that actually matters, so your child is absorbing something meaningful while they develop legible, consistent manuscript handwriting. Creative expression, fun facts, full-color illustrations, and a wide variety of hand, finger, and body strengthening experiences make this workbook fun for kids!
A Whole-Child Approach with a Biblical Emphasis
Write Like a Pioneer takes a whole-child approach to print handwriting, engaging the mind, body, and heart to create a lasting learning experience. Yes, your child gets plenty of practice forming letters. But they also build fine motor strength and coordination, mature in focus and patience, and reflect on history, character, and spiritual themes through the carefully selected passages.
A Christian worldview permeates this practice workbook. Your child will copy scripture passages, read the examples of American pioneers who followed God's lead, and repeatedly see themes of prayer and Christian faith.
What Your Student Will Gain
- Develop legible, consistent print handwriting with correct letter formation and spacing.
- Build stamina and muscle memory, making manuscript writing automatic so children can eventually focus on meaning more than handwriting.
- Improve attention to detail through proper alignment, size, and spacing.
- Connect handwriting practice with history by engaging with stories of American pioneers, famous trails, and early frontier life.
- Strengthen Christian faith through Bible passages and references to godly character.
- Build the physical foundation for writing through hand, finger, and core strengthening exercises.
More Than a Handwriting Workbook
Each lesson pairs copy work with physical exercises that build the strength and coordination the body needs for confident, lasting penmanship. Your child will copy quotes from real American pioneers and explorers alongside fun exercises like stretching rubber bands, stringing pony beads, rolling playdough, practicing with hole punchers, and more. These aren't filler activities. They build the gross and fine motor skills that make fluent print handwriting possible.
How It Works: Simple, Flexible, Open-and-Go
With Write Like a Pioneer, you'll spend just 30 minutes per day twice a week to give your child the necessary practice and skill development for clear, confident print handwriting. Follow the clearly laid out 36-week schedule or opt for the accelerated one-semester pace, also included.
Check the supply list for any household objects you may need week by week: rubber bands, pony beads, playdough, a dry-erase board, and more. An Answer Key provides solutions to the mazes and matching activities along with grading suggestions.
It's fully open-and-go and all-in-one. Your child writes directly in the workbook where all directions for the parent are also included.
Readiness Benchmarks
Designed for grade 2, but suitable for grades 1-3.
Write Like a Pioneer assumes students can make large-motion movements with their arms, grasp and hold a writing tool, participate in guided reading, and engage with written content for ten minutes or more. For students who need a foundational handwriting course first, start with Handwriting A to Zoo before beginning Write Like a Pioneer.