Thank you for visiting our booth. Our instructional support dvds are created by parents for parents to help make teaching and learning at home fun and effective. We offer 3 handwriting dvds: 1. Step4Kids to Write their ABCs (teaches traditional printing & supports programs such as Zaner-Bloser®), 2. Steps4Kids to Write Modern Manucript (teaches modern or slanted printing & supports programs such as D'Nealian®), and 3. Steps4Kids to Write Cursive. Upper and Lowercase taught in each dvd. Introduction tracks are included to help parents troubleshoot!
P.O. Box 231031, Encinitas, CA 92023-10311-800-757-1702www.steps4kids.com
Steps4Kids, LLC was formed in 2005 to create visual modeling dvds for home and school education programs. The founders include an award winning education advocate, an occupational therapist and others committed to supporting children of all abilities in all settings.
In 2007, the Steps4Kids team launched its first commercial product: Steps4Kids to Write Their ABCs, which teaches traditional manuscript printing (such as Zaner-Bloser®). This project was inspired by a homemade dvd created by one of the founders to teach her disabled son how to write because programs used in the public schools had not demonstrated much progress. Instead of teaching her son how to write the letters using an alphabetical sequence, she taught him how to write using letter groupings which shared letter stroke similarities. Within just a few weeks her son began writing legibly and reading the words shown in the dvd. Her son who was not disabled used the dvd as well and earned a certificate at school for having the best handwriting in his 3rd grade class. These successes and others convinced the co-founders that the creation of visual modeling dvds would become the company’s purpose.
Our Steps4Kids to Write Their ABCs dvd uses a multi-modality approach to teach upper and lowercase letters. Easy-to-follow auditory instruction is accompanied by simple visual modeling against soothing instrumental background music. Younger viewers watch how we write the letter first then follow the visual modeling to write the letter themselves. Drawing breaks are interspersed throughout to help viewers learn how to draw using the letters to reinforce the letter strokes and to make learning fun. A special writing basics section provides support for parents and other teachers to help them recognize and/or correct common writing issues such as poor pencil grips, left handed wraps, hyper-extended thumbs and posture. We offer free writing templates to support home lessons on our website. Our ABCs dvd earned “DVD of the Year,” (Creative Child Magazine), “Top 10 Audio Visual Products” (Dr. Toy), a double star endorsement by KidsFirst!, Editor’s Choice (The Toy Man™) and awards from other children’s product review programs.
In 2008, Steps4Kids released its second handwriting dvd: Steps4Kids to Write Cursive. Our cursive dvd includes “Look2Write” game breaks which uses colorful graphics that show cursive letter groupings and colorful photographs filled with fun items of interest. These game breaks foster positive group learning for families and classes. The graphic is paused, then viewers race to find or write down as many items in the picture that they can find which begin with the letters shown. Younger viewers can be teamed up with older viewers to find objects that begin with the letters shown! Our cursive dvd similarly earned numerous awards including awards from the Parents’ Choice Foundation and the Creative Toy program.
In 2009, a second edition of the Steps4Kids to Write Their ABCs dvd was released with an updated menu and other changes. Steps4Kids also released a practice writing pad to supplement its handwriting line.
In April of 2010, Steps4Kids released: Steps4Kids to Write Modern Manuscript, which is currently under award consideration. Plans are currently underway for math dvds.
Our beliefs are simple:
If you make learning fun, children will develop a love of learning.
If you make teaching fun, teachers will love teaching those who you love.
Free Pencil Grip
Customers ordering DVDs during the month of May will receive one free pencil grip of their choosing. Details about grips available are on our Steps4Kids Store page.
Important: To receive the pencil grip, please be sure to enter "Schoolhouse" in the special instructions section when ordering from our webpage AND identify which grip you would like. *Orders are processed immediately so entry of information when ordering is important.
Steps4Kids to Write Their ABCs helps teach children aged 4 - 7 learn how to write both their upper and lowercase traditional manuscript printing letters. Using visual modeling, footage shows children how to write the letters from their perspective to help them see exactly what they should be doing. Each letter demonstration is preceded by a colorful graphic that introduces the letter sound to help develop phonemic awareness. Graphics also include words starting with the sound of the letter shown to help children develop rote reading and phonemically based reading skills. Drawing breaks are included after letter groupings showing children how to draw using the letters learned to reinforce the letter strokes.
Steps4Kids to Write Their ABCs also includes a special tips on how to hold a pencil correctly, how to support left handed writers, posture, letter placement on lined paper and the avoidance of letter reversals. Easy to use menus allow each letter to be accessed directly for targeted/customized writing practice.
Letter Style Taught: Supports penmanship programs using non-slanted printing styles such as Zaner-Bloser®, Palmer®, HWOT®.
Recommended for: Ages 4-7/pre-K – First Grade/Special Education
Filmed and made in San Diego, CA, USA.
Approx. Running Time: 60 minutes.
Language: English
Released: 3d Edition – March 2010
Steps4Kids to Write Modern Manuscript uses a multi-modality teaching approach that combines visual modeling and auditory support to help emerging writer learn how to write their upper and lowercase letters in the slanted printing style (also known as "modern manuscript" or pre-cursive printing). Three tracks: Introduction, Uppercase and Lowercase offer approximately 90 minutes of printing support.
The "Introduction" track offers suggestions on how to help emerging writers learn the proper pencil grip and posture, how to help left handed writers, and how to recognize and correct common writing problems (such as extended thumbs or thumb wraps). The remaining two tracks teach the letters. Each letter is preceded by a colorful graphic that introduces the letter sound and two sight words to help develop literacy skills.
After various letter selections, drawing breaks using the letter strokes taught help to make practicing fun! Also included are "Look2Write™" breaks where students hear the word and then try to find it on the dvd graphic. Word is then highlighted, read and spelled to provide additional reading support.
Students watch how the letters are shown first, then follow along to copy the writing demonstration. Submenus allow teachers, parents, occupational therapists and students to access each letter directly to practice specific letters.
Letter Style Taught: Supports home programs using D'Nealian® or McDougal, Littell®.
Recommended for: Ages 5-7/pre-k – First Grade/Special Education
Filmed and made in San Diego, CA, USA.
Approx. Running Time: 90 minutes.
Language: English
Released: 1st Edition – April 2010
The Steps4Kids to Write Cursive DVD offers approximately one hour of handwriting support to teach children the "rules" typically associated with cursive letter and word writing. Both upper and lowercase letters are demonstrated in a single DVD with verbal and visual instructions. Footage is shot from the student's perspective using "visual modeling" to help children better understand letter placement and letter strokes. Letters are not shown alphabetically but rather in letter groupings that build upon the basic letter stroke to help students avoid letter reversals and difficulties. Simple menus allow parents, teachers and students to select each letter directly to enable curriculum, class and individualized writing support.
"The slow showing of how to use and make the letters and the explanation was fantastic." (Excerpt from Teachers' Evaluation Comments, Learning Magazine 2009 Teacher's Choice Award Program Review).
To help make cursive writing fun, the dvd includes "Look2Write" game breaks where students are shown a colorful graphic and race to write down as many words as they see in the graphic that begin with the cursive letters shown. Teacher or parents can pause the Look2Write images for longer periods to play.
Recommended for: Ages 6-8/2nd – 4th Grade/Special Education
Filmed and made in San Diego, CA, USA.
Approx. Running Time: 60 minutes.
Language: English
Released: First Edition July 2009
The Step4Kids Practice Pad was designed by an occupational therapist (parent of two) with years of experience teaching handwriting in public and private schools. Each page includes extra white space between the lines to help emerging writers avoid line confusion. Three types of lined paper are included in our pads to make writing fun for all skills levels. Different line widths help to develop fine motor skills. Each pad also includes writing tips to help with a wide variety of items ranging from grip formation to left handed writers.
Smaller size makes handling easy for young hands and for carrying in bags or purses. Paper stock is high quality white paper which provides a smoother surface for writing than newspaper style paper used in other products.
Bonus! Backs of pages are blank so that pages can be folded over to make notes or cards for friends and family!
Recommended for: Ages 4-7
Made in Carlsbad, CA, USA
Dimensions: 8.5" x 5.5" x 5/16" (75 pages)
Released: March 2009
"We loved this DVD! I use it with my grandchildren who range in ages 5 - 9. They are all boys and each has struggled with their writing. This DVD helped them easily remember how to hold the pencil correctly and where to start and finish their letters. The Steps4Kids handwriting DVD is helping to prepare my youngest grandchild for kindergarten and is strengthening the older boys' writing skills. They love doing the drawing breaks that use the letters. My daughter-in-law -- a teacher -- was visiting and loved it too! She is going to get a copy to use in her kindergarten class because it will let her work with each child individually while the others watch and practice. I even showed it to a friend whose niece watched it and wants to order one for her daughter who she adopted from Romania and is having a difficult time with English. I gave it 5 stars." --E. F. (review listed on Christianbook.com)
"I am still amazed that my son [5 1/2] sat in front of the computer for 50 minutes and practiced writing. I was pleasantly surprised. While working, several times my son hugged me and kissed me. The DVD experience was finalized with my son's statement of 'I love writing!' I tried desperately not to fall over, and instead managed to smile and give him a hug. ... I am an experienced K - 2 teacher. ... If I had had this wonderful DVD years ago, I would have been able to improve quite a few more students' fine motor skills." --G. Leslie (San Diego Area)
"I have used 'Handwriting without Tears' for years and although I still like it, your program is much better. ... I will be able to use our new technology to project the program on our whiteboard. ... The DVD is incredible! ... [I]t will make a lot of difference in my classroom." --C. M. (Pasadena ISD, TX)
"I have been using the dvd in my class every Friday. It is a great alternative to the "traditional" practice. My students almost seemed to enjoy the break from my voice and listened to the DVD. This allowed me to monitor the room and spend some time with all my students. My students especially liked the picture breaks and learning how to draw the pictures. My students that don't necessarily need Occupational Therapy also seemed to have "ah ha" moments and improve on their skills. This is something that helps all my students in some way or another." --D. W., Barnard Elementary (San Diego Unified School District, 1-2 SDC)
"This DVD was better than anticipated. My wife is a teacher & found it very useful for school & of course our kids...It's broken down into 3 sections which fits perfectly for different levels of kids. The DVD has helped our 2 kids, 4 & 7. This is great for the 4yr old to learn how to write & the beginning steps (even goes over posture!) It has helped our 7 year old "fine tune" her letters & even write more legibly. In addition, we have passed it along to their school. Because of the format & excellent instructions & how it is easily laid out, it will be perfect for both their classes. We highly recommend this DVD as parents & as an educator." --Scotti "The Grebe's" (San Diego)
Steps4Kids to Write Cursive
Excerpt from Learning Magazine 2009 Teachers’ Choice Award Program:
"I liked that this product is a dvd, easy to pop in and the kids can watch and learn, on their own, in a group, or with one on one guidance ... The instructions are clear and easy to follow ... The illustrations are quality and easy to view and understand. ... The step by step instructions on how to use the pencil, and the section on lefties was great. The slow showing of how to use and make the letters and the explanation was fantastic." --(Teachers' Evaluation Comments - Aspects They Liked Most)
Excerpt from The Toy Man™ Product Evaluation Program:
"On behalf of our school lab, the parents and students who participated in your product evaluation, we would all like to just say THANK YOU! ... This DVD is well beyond anything we had expected and knowing it was created by two mothers puts the icing on the cake!
"… The teacher was astounded at '...how easily even my most stubborn students were willing to use the DVD.' Never did we imagine that Steps4Kids to Write Cursive would be such a monumental hit, especially after our experience the last 24 hours at the school. The feedback forms had an abundance of very good comments for virtually every facet of the DVD. Based upon the feedback from the parents, school, teacher, and kids, Steps4Kids to Write Cursive was an absolute winner with everyone at this school!" --Elementary School Review Team
