Frequently Asked Questions
What type of writing style does your program use?
Our handwriting program uses block letter style. Children seem to grasp this formation easier than programs with curves and swirls.
Is The TV Teacher compatible with other handwriting programs?
Any program that uses block letter style can use our chants and video to assist with formation. Some parents and teachers use our video and chants concurrently with other programs; some have switched to ours after previously using other programs, and all have reported great success!
Do your programs work on a computer?
Yes, if you have a DVD drive set up on your computer. The disc will not be read in a CD-ROM only player.
Who are your videos appropriate for?
Any child who is learning to write or draw. The recommended age range is 2 - 8 years for the Strokes, Shapes, & Scenes video, and 3 - 7 years for our Alphabet Beats and Number Beats programs.
Are your programs just for children with special needs?
No. These programs are made for any child who wants to have fun and learn! Yes, there are many testimonials from parents and teachers of children with special needs because they have seen such remarkable results. Because of this, our program is being widely used in the special needs community - there is such a great need for our fun and effective products. Our programs are, however, used in "typical" kindergarten classes as well - schools ranking in the top 1% of their state, for instance!
What if my child is left-handed?
We have had many left-handed children use our program, all reporting great success. Letter formations should be made the same way regardless of which hand is used. Although “Miss Marnie” demonstrates writing with her right hand, the auditory chants we use (and those that will be recalled by each user), are entirely ambidextrous.
Example chant of lowercase b: “long line down, bring it up and around, b.”
As with all our users, we encourage parents and teachers to help guide the child with a hand-over-hand grasp to help the child formulate each letter until they feel comfortable attempting to write on their own.
How do I play the different chapters?
Use the DVD’s remote control directional arrow buttons to move to any letter, number, or shape on your menu and then hit the enter or play button. On the computer, use the mouse to point and click to begin the chapter. After each chapter, the program will return to this main menu.
Can I play different chapters if I have lost my DVD remote control?
Yes. When first inserting the DVD and the menu is shown, it will automatically highlight the first chapter. Push the play button on the main DVD control box to begin the chapter. Once it begins, you can push the skip forward button on your control box to fast-forward to next chapter. You may use the skip backward or skip forward button to navigate once the program is in play mode.
At what
age should I teach my child to write?
Children have been noted by multiple developmental scales to show an interest in holding a crayon and crossing lines between 2-3 years of age. Although our Strokes, Shapes, and Scenes video will teach younger children more age appropriate pre-writing skills, our Alphabet Beats videos may serve as an introduction to letters and a fantastic way to learn new words that begin with that letter. Parents have reported being surprised at how quickly a child can learn and recite a letter chant.
Are you planning on making more videos?
Our goal is to help children learn many different functional skills and grow from our videos. We intend to produce more video programs in the future and encourage feedback through our website.
How important is it to follow the program instructions?
In order to help your child learn without frustration, we highly recommend following the protocol that can be found on paper (in the DVD insert) and in video format on the DVD itself. Many of the children who watch this DVD find too many chapters to be over stimulating. We encourage parents, teachers, and therapists to treat this DVD as a learning tool and move at their child's pace.
What if my child's grip on a pencil is too weak to write?
There are many reasons for a weak grip on a pencil or writing utensil. An occupational therapist or teacher may provide recommendations for strengthening this grip, such as using oversized writing utensils. While this video's main focus is writing, many children find watching Miss Marnie to be extremely motivating. Helping children form shapes, letters, or numbers using their whole hand or index (pointer) finger can be fun and motivating to them. Parents and teachers can form letters in the air, tracing a letter from a puzzle with their finger, or even making letters while finger painting. Remember the #1 goal is for your child to walk away feeling confident and motivated. Children may require assistance multiple times before they get “the hang of it”, and that is OK! Teach at their pace, and make it enjoyable!
We Make Learning Easy & Fun!
