How to Improve Handwriting with Morrells Handwriting Workbooks
The How-To Series: Issue 8 The Morrells Handwriting Range
In this week’s How-To blog, we’ll share our top tips for using Morrells Workbooks and Resources in the classroom, and how RHINO and Morrells can help support you, your classroom, and students on your handwriting journey.
Take Pride in Your Penmanship
Handwriting is an essential life skill, one that cannot be replaced despite the increasing presence of technology in the classroom. Unlike typing on a keyboard, writing notes by hand promotes increased brain connectivity (Van der Weel & Van der Meer, 2024).
While typing may be faster, research shows (Mueller & Oppenheimer, 2014) that the physical nature of handwriting allows students to better retain information leading to a stronger understanding of the material being taught.
But it’s not just children who benefit from strong handwriting skills. Morrells believe that it’s never too late to improve your handwriting so all of their workbooks and resources are based on ability rather than age. In April, we were joined by Sue Smits, the founder of Morrells Handwriting, in the historical Stationers' Hall building, for an informative training session using the Morrells Handwriting workbooks.
Developing clear, legible handwriting is just as important for adults as it is for children. Here are just some of the reasons why handwriting still matters -
✅ Quality Communication - Whether you’re in school or in the workplace, clear, legible handwriting ensures that your thoughts and ideas are understood.
✅ Academic Performance - Strong handwriting skills are a great way to make a good impression both in the classroom and beyond. For students making revision notes or taking exams, clear handwriting will allow them to revise more effectively and retain information with ease.
✅ Professional Success - In the workplace, legible handwriting is a mark of professionalism and proficiency. Whether you’re filling out forms, taking notes, or signing documents, strong penmanship minimises errors and costly mistakes.
✅ Enhance Memory - Writing by hand requires greater focus than typing on a keyboard. The physical act of forming letters and crafting sentences strengthens neural connections tied to memory, focus, and comprehension.
✅Self-Confidence - Everyone deserves to take pride in their penmanship! Clear handwriting allows both children and adults to approach their work with a positive attitude and confidence in their cognitive abilities.
Our Top Tips for Using Morrells Workbooks and Resources in the Classroom
Choose the Right Morrells Book for Your Learner
Morrells Handwriting workbooks and resources are based on ability rather than age, designed to improve the handwriting of both primary and secondary school children and adults. With a range of specialised workbook series that target specific learning goals, you can choose the resources that best meet the needs of your students.
Morrells Handwriting Alphabet Manual: Ideal for young children or working with students in a 1 to 1 environment. The Morrells Handwriting Alphabet Manual encourages young writers to develop pre-writing skills by tracing over each letter with their index finger. Using repetitive movements to build familiarity and confidence, children will begin their handwriting journey with a fundamental understanding of how letters are formed.
Morrells Handwriting Letter Formation Series: Perfect for early writers, focusing on basic pencil control, correct letter formation, and simple word building. Using simple step-by-step instructions and carefully structured practice exercises, children will develop confidence and understanding of letter formation by practising the correct handwriting movements over and over again to become clear and legible writers.
Morrells Handwriting Joining Letter Series: For developing writers learning to join letters, write neatly across the page, and build writing stamina. Develop speed and accuracy with extensive handwriting exercises that put learning into practice using high-frequency words, spelling and grammatical skills
Morrells Handwriting Teacher's Book: The perfect companion to Morrells Handwriting Workbooks, offering invaluable support to teachers, tutors, and homeschooling parents. Packed with photocopiable resources, this new and exciting Teacher’s Book contains extension exercises in letter formation and cursive handwriting to target specific handwriting problems.
Every Morrells book is packed with step-by-step guidance, clear examples, and child-friendly instructions, making it easy for children to learn instinctively and independently.
2. Understand the Unique Morrells Approach
Morrells workbooks and resources use structured, skill-based learning with particular focus on the fundamental building blocks for legible handwriting which include:
Practicing proper pencil grip
Sitting comfortably with good posture.
Beginning with simple shapes and strokes before moving on to full letters.
Using a science-based and research-led approach to teaching, Morrells workbooks help children build strong foundations by using techniques that promote muscle dexterity and postural control.
The comprehensive notes, uncluttered pages and extensive writing practice are designed to promote a mature style of handwriting, while gaining speed and automaticity through revision.
Key features include:
🖊️ Morrells’ exclusive ‘Bounce’ Technique which features clear directional arrows and starting points showing exactly how to form letters correctly.
🖊️ Grouping letters formed in a similar way into handwriting ‘families’ so that students can practise the correct handwriting movements over and over again.
🖊️ Structured handwriting exercises that use high-frequency words, helping children see the purpose behind their practice.
🖊️ Gradual progression from letter formation to cursive writing with extensive handwriting practice to ensure keen understanding and fluidity of writing
The Morrells approach has been developed with students in mind, making making handwriting easier, faster, and more accessible for all learners — including those with additional needs like dyslexia or dyspraxia.
3. Use the Right Stationery to Support Good Habits
Good quality stationery helps children enjoy the physical act of writing. Make sure that they have the tools they need to succeed!
Choose quality, smooth paper to help handwriting flow more easily and prevent smudging.
Practice extra writing in RHINO’s premium Handwriting Books, available in a choice of wide and narrow rulings to reinforce letter size, spacing, and consistency.
Browse our wide variety of School Exercise Books made from education-standard 75gsm smooth white paper and bound in sturdy and resilient 225gsm manilla covers to encourage an overall improvement in handwriting practice across all other subjects.
At RHINO Stationery, we’re proud to support learning at every stage. With Morrells Handwriting workbooks and resources by your side, positive encouragement, and the right stationery, every child can enjoy the journey towards clear, confident, beautiful handwriting.
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