Category: Left Handed News

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Left-Handers are now LEFT-IN!

A new global initiative kicks off today to improve learning for left-handed children.

www.left-in.org is the website for LEFT-IN, the Left-Handers Education Forum and Training International Network. LEFT-IN was formed in 2021 aiming to improve the information and education available to the educators of left-handed children around the world.

Left-handed children make up around 15% of today’s classroom population. But, through no fault of their own, many early childhood and primary school teachers are failing to teach their left-handed students correctly because they are underprepared by their university course. This is a worldwide issue.

The Founding Members of LEFT-IN are all passionate about the education of left-handed children in their own part of the world: UK, South Africa, Brazil, Australia and China. They now come together as one voice, working with educators and legislators to improve the education of teachers for the benefit of left-handed children across the world.

Mark and Heather Stewart initiated  and are Founding Members of Left-In. “Gone are the days, thankfully, where children were punished and made to change hands when writing”, said Mark. “But for too long, understanding the specific needs of left-handed children has not been part of Initial Teacher Training  or Continuous Professional Development, and remains that way even in 2021! Appropriate teacher training and guidance for the children will give the child  a better chance to achieve their full academic potential  and improve their life chances; “Win/Win” all round!

“We are really excited to be able to kick off this great initiative on Left-Handers Day”, Mark said.

Robin Walker MP who has supported Mark’s campaign to help left-handed children says: “Being left handed shouldn’t hinder access to opportunity for anyone, particularly when there are so many support options   available. That’s why Mark and his team are providing an important service to ensure that left handed doesn’t mean left out.”

Celebrate with us at:

Aunty Ems Tea Emporium            (1st Floor) 6B ,City Arcade Worcester                                          Friday 13th and  Saturday 14th August  – 10am to 4pm

Try/buy various left-handed resources: from can openers to corkscrews, scissors to pencil sharpeners!

 

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Two NEW Handwriting Products!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of 2 new handwriting resources for left-handed children!
1) Left-handers’ Handwriting stickers.
Designed to be an “Add-on to” and not “instead of” the Left Hand Writing Skills books, this stickers set will continue the focus of using a good pencil/pen grip and also turning the page. Instructions for a good handwriting technique with 25 paper angle reminders, 8 pencil grip reminders and 2 “great left-handed work” stickers.
Single item or Packs available in 10, 25, or 50!
2) Left-handers’ Handwriting Table Guide. 21.5cm x 4.5cm
Designed to be an “Add-on to” and not “instead of” the Left Hand Writing Skills books, this Table Guide will continue the focus of using a good pencil/pen grip and also turning the page. Shows the correct pencil grip and paper angle to ensure the hand goes under the writing rather than over it, so there is no smudging or messy hands!
Single item or Packs available in 10, 25, or 50!
https://www.leftshoponline.co.uk/product-category/school-stationery/left-handers-handwriting-sticker-set-and-table-guide/
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Our handwriting books follow DFE and Ofsted guidelines (April 2021)

Our handwriting books follow DFE and Ofsted guidelines and are good for all left-handed children!

On 1st April 2021 the DFE made an announcement concerning  the Validation of Systematic Synthetic Phonics programmes as follows:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-teaching-materials-core-criteria-and-self-assessment/validation-of-systematic-synthetic-phonics-programmes-supporting-documentation

Note 3 states:  “At first, children should not be taught to join letters [footnote 3] or to start every letter ‘on the line’ with a ‘lead-in’, because these practices cause unnecessary difficulty for beginners. Children may be taught to join the letters in digraphs, but this is optional. (All resources designed for children to read should be in print).”

We are delighted to state, therefore, that our Left Hand Writing Skills books have  suitable letter formation for all children as they do not include the “lead-in” cursive stroke.

 

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New book written by Heather!

It’s with great pleasure that we can announce the publication of “Benji’s Big Day”, an activity book written by Heather! 🙂
It will be in the shop from midday today – rrp is £11.95!

The Lionheart Collection’s first story-led activity book for pre-schoolers is published by the Manuscript Pen Company (https://manuscriptpen.com)

Go on a journey with the Lionheart family as they get ready to celebrate Benji’s big day with reading, writing, colouring, drawing, cutting activities and games! Choose from 44 activities designed to help develop key motor skills, pen control, wipe clean pages to improve hand-eye coordination, letter formation activities, cutting and gluing and so much more!

The book has been has been designed to suit every child, whether left-handed, right-handed – or “Not quite sure yet!”

Whether its ABC or 123, help little ones on their creative journey with Benji’s Big Day activity book. Join Arthur and his Lionheart family as they celebrate Benji’s big day!

Here’s a short video about the new book!
https://lnkd.in/grM7WC9

Link here to buy it! https://www.leftshoponline.co.uk/shop/benjis-big-day-activity-book/

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Response from Education Select Committee

Response by email as follows:

 

Dear Mark,

Apologies for the delay in replying to your letter of 31 January 2018. The Chair has asked me to respond on his behalf.

Thank you for bringing your concerns about the support available to left-handed children to our attention. The Committee currently has no plans to inquire into this area.

Best,

Jonathan Arkless         

Senior Committee Assistant |  Education Committee  |  House of Commons

020 7219 1376 |  arklessj@parliament.uk  |  @CommonsEd

 

Disappointing but not entirely unexpected! At least it has raised some awareness within the Committee.

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Letter to Education Select Committee

We have written letters to all the members of the House of Commons “Education Select Committee”, pointing out the following:

 

  1. The DFE has NO figures on how many children are Left-handed.

(Probably the largest minority in school population, maybe over 1 million!)

  1. The DFE has NO idea whether being left-handed has an impact on likely educational achievement. (The above are answers to parliamentary questions!)
  1. In the National Curriculum, there is a section on Handwriting which is statutory, where for left-handed children it is NON-statutory. Equal opportunity? I would argue that left-handers need more help with their handwriting than right-handers. The left-handed child needs to be shown a different writing technique to the right-handed child otherwise they will smudge their writing, have difficulty seeing where one word ends and the next should begin as well as having problems copying work.
  1. Nick Gibb MP (Minister for School Standards) recommended we have input into the new Initial Teacher Training Curriculum last year, which we did. However, when published there was NO mention of left-handed children.

We are awaiting a response from the Committee Chair, Robert Halfon MP.

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Delighted to announce the publication of our new book

“So you think they’re left-handed?”

We wish this book had been available when we found out our son was left-handed!

You may have noticed that your preschool child does things with one hand in preference to the other or maybe they swap from one to the other. But how can you be sure which will eventually be their dominant hand for writing? And can a child be left-handed, but right-footed and perhaps left-eyed?

This book helps parents and carers to spot the early signs of side-dominance. It also provides 32 enjoyable structured activities for preschool children, who you think may prefer to use the left rather than the right hand, as they learn to use pencils, pens and scissors.

Each sheet contains reminders for page position and hand grip, and leads pre-school children through a range of different exercises designed as preparation for their school life.

Available to buy today!

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