GB2396953A

GB2396953A - An aid for teaching handwriting

Info

Publication number: GB2396953A
Application number: GB0230312A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jane Elizabeth Clark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-31
Filing date: 2002-12-31
Publication date: 2004-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-31
Also published as: GB2396953B; GB0230312D0

Abstract

A teaching aid comprises a generally planar opaque member 1 bearing a transparent or translucent representation of a character 2, numeral or letter to be formed. A teacher 3 may cause pointing means to trace out the formation of the character on the reverse of the member 1. The characters may be formed by printing, as a cut-out, by moulding or in negative image. There may be guidance marks on the back of the member 1 to aid the teacher 3. The member may also include a stand which allows the member 1 to extend vertically upwards when placed on a horizontal surface. Also disclosed is a teaching aid comprising a display screen controlled by processor means to display character shapes thereon and to cause a pointer to move around the character shape to show the formation of handwriting.

Description

TEACHING AID

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device for assisting in the teaching of handwriting.

Background to the Invention

The teaching of handwriting to children, and in particular the formation of written characters, is typically done by way of example, with the teacher writing on a board or on paper and the pupil copying the action. For some children, this method is adequate, while for others it is unsuccessful. as the child finds it difficult to relate the movements it sees to its own movements needed to form characters. There is a need, therefore, for some sys tern which permits the child to follow the movements of the teacher directly in forming the characters.

In addition, there are problems with left-handed teachers instructing right-handed pupils, and vice versa.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a teaching aid comprising a generally planar opaque member bearing a transparent or translucent representation of a character to be formed, whereby a teacher may cause pointing means to trace the formation of the character on the reverse thereof.

A pupil may manually follow the pointing means along the face of the character in one-to-one teaching, or a class may copy the movement through the air or while writing on to paper or some other writing surface.

The teacher may simply trace the formation of the character by running a fingertip along the reverse thereof, or the pointing means may comprise a readily-visible pointer, which could, for example, carry a light source such as an electric lamp or a light-emitting diode, to draw attention to the required movements.

The planar opaque member is suitably in the form of a transparent or translucent plastics sheet on which is printed a negative image of the character, for example in opaque ink. The sheet could be in the form of a printed "acetate" sheet, mounted in a more rigid support, for example on a thicker transparent plastics sheet, or sandwiched between two such sheets. Alternatively the planar member could be formed as an Speaficaton CLARKJP1 073.GBA 2002-1 2-30.doc - 2 opaque plastics material in which the character is formed as a cut-out, with transparent shapes being inserted into the cut-out. The transparent shapes could have a thickness slightly smaller than that of the sheet, so that the character outline is recessed relative to the sheet, assisting the pupil in following the shape of the character more easily, and pos- sibly also helping the teacher to follow the reversed shape on the reverse of the sheet.

Guidance may be provided on the reverse of the sheet to aid the teacher in form- ing the character shape in reverse, for example directional arrows printed on to the

opaque background surrounding the character.

In another embodiment of the invention, the character shape is moulded into the surface of a transparent or translucent support, and an opaque paint or ink is then applied to the surface of the support outside the outline of the character shape.

Preferably, the device comprises a plurality of characters, either singly on individ- ual members or grouped with several characters, for example forming a simple word or part of a word, on a single planar member. The members are preferably each provided with a support stand so that they may be positioned side-by-side on a desktop or the like.

Means may be provided to secure the members together. Alternatively, a common sup- port stand may be provided, with the individual members being temporarily fitted into the stand side-by-side to form words or other groups.

The characters may be handwriting characters designed to permit joined writing, and the members may be arranged to fit together in such a manner as to permit words to be formed in a continuous writing action, thus assisting in the learning of a fluent writing action.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, there is provided a display screen controlled by processor means to display character shapes thereon and to cause a pointer means to move around the character shape to show the formation thereof in handwriting, whereby a pupil may manually follow the pointer means, for example with a finger or a pen (preferably non-marking), to learn formation of the character shape.

In all embodiments of the invention, it would be possible to position a transparent overlay over the planar member so that the pupil can follow the movement of the pointer Spec'ficabon CLARKJP1 078.GBA 2002-1 2-30.doc means with a marker pen so that a permanent or semi-permanent record of the pupil's efforts in following the pointer means can be obtained.

The device of the invention gives all pupils an unobstructed view of the teacher, so that all can follow the movement at the same time. In schools where children are taught printing first, the device of the invention will help in the transition from printed to joined- up writing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 shows two examples of the teaching aid for teaching the formation of lower case letters in joined-up writing; Figure 2 is an illustration of the use of the teaching aid; Figure 3 is an illustration showing the use of the teaching aid in teaching a small group of pupils; Figure 4 Illustrates three teaching aid devices showing different forms of the lower case letter "a" for teaching different writing styles; Figure 5 is a perspective view of three of the teaching aid devices mounted in a support stand; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the teaching aid in- corporating a stand.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiments Referring first to Figure 1, the teaching aid devices take the form of transparent or translucent rectangular plastics tiles or sheets 1 having formed thereon the negative image of a character shape 2, in the Figure the lower case letters "a" and "b" in joined-up writ- ing script, so that a pointer at the reverse of the sheet may be seen from the front as it traces the character shape. As may be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the teacher 3 can sim- ply hold the sheet upright so that the character shape 2 may be seen by the pupils 4, and then illustrate the movements required to form the letter by moving a pointer over the shape 2 from the reverse of the sheet 1, performing the movement so as to illustrate the correct character formation to the pupils 4. The pointer may be a pen, to leave a visible trace (a non-permanent marker being used so that the trace can be wiped off to permit Spec'ficabon CLARKJP1078.GBA2002-12-30.doc re-use of the sheet), or a fingertip or any other means visible through the sheet, such as an electric light.

Figure 4 shows alternative forms of the letter "a", permitting the teaching of sim- ple printing of the letters, through a more ornate letter form to joined- up handwriting form, in which the letters can be arranged side-by-side so that the writing action can flow from one letter to another. The invention may thus provide teaching aids to conform with the individual handwriting policy of a particular school, for example.

Figure 5 illustrates the mounting of a number of the plastic tiles or sheets 1 side- by-side in a support stand 5, the characters 2 being formed on the sheets 1 in such a manner as to facilitate the teaching of joined up writing. The support stand 5 is formed with a channel 6 opening upwards and arranged to receive and hold the lower edges of the sheets 1. An alternative arrangement presents the teaching aid as a transparent or translucent plastics sheet, for example of Perspex or similar acrylic material, shaped, for example by softening with the application of heat and then deforming, into a double-layer upstanding portion 7 and a pair of outwardly extending legs 8 forming a support stand.

Sandwiched in the double-layer portion 7 is a thin transparent film on to which is printed a reverse image of the character, i.e. with the background printed in opaque ink, leaving the character shape transparent.

The teaching aid of the invention suitably comprises a set of sheets bearing all up per and lower case letters, and possibly other characters such as numbers and punctua- tion marks. It will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to the teaching of all al- phabets and to other characters such as Katakana.

Spec'ficabon CLARKJP1078.GBA2002-12-30.doc - 5

Claims

1. A teaching aid comprising a generally planar opaque member bearing a transparent or translucent representation of a character to be formed, whereby a teacher may cause pointing means to trace the formation of the character on the reverse thereof.

2. A teaching aid according to Claim 1, wherein the planar opaque member is a transparent or translucent sheet on which is formed a negative image of the character.

3. A teaching aid according to Claim 2, wherein the image is formed by print ing.

4. A teaching aid according to Claim 2, wherein the planar member is formed as an opaque plastics material in which the character is formed as a cut-out, with trans parent shapes being inserted into the cut-out.

5. A teaching aid according to Claim 4, wherein the transparent shapes have a thickness slightly smaller than that of the sheet, so that the character outline is recessed relative to the sheet.

6. A teaching aid according to Claim 2, wherein the planar member is formed by moulding into a recessed character shape, with ink or paint being applied to the sheet around the shape.

7. A teaching aid according to any preceding claim, wherein guidance mark ings are provided on the reverse of the planar member to assist in directing the move ment of the pointer means by the teacher.

8. A teaching aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the planar member is formed with a stand to permit the member to extend generally vertically when placed on a horizontal surface.

9. A teaching aid according to any of Claims 1 to 7, comprising a stand for removably receiving one or more of the planar members to permit the members to ex tend generally upwardly from the stand, in use.

10. A teaching aid, comprising a display screen controlled by processor means to display character shapes thereon and to cause a pointer means to move around the character shape to show the formation thereof in handwriting, whereby a pupil may

Specification CLARKJ P1 078.GBA 2002-1 2-30.doc - 6

manually follow the pointer means, for example with a finger or a pen (preferably non- marking), to learn formation of the character shape.

Spec'ficabon CLARKJ P1 078.GBA 2002-1 2-30.doc