LottieScript Reviews

Product Reviews:

Yorkshire & Humberside Grid for Learning (YHGfL)

This is a not for profit foundation for learning that offers a forum for teachers and education professionals across the 2,000 or so schools in their region. Sue Pickering, Content and Strategy Manager, visited the LottieScript trial school and as a result has issued a press release on her findings.

To read the release <Click Here>

National Handwriting Association

Reviewer: Dr Mary Howard, specialist dyslexia teacher and occupational therapist. This review appeared in the 2008 Annual Journal of the NHA
- to find out more visit www.nha-handwriting.org.uk

Dr Howard writes: Lottiescript is described as 'a suite of applications designed to run on a computer or Interactive Whiteboard, to support the teaching of handwriting by demonstrating and illustrating handwriting styles.'

The author was prompted to develop Lottiescript when he found that his daughter was being taught cursive handwriting in the Reception class and all computer-produced notices in the classroom were in print script. The pupils were not, therefore, seeing text written in the style in which they were writing.

After wide consultation with teachers in a variety of schools, Lottiescript was developed. The program has been extensively piloted in schools and is regularly updated in the light of feedback from teachers.

The program offers a range of four different options for the formation of each letter. From printed letters with an exit stroke to fully cursive.

The software can be used to demonstrate letter formation and joins, with an option for letters to be written in different colours to show where each letter begins and ends. Templates with dotted lines for tracing can be prepared.

The software is useful for interactive whiteboards and has a loop feature so that a word or phrase can be left to run continually for maximum exposure.

The background colour can be changed to a variety of pastel shades and the colour of the writing, shape and size of the pen nib and speed of writing can all be varied. There is also an option for vowels to be written in red and consonants in blue, and with sound enabled, the letter sound or name can be heard spoken in a child’s voice.

The Worksheet module has handwriting lines with guidelines to show the height of lower-case letters. The size of the lines can be varied and worksheets with models to copy or trace can easily be prepared. Up to ten pieces of work can be stored at any time.

At present, Lottiescript is only available on-line and internet access is required to activate the licence code, but there are plans for it to be produced on CD. *

The software is ideal not only for demonstrating letter formation and producing resources but is an asset for teachers who may find it difficult to modify their own handwriting to conform to the school’s style, and for supply teachers who may be unfamiliar with the school’s handwriting scheme.

Lottiescript is an eminently versatile and affordable resource to promote legibility and fluency of handwriting in the primary school and beyond.

* Since this review was written, a CD version has been produced and the purchasing options have been revised to allow schools to purchase licenses direct, without online payment. - TTH

Quotes from teachers, users and pupils

Mrs McGrath "LottieScript engages children immediately; young children focus on the different colours; it is easy to set up."

Miss Goldspink "LottieScript is really clear. The children can see exactly where each letter joins because of the colours and the fact that the teacher can control the speed of the writing. It is possible to print off a particular page and this helps the children who struggle to copy from the board; they have the Interactive Whiteboard modeling the script and also a copy in front of them."

Jessica (age 6) "I like it because of the different colours."

Jacob (age 6) "Its easier to see the different colours, I can see which letter I'm on."

Mrs Irving "LottieScript even motivates the older juniors who can be somewhat complacent about handwriting practice. It is very clear and easy for them to see the joins and how each letter is formed. It is a very versatile program that has made a difference to the teaching of handwriting within the school."

Sharon Tringham SpLD Dip. (Hornsby) "The product looks great. As a dyslexia tutor I searched long & hard to find one program that had all the dyslexia friendly letters I wanted. Your set has most of them**."

Ann Smith "I Home School my 3 daughters, so only have lottie script on one computer.  The Product is excellent in teaching handwriting and the formation of letters and groups of letters to the girls.  The software is simple to use and effective."

** We have reviewed Ms Tringham's full set of requirements and will include all of the missing elements in the next release - TTH