The Verona Public Library, in collaboration with early childhood staff from the Verona Area School District, has created almost 40 new kits for families to check out at the library.
The Handwriting without Tears kits
include multi-sensory materials that support the Verona Area School District’s Pre-K through
fifth grade handwriting curriculum. The 23 kits include different themes that focus on various skills. Examples of kits
include: Mat Man Shapes, Man Mat Opposites, Frog Jump Capitals, Starting Corner Capitals, Numbers with Tag Bags, Lowercase, Cursive, and more.
Local parent Anne Hebert has used the kits with two of her children. She said, “It progressed in a nice way and it’s easy to use. I like the different ways to practice forming the letters.”
“The Handwriting without Tears Kits are an amazing resource to families in our community. Providing these curriculum resources for families is unique to the Verona Area School District and we are honored to work alongside the Verona Library to offer parents the opportunity to use these tools and materials at home,” said Jennifer
Skibba, Early Learning Coordinator for the district.
More recently, the library introduced 14 sensory-friendly kits with materials that support self-regulation and developing motor skills. Kits themes include mindfulness, yoga, social & fine motor skills, calming & regulation, and more. Some items featured in the kits are clear mind jars, weighted lap pads, cuddle loops, gel writing boards, fidgets, and noise-blocking headphones.
Kits are free and available for four-week checkout. Funding for the kits was provided by a generous donation from the Epic Systems Corporation.
