est. 2010 · Key School, NW Washington, D.C.
Small-group instruction in the Handwriting Without Tears® curriculum since 1985 — including for children with dysgraphia, ADHD, and sensory differences.
Every morning
9–11:30
Mon–Thu
Ages welcome
PreK–8th
By stage
Since
2010
16 summers
The program
Four groupings, organized by age and readiness. Certified instructors across every group — preschoolers get the same careful attention as our middle-schoolers.
01
Preschool & Pre-K
Fine-motor warm-ups, letter awareness, and proper grip. Wooden pieces, chalkboards, and music carry most of the learning — the pencil comes later.
02
K–2nd grade
Correct formation of every letter, proper spacing, and sizing between two lines. The fastest gains tend to show up right here.
03
3rd–5th grade
Cursive introduced and reinforced in the Handwriting Without Tears® sequence. Fluent connections, legibility at speed.
04
Middle school
Legible handwriting under time pressure — paragraph-length writing, test-taking, organized notes. Works for print or cursive writers.
Curriculum
The Handwriting Without Tears® curriculum is the most widely adopted handwriting program in U.S. elementary schools, and the one occupational therapists reach for first. We teach it end-to-end, with the multisensory materials and the developmental sequence intact.
02
Developmentally sequenced
Step by step
Letters are taught in an order that builds on motor patterns — not A to Z. Capitals before lowercase, simple strokes before complex ones.
03
Research-based
Proven
Handwriting Without Tears® is the most widely adopted handwriting program in U.S. elementary schools and is used by occupational therapists nationwide.
Questions
If the answer you want isn't here, give us a call or send a note — Janis answers the phone.
What ages is the camp for?
Preschool through middle school. Children are grouped by age and readiness, and every group gets the same careful, small-group attention.
My child has dysgraphia, ADHD, or a sensory difference. Is this the right fit?
Yes — this is exactly who we are set up for. Our instructors are certified specialists in dysgraphia, ADD, and sensory processing, and the Handwriting Without Tears® curriculum is designed to meet children with these profiles where they are. Tell us on the sign-up form so we can place your child with the right instructor.
Do you teach cursive?
Yes. Cursive is introduced in the 3rd–5th grade group, and reinforced for older children who already have a cursive foundation. Many D.C. schools no longer teach cursive — it is often the reason families find us.
What does a morning look like?
Sessions run 9:00–11:30 AM, Monday through Thursday. The rhythm is the same every day: warm-up, a new letter family taught multisensorily, a real snack and movement break, then practice pages and a short applied-writing activity.
Where is the camp held?
Key Elementary School at 5001 Dana Place NW, Washington, D.C. 20016. Parking is available on the surrounding streets and there is a covered drop-off at the front entrance.
What curriculum do you use?
Handwriting Without Tears®, developed by occupational therapist Jan Olsen. It is the most widely adopted handwriting program in U.S. elementary schools and the one most commonly prescribed by school-based OTs.
How do I enroll?
Use the sign-up section to open the registration form. If you would like to talk through fit before registering, call or email — Janis answers every message personally.
Contact
Whether you want to talk through whether camp is the right fit, or place your child in the right group — please call or email. We answer every message.
Phone
Address
Key Elementary School · 5001 Dana Place NW · Washington, D.C. 20016
Register
