Handwriting: Best Practices Debbie Shatrowsky/Occupational Therapist

Ergonomics 90° rule- hips, knees, ankles Trunk, neck and head vertically aligned Wrist in slight extension Desktop 1” to 2” above elbow when seated Paper angled- right handed/right corner up, left handed/left corner up

Looking Out For Lefties Preventing the “hook” Left corner of paper elevated, okay for student to have an exaggerated slant Left handed writers will sometimes pull into their hand which causes them to write from right to left, this is okay to allow

Left handed Slant left corner up Okay to have exaggerated slant

Right handed slant right corner up

Pencil Grip Developmental sequence Palmer 1- 2 years of age Digital pronate- 2 to 3 years of age Transitional Grips Static tripod- 3 ½ to 4 years of age Dynamic or quadrupod - 4 ½ to 6 years of age

Efficient Writing Grips Dynamic Tripod Quadrupod Adapted Tripod

Inefficient Grips

Correcting Grip Twist N Write Pencil- Office Depot, Educate and Celebrate, Amazon Jumbo Big Grip Grips available at Educate and Celebrate or therapyshoppe.com Handiwriter- therapy shoppe.com CrossoverGrottoClaw Grip

Slant board To decrease wrist flexion Visual difficulties

Developmental Sequence of Prewriting Imitation-vertical, horizontal, circle Copying ~ 2yr.10mo. vertical ~ 3 horizontal and circle ~ 4 to 4 yr. 11 mo. cross, diagonals, and X ~ 5 yrs. 3 mo. triangle (Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration)

Developmental Approach to Handwriting Handwriting Without Tears® L F E H I – Verticals and horizontals U C O Q G S J D P B- lines and curves R K A V M N W X Y Z- diagonals Uses a sensory motor approach

Promoting Development of Fine-Motor Skills Sensory motor approach- rainbow letters Whole arm to promote motor planning Wet sponge Air writing Strengthening- incorporate pinching activities: clothes pins, strawberry hullers for sorting small objects, cutting play-dough snakes, poker chip or bingo chip activities Parents- encourage wheel barrel walking with their child

Promoting Proper Stroke, Number and Letter Formation Model sound handwriting behaviors Reading and writing follow the same basic patterns - top to bottom, left to right Orally describe the pattern when introducing and practicing letter formation

Promoting Proper Formation Stress correct starting point and formation of letters i.e. large writing on chalkboard, wet-dry-try, etc. Make sure the tool size is proportional to the hand size Forget the dot-to-dot use whole strokes when practicing writing

Wet Dry Try Adult writes letter Student erases with wet sponge, dries, and then writes

Ideas for fine-motor centers

Teach letter sequencing and letter sounds with this poker chip alphabet sequencing activity with Leap Frog Fridge Phonics

Filo from Beyond Play $25.

Lakeshore products $60

Lakeshore Products Alphabet Rubbing Plates $19.95

HWTs Products

HWTs Square Block Paper

Integrating Handwriting and Reading Programs Option 1: Separate the handwriting and reading sequence (remind students when letters and sounds have been previously taught) Option 2: Integrate the handwriting and reading sequence (when introducing letter formation also introduce the sound/s and when introducing letter sounds use direct instruction for learn letter formation) Option 3: Follow the reading sequence when introducing letter names and formation (Leanne Meisinger/Learning Specialist CCPS)

When teaching handwriting keep in mind the basic principles of UDL and the four major channels of learning: Visual learners learn through seeing. Auditory learners prefer to listen Tactile learners like to use their fine-motor skills when learning Kinesthetic learners need to use their bodies in the learning process. They need to “do”. They are hands- on learners.

Resources Amazon.com Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration 6 th Ed. Beyond Play- Products for Early Childhood and Special Needs (beyondplay.com) ccpsatot.wikispaces.com Educate and Celebrate ( Handwriting Without Tears (hwtears.com) Lakeshore Learning Materials (lakeshorelearning.com) Leap Frog Products Office Depot Meisinger, Leanne /Learning Specialist CCPS Therapyshoppe.com UDL Principles (