1. Solving the Handwriting Mystery
Presented by: Laurie Anton, OTR
Tammy Eiseman, OTR
Kristin Newer, OTR

2. Toys & Tools Are Changing

3. Less tummy time…
With the recommendations for “back-to-sleep”, infants are getting less exposure to hands/palms on surfaces for hand muscle development; fewer opportunities to push up against a surface limiting elbow and shoulder strength and stability.

4. More thumb time….
Toys and tools are increasingly electronic and activated with a touch; there are fewer knobs and dials to turn with a key grasp or whole hand hold. More pre-packaged foods require fewer opportunities to learn to use a knife grasp

5. What was your favorite childhood game or toy?
Woodworking bench in Kindergarten
Trouble – with the popping dice dome
Pull behind “rotary” dial Playskool phone
Barbie clothes
Recess
Give 30 seconds to think; take 5 answers; if limited audience ideas use these

6. Win It In A Minute! Better pencil skills in 60 seconds a day
Rub-A-Dub-Dub
Chair Push-ups
Windmill
Hands Down Hands Up
Flipper Flapper

7. Win It In A Minute! Better pencil skills in 60 seconds a day
Open and Shut Case
Get the Point
It’s a Number’s Game
“L” for Lucky
Scissor Hands

8. Win It In A Minute! Better pencil skills in 60 seconds a day
Bunny Ears
Marching Orders
Fingers to Thumb
Spider on a Mirror
Tickle the Ivories

9. Win It In A Minute! Better pencil skills in 60 seconds a day
Tug-of-War
Pencil Push-Ups
Tilt-A-Twirl
Inch Worm
It’s a Snap!

10. Posture and Positioning
This means that when seated at a desk. Ankles, hips, and knees should be bent to a 90 –degree angle for appropriate sitting posture
Start with Stability
Use the rule

11. If the table top is too high: a child will prop his elbows up and out, hike up his shoulders and possibly lean his body against the desk

12. If the table is too low: a child will slouch and lean his body on the table.
Both scenarios affect the efficiency of handwriting because now your student has to use his energy to stabilize himself instead of using that energy to focus on the task at hand

13. All handwriting does not have to be completed at a desk.
Have the child lay on the floor to write. This puts weight on the arms and stabilizes them. Be mindful of the crisscross position/prezel and floppy notebook on lap.

14. Eye level Vertical Surfaces XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Working on a vertical surface promotes the wrist extension and shoulder stability
Necessary for control of the fine movements involved in writing. Try not to tape if hand is not assisting by holding paper.
Eye level

15. Examples of ways to incorporate vertical surfaces into your classroom.
Easels, white boards and/or chalkboards.
Wall
Desktop slant boards
4-5 inch empty 3 –ring binder

16. Be creative ……

17. Hand Dominance Determination
A child typically shows a hand preference between the ages of 4 to 6 years old.
If a hand dominance is not established by the end of Kindergarten then it should be decided for the student
Hand dominance is not only important for handwriting
Hand dominance is not only important for handwriting but also when one hand needs to act as a helper to the dominant hand (such as stabilizing the paper when writing and holding/guiding the paper when cutting and engaging a zipper).
If a hand dominance is not established by the end of Kindergarten then it should be decided for the student based on which hand presents with the best skill development. Use of a watch, rubber band or something similar is a good visual reminder for the student.

18. How to Determine Hand Dominance
Observe to see which hand initiates tasks such as coloring, picking up tools/objects, eating finger-foods, throwing objects or opening doors.
Which hand has a better grasp/pinch?
Which hand appears to manipulate objects easily?
Is the student switching hands instead of moving the initial hand across to the other side of the body?
Present items and materials at midline.

19. Pencil grasp

20. We can’t all have perfect grasps but we can have functional grasps.

22. Non-functional Grasps

23. Questions to ask a student with a non-traditional grasp
Does your hand hurt when you are writing?
Are your teachers and parents able to read your writing?
Can you read your own writing?
Do you feel that you can write fast enough to get your work done in the time that your teacher gives you?

24. Pencil grasp
How to teach a child to hold a pencil.

25. First Pinch Then Flip

26. Hold and Stop

27. Teaching Lefties
Paper Position – parallel with forearm
Add picture

28. Teaching Lefties
Hand position – is below the writing line and adjust push the paper as you go
Add picture
This…… Not this

29. Teaching Lefties
Consider the difficulty of spiral notebooks bound on the left hand side….
Picture of booklet bound on left and bound at top

30. Teaching Lefties
Consider the “view” a leftie sees during handwriting instruction….
Group the lefties together
Demonstrate letter formation with both right and left hands
Demonstrate letter formation as the student sees; not a mirror image
Consider monitoring and re-instructing from behind the student’s back

31. Paper Products Consider paper weight Clarity of writing lines
Color code margins
Define the Left to Right progression
Middle dividing line for teaching size
Boxes can be helpful for size and spacing
Flimsy light-weight paper is harder for kids who press too hard.

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37. MYSTERY SLOVED…….
Physical and Occupational Therapy Mission Statement: Through collaboration with staff, students and parents, Rochester Community Schools Occupational and Physical Therapists apply their specialized knowledge in child development, motor learning, and task performance to identify and establish solutions and/or adaptations that promote students' participation and function in their educational setting. 
OT-PT Website:
Thank you for coming. PowerPoint will be on available on website. As you are having parent /teacher conferences share the website.