Handwriting Flashcards
Prerequisites for handwriting
Small muscle development
Eye–hand coordination
Ability to hold writing utensil
Ability to form basic strokes
Letter identification
Print orientation
Integration of visual, motor, sensory, and perceptual systems
Kinesthesia
Motor planning
Visual–motor integration
In-hand manipulation skills
Ax of handwriting performance
a. Work samples
b. File review
c. Direct observations
i. Writing tasks that are the most difficult
ii. What behaviors are evident when the child is required to write
iii. Level of assistance or cueing (if any) the child needs to complete writing tasks
iv. Whether the child is distracted by any visual or auditory stimuli
v. Where the child sits in the classroom
vi. Handwriting curriculum used
vii. Location of the teacher when instruction is being given
viii. How the writing difficulty affects learning
Measuring handwriting performance
a. Domains of handwriting
i. Writing the uppercase and lowercase alphabet
ii. Copying letters, words, and numbers in manuscript and cursive
iii. Copying from distal vertical surface (far point)
iv. Copying from manuscript to cursive and cursive to manuscript
v. Writing words, numbers, and letters that are dictated
vi. Generation of a short composition that matches grade expectations
b. Legibility components
i. Letter formation: improper letter formation, poor leading in and leading out of letters, inadequate rounding of letters, incomplete closure of letters, and incorrect ascenders or descenders
ii. Alignment: letter orientation to the baseline and placement of the writing between the paper’s guidelines
iii. Spacing
iv. Sizing
v. Writing speed
Factors affecting handwriting (Sensory Integration)
Tactile processing:
The ability to tolerate the presence of and feel the shape and position of objects in the hand.
-Tactile defensiveness – sensitivity to touch in the hand. This may affect a student’s ability to hold a pencil comfortably.
- Tactile discrimination – the ability to feel the size, shape and position of an object in the hand. This may affect a student’s ability to determine how to position the fingers to hold a pencil
Factors affecting handwriting (Fine Motor Skills)
In hand manipulation
Factors affecting handwriting (gross motor skills)
Proximal Stability
-core strength: strength and control of the trunk muscles to maintain sitting balance
-stability and position of the neck, shoulder and elbow during writing
Factors affecting handwriting (Bilateral Motor Coordination)
when one hand completes the act of writing while the other hand stabilizes the paper
Handwriting milestone
1 yo: Scribbles on paper.
2 yo: Imitates horizontal, vertical, and circular marks.
3 yo: Copies a vertical line, horizontal line, and circle.
4 yo: Copies a cross, right oblique line, square, left diagonal line, left oblique
cross, some letters and numbers; possibly can print own name.
5-6 yo: Copies a triangle, prints own name, copies most letters.
Handwriting Tx (ergonomic positioning)
Sitting posture
* seated with their feet on the floor, thus providing support for weight shifting and postural adjustments.
- The table surface should be 2 inches above the flexed elbows when the child is seated in the chair
Handwriting Tx (Visual discrimination)
-Talk the child through the formation of similar letters using verbal cues such as “Over, around, up and down” or “make magic c, then turn it into an a”*
-Use puzzles, vertical writing, and multi-sensory writing methods to reinforce correct letter formation to emphasize the differences between similar letters.
Handwriting Tx (Visual spatial orientation)
-Use darkened writing lines, highlighted writing paper, or raised line paper to give children multiple methods of input regarding line placement (Ecology of human performance model - adapt/modify task tool)
-Make a “spaceman” spacer from a small, craft size clothespin and have a student place the spaceman between words to make the spaces. A finger or a plastic spacer also works.
-Use verbal cues to help the student visualize correct alignment, such as “your letters are floating away! Make them sit on the line.”
Handwriting Tx (Ocular-Motor Skills)
-Play trail making games on a large board and on paper
-Play fast moving games such as ping pong or badminton
-Have students copy single sentences from a far point, such as a white board or a Smart board, against a timer
- putting visual cues on a page
Handwriting Tx (Gross Motor Skills)
-Using an NDT treatment approach, have a student move to a more stable posture while writing, such as prone on elbows or all fours.
-Enhance core strength by having a student sit on a t-stool or ball chair to facilitate co-contraction of the trunk muscles.
-Have a student kneel at the table while writing to develop core strength.
- vertical surfaces for drawing
Handwriting Tx (Fine Motor Skills)
-Isolate the thumb, index and middle fingers to practice manipulation skills by having the student hold an object against his or her palm with the ring and little fingers.
Handwriting Tx (Sensory integration - tactile defensiveness)
-Use manipulatives to form letters, such as blocks, sticks, or small objects, paly-doh
-Adapt the size and surface of pencils for students with tactile defensiveness by using pencil grips, fuzzy pencil shaft covers, or other similar items.
-Prepare for writing by having a student find small toys in a bin of sand, dry rice, dry beans, or another textured substance.
