Correct Pencil Grip Visual Reminders – Free Printables
Do you work with students daily on encouraging the best, most correct pencil grip? I recently received a request from a reader for a one page pencil grasp hand out with a picture so she could remind her students and school staff on the best way to hold a pencil. Since many students who receive occupational therapy work on proper pencil grip, I got right to work yesterday and created this free hand out (you can download it at the bottom of the post).
Why Would You Need a Correct Pencil Grip Visual Reminder?
Often times you can show someone an example of how to hold a pencil but when the next day comes around it can be difficult to remember the exact grip you want. If you are working on trying to change the way a student holds a pencil with an inefficient grasp, it can be hard to break a bad habit. This pencil grasp hand out can help to provide a reminder and a visual reinforcement to help promote the efficient grasp.
Does it Really Matter What Your Pencil Grasp Is?
It sure does matter! The dynamic tripod grasp is holding a writing utensil resting against the middle finger while the thumb and index finger control the pencil, pen, marker or crayon.
There are a variety of other functional ways to grip a writing utensil but the dynamic tripod grip has traditionally been considered the preferred grip for writing speed, control and form.
The dynamic tripod grasp is considered an efficient way to hold the writing utensil for legibility and writing endurance but it is not the only way. Although, inefficient or immature grasp patterns can result in writer’s cramp, improper letter formation, decreased writing speed or too much or too little pencil pressure on the paper.
When To Use the FREE Pencil Grasp Reference Sheet
The 4 page free pencil grasp reference sheet includes 2 pages for right handed students and 2 pages for left handed students to encourage correct pencil grip. You can use a full page visual reminder to hang up in the classroom. The second page includes 4 smaller versions to encourage proper pencil grasp. You could place those inside workbooks, pencil boxes or on top of a desk.
Resources to Help with Correct Pencil Grip
Pencil Grasp Interventions digital download was created by Thia Triggs, OTR. She reports that as a school-based Occupational Therapist, the most frequent issue teachers ask her about is pencil grasp. “Is this grasp OK?”, “What should I do about this grasp?” “Should I give my student a pencil gripper?” “What pencil gripper should I use?”. FIND OUT MORE HERE.
How do you assess if a child is making progress in foundational skill areas to support handwriting performance? How do you determine if further intervention is required? Ingrid S. King MScOT, BOT developed the Fantastic Fingers ® Handwriting Foundations Screen to identify handwriting needs fast and monitor progress. The screen provides standardized observations of functional skills in context.
The 14-page digital document Let’s Go Learn Good Pencil Grip is also included to help children develop an appropriate pencil grasp. FIND OUT MORE HERE.
Handwriting Stations includes the materials to create a handwriting station on a tri-fold or in a folder. The station includes proper letter formation for capital and lower case letters, correct posture, pencil grip, warm up exercises, letter reversals tips and self check sheet. In addition, there are 27 worksheets for the alphabet and number practice (Handwriting without Tears® style and Zaner-Bloser® style). This download is great for classroom use, therapy sessions or to send home with a student.
Read more about pencil control worksheets.
Download your FREE Hand Out Here
Sign up to receive the weekly email newsletter and other announcements from Your Therapy Source. You will be redirected to the freebie.
