Many people say that handwriting instruction is no longer a necessity because of the prevalence in the use of gadgets that effectively replace our need to write using traditional writing tools. Dr. Beverly Moskowitz, OTR/L, creator of the Size Matters Handwriting Program, shares with us her thoughts and suggestions on why handwriting instruction is still […]
Do you see students struggling with handwriting skills on a daily basis? Maybe it is the increased use of technology at a younger age. Perhaps it is the lack of fine motor skill free play during childhood development. Or it even could be from a lack of muscle strength to produce legible writing. Regardless of […]
Since 40% of all school-based referrals to occupational therapy are for handwriting, the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy published research on the effectiveness of mental imagery with repetitive handwriting practice. Methodogy of the Study on Mental Imagery and Handwriting Practice The participants in the study included 20 typically developing first and second graders with dysfunctional […]
Do you work with students who need a few extra cues to self check handwriting by themselves? Many students may have some or all of the components for legible handwriting but don’t always put all the pieces together. Components of Legible Handwriting Students can self check their handwriting in the following 5 areas: Practice, Practice, […]
Are you a teacher who has students with dysgraphia? Perhaps you are an Occupational Therapist who receives referrals for students with dysgraphia? Maybe you are a parent wondering how can occupational therapy help students with dysgraphia? The first steps in helping students who struggle with handwriting When a student shows signs of struggling with handwriting […]
Have you ever stopped to think about the benefits of writing by hand? Maria Montessori said it best with “what the hand does the mind remembers” (download a FREE copy of this poster for your school at the bottom of the post). Technology has started to take over our lives. Are students and adults losing […]
Handwriting practice has diminished significantly over the several decades. Recently, more and more research indicates the importance of handwriting skills for literacy, working memory, orthographic processing and more. The Journal of Educational Psychology published research on the importance of handwriting for writing. Handwriting is very different from writing. In general, the act of handwriting involves […]
Do you get frustrated when you see young children have poor letter formation? Does it bother you when teachers don’t take the time for handwriting instruction? New research indicates that kindergarten teachers need more help for handwriting instruction. They would agree that they need more support in the area of handwriting. Methodology of the Study […]
Are you looking for a cute, unicorn fine motor activity that is free? Well, look no further! This freebie includes the Color, Cut and Glue Unicorn Fine Motor Activity. You can download it at the bottom of the post. How to Complete the Unicorn Activity For preparation, all you have to do is print the […]
When you search the internet, scour social media and review your textbooks, there are thousands of fine motor activities available to improve children’s fine motor skills. It can become completely overwhelming just to decide what activity to choose to help a specific child. It is important to understand the components of school-related fine motor skills. Just […]