Handwriting Without Tears Big line Little line Big Curve Little Curve Kids starting too young and forming bad habits

Introduction High Desert ESD Occupational Therapists Nancy Hitchcock Steve Maddox

Video from CD

Handwriting Program Handwriting without tears is a structured handwriting program. The multisensory lessons teach to all learning styles- tactile, auditory, visual, and movement. It is a simple developmentally based curriculum for writing readiness, printing and cursive.

Multisensory Multisensory handwriting program Tactile-using wood pieces or chalkboards Auditory-songs and verbal directions Visual-boundaries in which to fit the letters Movement-warm ups, wood pieces

Benefits Prevent problems with letter formation, reversals, legibility, spacing. Can be enjoyable and fun making writing an automatic and natural skill. Children who write well perform better in school and feel proud of their work.

The basic foundation Strength and stability Sensory-motor abilities Fine motor coordination and grasping Visual-motor perception Cognition Attention

Strength and Stability In order for us to develop control over the smaller muscles of the hand we must have support or control in our trunk, and in all of the other joints leading up to the hand. The hand itself needs adequate strength to hold on to a writing utensil and isolate control in individual muscles. Watch for slumping, poor grasp pattern, or fatigue

Activities and technology for shoulder and postural stability Animal walks that encourage weight bearing on the arms, i.e.. Crab walk or bear walk Gross motor activities/recess and PE Use of vertical board for painting or coloring with large random movements Various seating devices such as an air or foam wedge, seatbelt, T-stool, therapy ball Supportive positioning Slant boards S’cool moves

Positioning Feet and back supported at a 90 degree angle Desk height about 2 inches above elbow resting at side Sometimes a seatbelt can add extra stability and help child to focus if needed

Slant boards Slant boards can help with forearm and wrist support needed to isolate finger movements. Clips on slant boards can hold the paper in the appropriate position (30-45 degree angle) if bilateral coordination is difficult. Slant boards can also improve posture and visual awareness

Handwriting warm ups (Let’s Practice!) See posture preparation handout (from Handwriting without Tears) Brain gym, S’cool Moves, and Yoga Calm programs have an extensive program that can help integrate body and mind to improve learning potential A student may need a specific program set up by an occupational therapist to meet their individual needs Put together your own routine to use regularly with the entire class before writing

Wood Pieces Learn the language of big line, little line, big curve and little curve Learn directionality-top, bottom, above, below, right, left Mat man teaches body awareness Laminated capital letter cards with perceptual activities on the back Make letters and shapes on the blue mat or on the floor

Mat Man Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lYiGf_0elw8

Chalkboards Wet, dry, try Adult demonstrates correct letter formation Child uses small wet sponge to trace over letter Child dries with small piece of paper towel Child draws the letter with small chalk There are large 2 lined chalkboards available for lower case practice

Other HWT activities/supports Roll a dough letters Stamp and see (magnadoodle) Music CD’s Lined and gray block paper Flip crayons Workbooks Can go to their website for other activities, handouts and videos hwtears.com

How to hold the pencil The pencil is pinched between the thumb pad and the index finger pad. The pencil rests on the middle finger. Can hold something in last 2 fingers. A-OK: 1. Make the A-OK sign 2. drop or tuck the other fingers 3. Place the pencil between the thumb and index finger pads Pinch and flip: 1. Place pencil on table pointing away from you. 2. Pinch pencil and pick it up. Pinch the pencil where you should hold it-on the point where the point meets the wood. 3. With other hand hold the eraser and flip it around to the top side of hand.

Activities and technology to improve grasp patterns Playing with playdoh/putty (hiding objects in putty or rolling into log and making shapes) Playing tug of war with small strings, lace, etc. Form circles with thumb and index finger and raise to eyes for glasses Eating food with utensils Regular participation in fine motor games and art activities that require manipulation of objects Try different types of writing utensils Try various pencil grips

Workbooks for Printing Developmental-pre kindergarten, kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade levels for printing Capitals then lower case Tracing then copying Letters, words, paragraphs Developmental progression for easier formation patterns and frequency of use Teach child’s name in correct upper and lower case

Workbook Sequence First workbook-Get set for school: coloring, learning shapes and tracing capital letters and numbers Second workbook-Letters and numbers for me: copying upper case letters, lower case letters and numbers Third workbook-My printing book: Review letters using smaller lines, copying words and sentences Fourth workbook-Printing power: reviews letters, copying words, sentences and paragraphs

Capital letter sequence Frog jump capitals: FEDPBRNM Starting corner capitals: HKLUVWXYZ Center starting capitals: COQGSAITJ

Lower case letter sequence Same as capital: cosvw and t Magic c letters: adg More vowels: uie Transition group: lkyj Diver letters: prnmhb Final group: fqxz

Numbers Taught in numerical order They all fit into the chalkboard for capitals Can use the gray block paper There are no reversals with this method They all start at the top and use basic lines and curves 1-7 starting in corner, 8 is center top, 9 is right top

Cursive Can be easier for some kids due to the flow Less stopping and starting Good to know how to read cursive Another chance to re-learn good handwriting mechanics Usually taught in 3rd grade Often sent home to learn

Cursive Workbooks Cursive handwriting and cursive success Teaches a clean, clear vertical style that is easy to write and read. Lower case letters are introduced first beginning with letters that are similar to print Focus on correct formation and connecting letters as well as fluency to write quickly and automatically Excellent teacher’s manual

2 lined Paper Less visually stimulating Consistent with workbooks The bottom line keeps the writing straight and the top line controls the size 14 lower case letters fit exactly between the lines 19 of 26 lower case letters begin exactly on the top line (exceptions are t,l,k,f,h,b and e) Use letter strip for reference No matter what type of lined paper they need to be taught how to use it.

Gray block paper Excellent for teaching capital letters and numbers Gray blocks are “pictures” of the chalkboard Easy to transfer what they have learned with chalk to paper and pencil A dot on the gray block can show exactly where to start the letter (top corners or center) Where do you start your letters? At the top!

Left handed Handwriting 10 percent of the general population is left handed. Possibly 1to 2 students per classroom Some people who write left handed do many activities right handed

Differences between left handed writers and right handed writers Right handers use the elbow as a pivot point to move pencil across the page Left handers move their entire forearm to move the pencil across the page

Problems with writing left handed Smearing ink Digging pencil into paper Covering writing and decreased visibility for spacing Increased fatigue Decreased stability for writing

Accommodating left handed children Group left handed children together Teach correct body position (body to right of paper) Teach correct paper position/slant (30-45 degree slant to the right) Teach proper grip (tripod), 1 and ½ inches back from pencil tip Keep hand below line that is being written on It is OK for letters to slant slightly backwards

Teaching Approaches Direct instruction: One on one or small group Practice should be fun yet organized Build a positive relationship with the child Take it at a relaxed speed and adapt according to the child’s needs Keep actual handwriting sessions short and sweet. (5-20 minutes) Do live demonstrations and encourage imitation Teach directionality concepts Multisensory approach Consistency and repetition Supervision to develop good habits Opportunities for student self evaluation-circle their best letter

Specific Problems Poor grip Inappropriate pressure Difficulty forming letters Inappropriate spacing Poor sizing of letters Difficulty staying on the line

Strategies to improve visual-motor perception Perceptual worksheets-tracing, mazes, finding hidden pictures, matching Visual models Verbal cues Different types of lined paper

Activities to improve finger isolation Use items to manipulate during math such as tongs to pick up marbles, coins or tokens, cotton balls or any small items. Songs that have different hand gestures or isolated finger motions such as thumbkin, itsy bitsy spider, etc. Cutting activities with adapted scissors if needed Games or art that require use of finger tips/thumb Push button toys that require use of one finger Finger puppets Keyboarding

Activities to improve accuracy Tracing or cutting on straight or curved lines Rainbow writing-repetitive tracing with different colors Raised lined paper Bold lines Mazes

Activities to improve bilateral coordination and lateralization Holding and turning paper when cutting Tying shoes, buttoning, zipping Stringing beads Stabilizing paper when coloring Velcro mitts with balls Racquets with balloons Bat and ball activities Large screw and bolt activities Wiping off tables with sponges Brain gym warm ups

Fine Motor Art Pictures with seeds and beans (use fingers or tweezers) Ripping, tearing, and crumpling paper to glue in the pictures Paint or draw using an easel Collages either cutting or tearing the pictures

Fine Motor Games Pick up sticks, big bird game, kerplunk, jenga, don’t break the ice, hiho cherrios, bed bug game, flees on fred, light bright Card games to work on memory and fine control Animal walks in relays to complete puzzle activities, string beads,etc.

Activities and technology to improve sensory-motor abilities Use different media to play or draw in such as water, sand, beans, gak, pudding, clay Mystery writing-drawing shapes/letters on friend’s back Rainbow writing-using different colors to trace over same shape/letter many times Write in the air using index finger-can hold a piece of sponge with the rest of the hand Use a wet sponge strip to write on chalkboard Simon says game

Sensory-motor continued Sit on less stable surface such as air cushion, therapy ball or t-stool Use a vibrating pen Provide consistent instruction and repetition for motor planning Provide visual, and auditory cues

Questions? We are all still learning We are happy to help Call us if questions arise later

Thanks For helping increase kid’s self esteem For teaching a skill that will be used in daily life For helping kids be successful You get an A!