Key to the future or Subject of the Past Tara Kulak OTRL OTD Program Chatham University Learning Objectives Participants will Gain knowledge about the importance of consistent handwriting instruction ID: 760740
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Slide1
Handwriting Instruction:Key to the futureor Subject of the Past
Tara Kulak OTR/LOTD ProgramChatham University
Slide2Learning Objectives
Participants will:Gain knowledge about the importance of consistent handwriting instruction.Gain knowledge about handwriting and the skills needed in successful development of handwriting.Understand the role handwriting plays in acquisition of further academic skills.Understand and compare the roles of the teacher and occupational therapist in handwriting instruction.Review Handwriting Without Tears handwriting curriculum and how it supports development of handwriting skills.Assess current knowledge of handwriting instruction and new information gained from presentation.
Slide3Handwriting Facts
Handwriting is an essential skill.30-60% of academic day in elementary school is spent on fine motor activities including handwriting.85 % of all fine motor time in 2nd,4th & 6th grade classrooms was spent on paper and pencil activities.42% of kindergartner’s fine motor time is spent on paper and pencil activities.37% of preschool student’s day is spent on FM activities with only 10% spent on paper/pencil.(McHale & Cermak, 1992) (Marr, Cermak, Cohn & Henderson, 2003)
Slide4Handwriting Facts
10-30% of elementary school students struggle with handwriting (Karlsdottir & Stephansson, 2002 as cited in Feder & Majnemer, 2007)Poor handwriting can lead to decreased academic success and low self esteem (Feder & Majnemer, 2007)98% of occupational therapy referrals in the school are related to student difficulties with handwriting. (Tait, 1998 as cited in Marr & Dimeo, 2006)
Slide5Handwriting in the Classroom
Teachers do not feel adequately prepared for handwriting instruction in the classroom. (Graham et al., 2008)Handwriting instruction in the classroom is often overlooked to focus on other areas of the curriculum (Cahill, 2009) Handwriting instruction in the classroom is important for student success (Cahill, 2009; Daly et al., 2003; Edwards, 2003; MacKay et al., 2010; McHale & Cermak, 1992; Olsen, 2008; and Schneck & Amundson, 2010)
Slide6Expectations and Skill Acquisition of Handwriting
Expectations of pre-k & kindergarten students has increased.Important for teachers to give students opportunities to acquire prerequisite skills for writing.Lack of automaticity will slow down a student’s ability to generate writings.
Slide7Role of Teacher and OT
TeacherFacilitator of Daily Handwriting InstructionExpert in Student PerformanceCollaborator with OT if problems ariseOccupational TherapistSupport to students in the classroomExpert on skills needed for acquisition of handwriting skillsCollaborator with Teacher
Slide8Overview of HWT
Multi-sensory handwriting programCreated by Jan Olsen, occupational therapist.HWT curriculum draws from years of research to provide developmentally appropriate, multisensory tools ands strategies for the classrooms to utilize (Lust & Donica, 2011; Marr & Dimeo, 2006; and Olsen, 2008) “Handwriting Without Tears is suitable for children of all abilities and learning styles,” and the incorporation of “manipulatives, instructional exercises, and workbook format ensures success for all children” (Olsen, 2008, p. 6) HWT “teaches the easiest skills first and then builds on what the children have learned. Such instruction helps children develop good consistent habits for size, letter formation, and letter placement. Thus, they will master handwriting more quickly” (Olsen, 2008, p. 5).Explore website of Handwriting without Tears: www.hwtears.com
Slide9Handwriting in the Preschool Classroom
Get Set For SchoolInformal readiness handwriting programEmphasizes readiness skills to prepare for formal handwriting instruction.Helps get preschool students ready for kindergarten.Helps develop:Language proficiencySocial skillsFine and gross motor controlColor and shape awarenessLetter & number recognitionCounting
Slide10Essential Components
Time ManagementBuildingMusic, Circle Time and FingerplaysPlaying with DoughDrawing & PaintingColor and ColoringGet Set for School Workbook
Slide11Get Set for School Workbooks
Large step-by-step models easy to teach and finger trace
Page design is lefty friendly with multiple modelsBlack/white pages with left-to-right illustrations avoid confusionEmphasizes developing those foundational skills needed for formal handwriting instruction.
Slide12Mat Man & Wood Pieces
Letter Building Kit- Wood PiecesBig linesBig curvesLittle linesLittle curves Letter cards Blue mat Mat ManTeaches body awareness Develops counting skills Develops drawing skills Promotes social skills
Slide13Music, Circle Time & Fingerplays
CD that incorporates concepts of preschool programHelps engage childrenUnlocks languageProvides motor component
Slide14Roll A Dough
Helps develop small muscles in the hands.Feel & see size and shape differences.Children enjoy playing with the dough.
Slide15Colors and Coloring
Help recognize colorsNaturally promote a good grip and finger strength.Delight children and encourage them to move their fingers to flip the crayon to a new color.
Slide16Online Tools
Link to access online tools- http://www.hwtears.com/hwt/online-toolsDigital Teaching ToolsScreener of Handwriting ProficiencyA+ Worksheet Maker LiteA Click Away- ExpandedVideo LibraryClassroom DownloadsOnline Seminars
Slide17Handwriting Web Sources & Videos
Check Readiness Pre-writing and writing readiness assessment:http://www.hwtears.com/files/pre-kassessment/Check_Readiness_Assessments_WB.pdf Check Readiness Classroom Observation Checklist: http://www.hwtears.com/files/pre-kassessment/Readiness_checklist_AK_Dec30.pdf Video using Wood Pieces:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lxE2b2lrBfQ Overview Video of Get Set for Schoolhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=QsRUkNN_IWs
Slide18What have you learned?
What percentage of time is taken up by fine motor activities in the preschool classroom?True or False- Handwriting difficulties is the most common reason for occupational therapy referral in the school setting.How much time should be spent on handwriting instruction in the classroom?Name 3 roles the teacher and occupational therapist play in handwriting instruction.Who created the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum?Name 3 types of media that can be used to teach the readiness skills needed for formal handwriting instruction using the Get Set for School Program.
Slide19Conclusion
Handwriting is still an important aspect of our lives.Studies support that handwriting practice is beneficial to developing overall handwriting skills.Handwriting practice can be supported through daily practice in the classroom.Important to incorporate handwriting into curriculum to allow for adequate acquisition of handwriting skills.The key to success is building a strong foundation through the use of a readiness program
Slide20Survey
Slide21References
Cahill, S.M. (2009). Where does handwriting fit
in
? : Strategies to
support academic achievement.
Intervention in School and Clinic
,
44
(4), 223- 228.
Daly
, C.J., Kelley, G.T., & Krauss, A. (2003). Relationship between
visual-motor integration
and handwriting skills of children in
kindergarten
: A
modified
replication study.
The American Journal
of
Occupational
Therapy
, 57
(4), 459-462.
Edwards
, L. (2003). Writing instruction in kindergarten: Examining an
emerging
area of Research for children with writing and reading
difficulties
.
Journal of Learning Disabilities, 36
(2
), 136-148
.
Feder
, K.P., &
Majnemer
, A. (2007). Handwriting
development
,
competency
,
and
intervention.
Developmental
Medicine
&
Child
Neurology
, 49
, 312-317.
Graham
, S., Harris, K. R., Mason, L., Fink-
Chorzempa
, B., Moran, S., & Saddler,
B
. (2008).
How
do primary grade teachers teach handwriting? A
national
survey
. Reading
and
Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal,
21
, 49-69.
doi
:
10.1007/s11145-007-9064-z
Slide22References
Lust, C., &
Donica
, D. (2011). Effectiveness of a handwriting readiness program in head start: A two-group controlled trial.
The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65
(5), 560-568.
Mackay, N.,
McCluskey
, A., & Mayes, R. (2010). The log handwriting program
improved
children’s writing legibility: A pretest-posttest
study
.
The
American
Journal of Occupational Therapy, 64
, 30-36.
Marr
, D.,
Cermack
, S.A., Cohn, E.S., & Henderson, A. (2003). Fine
motor activities
in head start and kindergarten
classrooms
.
American
Journal
of Occupational Therapy,
57
, 550-557.
Marr, D., &
Dimeo
, S.B. (2006). Outcomes associated with a summer
handwriting course
for elementary students.
American Journal of
Occupational Therapy
, 60
(1), 10-15.
McHale, K., &
Cermak
, S. (1992). Fine motor activities in elementary school:
Preliminary
findings and provisional implications for children with
fine motor
problems.
American Journal of Occupational Therapy,
46
, 898-903
.
Slide23References
Olsen, J.Z. (2008). Handwriting Without Tears Research Review
. Handwriting Without Tears
. Retrieved January 28,
2013,
from http://www.hwtears.com/hwt/why-it-works/research
Olsen
, J.Z. &
Knapton
, E.F. (2008).
Handwriting
without
tears
:
Pre
-K
teacher’s
guide
.
Cabin
John, MD: Handwriting
Without
Tears
.
Roth, K. &
Guinee
, K. (2011).
Ten
minutes a
day
: The impact of
interactive
writing
instruction on first graders’
independent
writing
.
Journal
of
Early
Childhood
Literacy
, 11
(3), 331-361.
Schneck
, C. &
Amundson
, S. (2010).
Prewriting
and
handwriting
skills
.
In J
. Case-Smith & J. C. O’Brien (
Eds
.),
Occupational
therapy
for
children
(6th—
ed
., pp. 555-580). Maryland
Heights
, MO:
Mosby
Elsevier.