Occupational Therapy -> Fine Motor Skills -> Writing

Writing

Writing is a complex visual motor task used throughout the lifespan. Writing requires fine motor skills to grasp and manipulate writing tools and paper. Vision is incorporated when writing to print within lines, copy and/or form letters with accuracy, use accurate spacing between letters/words, and accurately align writing on paper (horizontally, write left to right, etc.). Occupational therapists address handwriting using direct teaching of the skill, adapting or modifying tools and tasks, or finding alternative forms for written expression (i.e., voice to text into a computer).

Reference links

  • Handwriting: A Matter of Affairs 2
    files.eric.ed.gov
    Author: Iman M. M. Muwafaq Al-Ghabra, English Department, College of Education For Women, Baghdad University, Baghdad - Mangen and Velay (2010) state that in handwriting, visual attention strongly focuses on the movement of the hand, while in typing, the visual attention scatters between hitting the keyboard and watching the screen. Thus, tracing letters is important for children to improve their writing because they can focus only on drawing letters. Hence, handwriting is better for students than typing to gain more information; Alleyene confirms this (2011). In his article, Alleyne states that handwriting lets the information stick in the brain rather than typing; writing the piece of information is like imprinting it in the brain. In addition, FYI Health Writer (2011) states that since handwriting requires using motor skills which take some time to copy letters, this process helps children to develop their learning and cognition.
  • Handwriting Development, Competency, and Intervention 0
    onlinelibrary.wiley.com
    Author: Feder, & Majnemer - Handwriting difficulties may be the result of intrinsic factors such as poor component skills, extrinsic considerations such as academic environment and biomechanics. Developmental Stages of Handwriting: Scribbling Imitating vertical strokes (age 2y) Imitating horizontal strokes (age 2y 6mo) Imitating circles (age 3y). Imitating and copying a cross (age 4y) Copying square (5) Copying triangle (5y 6mo) Quality Development: Quickly (grade 1 6–7y) and plateau (grade 2 7–8y). Automatic, organized, tool for idea development (grade 3 8-9y) Speed of writing is somewhat linear Handwriting measures: Letter formation, spacing, size, slant, and/or alignment, speed, Citation: Feder, & Majnemer, A. (2007). Handwriting development, competency, and intervention. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 49(4), 312–317. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2007.00312.x
  • The Importance of Cursive Handwriting Over Typewriting For Learning In the Classroom: A High-Density EEG Study of 12-Year-Old Children and Young Adults 1
    www.frontiersin.org
    Author: Eva Ose Askvik, F. R. (Ruud) Van Der Weel and Audrey L. H. Van Der Meer* - In a recent EEG study, Van der Meer and Van der Weel (2017) found that drawing by hand activated larger networks in the brain compared to typewriting and concluded that the involvement of fine hand movements in note-taking, as opposed to simply pressing a key on a keyboard, may be more beneficial for learning, especially when encoding new information.

Activity List(s)

Visual Schedule Cards

Goal Bank

  • Given near point model and moderate tactile prompts, Reginald will legibly copy her first name 4 out of 4 trials as measured by work samples and data collection to promote academic success. 2
  • Annika will write 3 phonemes with minimal assistance with at least 90% accuracy for line placement, sizing, and spacing over a 3 week therapy period. 2
  • Given adaptive paper, Arnoldo will write her first name with 6/7 legible letter formations with letter within 1/8" from writing line on 3 out of 4 attempts as measured by work samples and data collection to improve handwriting and fine motor skills in 4 consecutive therapy sessions. 3
  • In order to improve handwriting, Peter will demonstrate an efficient grip of their pencil 80% of the time with a maximum of 2 verbal prompts by March 5, 2023 . 0
  • In order to improve handwriting, Peter will demonstrate correct hand placement utilizing a slant board on 3 /5 attempts by March 5, 2023 . 0
  • In order to improve handwriting, Peter will practice using an efficient grip of the pencil with demonstration on 24 /26 letters by March 5, 2023 . 0
  • Peter will demonstrate a dynamic tripod grasp when holding writing utensils with the usage of a pencil grip in order to improve fine motor functions on 9 /10 times by May 5, 2023 . 0

Resources

Top 20 (View all)

  • Camping: Handwriting preview

    Camping: Handwriting

    Glenna Nave

    Handwriting Worksheet. Occupational Therapy Resource. OT Resource. Have students select 6 of the items pictured that they would take on a camping trip and write them in the blanks.

    Includes activity list

    2

  • Movie Film Review Writing Prompt preview

    Movie Film Review Writing Prompt

    Jessica Lenden-Holt MA CCC-SLP

    PDF format. Includes: Name, Date, Movie Title, Star Ranking, Writing Prompt (Write a one paragraph review for the last movie you saw), Lined spacing for paragraph

    3

  • Halloween Handwriting - Title Case preview

    Halloween Handwriting - Title Case

    Glenna Nave

    Handwriting Resource. Fine Motor resource. Letter Formation Resource. Occupational Therapy Resource. This worksheet features 1" writing lines.

    Includes activity list

    4

  • Thanksgiving Game Board preview

    Thanksgiving Game Board

    Glenna Nave

    Handwriting Resource. Board Game Resource. Fine Motor Resource. Occupational Therapy Resource. A Thanksgiving theme board game to improve motivation for handwriting practice.

    Includes activity list

    1

  • Letter Box Matching - Easter preview

    Letter Box Matching - Easter

    Glenna Nave

    Handwriting Resource. Visual Perception Worksheet. Occupational Therapy Resource. OT. Following the Size Matters Handwriting Program, match the words on the right to the correct size letter boxes o...

    2

  • First Day of School Activities preview

    First Day of School Activities

    Bethany Ayer

    Caregivers Handout. Teacher Handout. An easily scalable exercise with the First Day of School theme.

    Includes activity list

    4

  • Letter Box Matching - Pets preview

    Letter Box Matching - Pets

    Glenna Nave

    Handwriting Resource. Letter recognition Resources. Visual Processing Resources. Occupational Therapy Resources. Following the Size Matters Handwriting Program, match the word to the correct letter...

    Includes activity list

    3

  • Film Movie Review Writing Prompts and Discussion preview

    Film Movie Review Writing Prompts and Discussion

    Jessica Lenden-Holt CCC-SLP

    Film Review Template Includes: Title, Genre, Actors, Setting, Star Rating, Review with lined spaced, Opinion Column (favorite character, quote, costume, scene, "What I didn't like", What I would ch...

    3

  • Halloween Handwriting preview

    Halloween Handwriting

    Glenna Nave

    Handwriting Resource. Letter Formation resource. Occupational Therapy Resource. OT. This worksheet features 1" writing lines for handwriting practice.

    Includes activity list

    3

  • Pre Writing Tracing preview

    Pre Writing Tracing

    Krystan Inman

    Pre-writing skills are the fundamental skills children need to develop before they are able to write. These skills contribute to the child's ability to hold and use a pencil, and eventually the abi...

    1

  • Movie Film Review Template preview

    Movie Film Review Template

    Jessica Lenden-Holt MA CCC-SLP

    One page, PDF. Includes: Title, Genre, Rate the Movie, What is your favorite scene in the movie, draw your favorite character and describe him or her in 1-2 sentences

    3

  • Letter Box Matching - Farm Animals preview

    Letter Box Matching - Farm Animals

    Glenna Nave

    Handwriting Resources. Fine Motor Worksheet. Visual processing Resources. Occupational Therapy Resources. Following the Size Matters Handwriting Program, match the words on the right to the correct...

    2

  • Spring Handwriting Resource preview

    Spring Handwriting Resource

    Virginia Ingram, CCC-SLP

    Use these handwriting worksheets to practice letter formation. This will also help test receptive language skills as the child will match the word to the picture of the concept.

    Includes activity list

    6

  • OT Homework Form preview

    OT Homework Form

    Glenna Nave

    A form for writing in homework for students with UHC.

    0

  • Design Your Own Movie Poster Template preview

    Design Your Own Movie Poster Template

    Jessica Lenden-Holt MA CCC-SLP

    Design your own movie poster template Includes: Name, Date, Book Title Author, and Drawing Box for Movie Poster One page, PDF format.

    4

  • TEIS: OT Referral Checklist preview

    TEIS: OT Referral Checklist

    Glenna Nave

    Checklist of common diagnoses and developmental delays that may indicate need for OT referral.

    1

  • S is For Shaving Cream - A Sensory Activity preview

    S is For Shaving Cream - A Sensory Activity

    Bethany Ayer

    Sensory Integration Resource. Occupational Therapy Resource. This is meant to be a sensory activity which can assist with reducing tactile sensitivity, encourage pre handwriting skills (by drawing ...

    2

  • St Patricks Day Activities preview

    St Patricks Day Activities

    Krystan Inman

    St Patricks Themed activities including: Handwriting (writing upper case letters) Motor control exercises, Visual perception, Matching game, What is your leprechaun name, Pre writing lines

    2

  • Birthday Activities preview

    Birthday Activities

    Glenna Nave

    Fine Motor Resource. Coloring Resource. Playdoh Resources. Occupational Therapy Resources. Eight birthday-themed activities including play-doh mats, following the directions, tracing, and color by ...

    1

  • Occupational Therapy: Candy Corn Theme preview

    Occupational Therapy: Candy Corn Theme

    Glenna Nave

    Visual Perception Resources. Handwriting Resources. Occupational Therapy Resource. Playdoh. This bundle includes worksheets to work on visual perception, fine motor, and handwriting skills.

    4