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Handwriting: Instruction

Readiness    Instruction
Handwriting Instruction can be separated into 4 categories:
  1. Strategies for teaching actual letter formation:

    2. - Mutli-sensory techniques are essential

    - My teaching methods are based on Jan Olsen's Handwriting Without Tears program, but have been adapted and expanded upon for even more effective results.

    - I like using lowercase refrigerator magnets to work on differentiating between similar letters (i.e. b/d/p, m/n/r/h)

  2. Working on size, spacing and placing letters on the baseline:

    3. - Write a sentence on lined paper with intentional errors and have your child circle/ identify your mistakes in letter size. Do separately for spacing errors and baseline placement.

    - Candy often does the trick! show your child a small candy (i.e. M&M or Skittles) and tell them the size of the candy is the amount of space needed between words. At first, they use the candy as a "spacer". After practice (maybe not for a few days), when they write a sentence, they may look at the candy but not physically place it on the paper. The spacing is "checked" by placing candy between the words… if there is enough space, leave the candy there. When you are finished checking, they keep whatever candy was left for good spacing!

    - I call letters that are too far above the baseline "floaters" (like a balloon) and letters that are below the baseline "sinkers" (as in the water). When correcting work, I first identify the child's most obvious floaters and draw a balloon string on them. Then I identify the most obvious "sinkers" and draw water under them. As your child understands this concept, have them point out their own "floaters" and "sinkers" and pretty soon there won't be any!

  3. Encourage practice by making it FUN!


    4. -My greatest tip is to limit practice sessions to 5 minutes. Yes, that right, just 5 minutes. That way, the child has a positive experience, and you leave him excited and eager for the next time he can practice his new skills. (really- this works!)

    -Don't bother erasing…just move on. Erasing is frustrating for children- paper often rips, pencil smears, and it contributes to the hand fatiguing more quickly. By not focusing on errors, it also removes some of the pressure that some children feel to make their letters perfect.

    - Practice does not have to be done with pencil and paper! See our Toy Ideas section for great ideas of toys to make practicing fun.

    Other tools for practice are:
    • write BIG when first learning letters- 1 letter can take up a whole page!
    • write on newspaper
    • use sidewalk chalk
    • use a paintbrush with only water to paint the side of the house, sidewalk or driveway
    • use markers or crayons (markers are often easier than crayons because they require less pressure to make a mark)
    • spread pudding/ whipped cream on wax paper and write with your finger tip
    • finger paint
    • sandpaper provides a huge amount of feedback


  4. Teaching and reinforcing a functional pencil grip:


    5. Does it matter how my child holds his pencil?
    The simple answer is, yes. A “functional” pencil grasp allows the most mobility of the fingers in order to form writing strokes with ease and efficiency to improve endurance and legibility. There is an “ideal” pencil grasp called the “dynamic tripod grasp”, but a lateral tripod grasp and some adapted grasps are also considered functional.

    What can I do to help?
    • Use primary markers, crayons and pencils rather than thin ones.
    • Use a cushioned pencil grip (see recommedation on our Toy page hyperlink to toys subpage handwriting, drawing and coloring for my favorite grip. Pencil grips improve finger position, promote and open “web space” and decrease hand fatigue.
    • Write on slanted or vertical surface (tape paper to the wall, use an easel or use a large 3-ring binder as a slanted surface) to improve hand/wrist position and shoulder strength
    • Improve hand strength and coordination:
      • Crumple pieces of scrap paper in one hand and throw at a target
      • Playdough: squish large amounts of playdough in each hand. Have fun with utensils like toothpicks, rolling pins, garlic presses and cookie cutters to roll cut and manipulate dough.
      • Use spray bottles filled with water to mist plants or clean the kitchen table to develop web space, thumb opposition and separation of sides of the hand.

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