HANDWRITING

WORKSHOP

(P3-P4)

Ms. Siti Sarali Laili

Allied Educator (Learning & Behavioural Support)

siti_sarali_laili@moe.edu.sg

OBJECTIVES

❖Importance of good handwriting

❖Identify areas of poor handwriting

❖Identify reasons of poor handwriting

❖Aspects of good handwriting

❖Handwriting process & samples

❖Strategies

❖Resources

PARENT SUPPORT

❖Handwriting is abstract

❖Takes time to see improvement

❖Close monitoring & guidance

IMPORTANCE OF GOOD

HANDWRITING

❖Legibility of work affect reading

❖Affect spelling → Affect grades (Composition, Science, Maths, etc.)

WHAT IS A GOOD & POOR

HANDWRITING?

GOOD HANDWRITING

(WORK SAMPLE)

WHAT DO YOU USUALLY DO WHEN YOUR

CHILD HAS POOR HANDWRITING?

❖Show a sample of good handwriting

❖Ask child to write neatly

❖Give penmanship to practice

WAIT

RIGHT-HANDER OR LEFT-HANDER?

Wooden or Mechanical?

AREAS FOR POOR HANDWRITINGNo. Item

1 Pencil grip

2 Force (thumb/finger)

3 Just the right length away from tip of pen/pencil

4 Position of paper

5 Letters on the line

6 Spacing between letters/words/sentences/paragraphs

7 Slanted lines

8 Letter formation

9 Letter reversals

10 Letter proportion

11 Huge handwriting

Will be covered

REASONS FOR POOR

HANDWRITING

No. Item

1 Insufficient force for erasing mistakes (overlaps)

2 Insufficient force for holding paper

3 Rush (Lack of time)

4 Thoughts faster than writing

5 Visual difficulties

6 Eye-hand motor coordination

7 Gross motor/fine motor skills

8 Writing position (Eg. Slouching, head on table, etc.)

9 Attitude/motivation

May need to be assessed

PENCIL GRIP

TOO NEAR/FAR FROM TIP

POSITION OF PAPER

AREAS OF FOCUS

No. Items Checked

1. Letter formation (Write a-z):

-Small letters

-Capital letters

2. Letters on line

3. Letter proportion

4. Letter spacing

LETTER FORMATION

LETTERS ON LINE

LETTER PROPORTION

SPACING BETWEEN LETTERS

CASE STUDY: EXAMPLE

WHAT ARE THE AREAS YOUR CHILD

HAS DIFFICULTY IN?Letter disproportion Words not on the line

Close word-spacing

Wrong letter formation

☺ YOUR TURN ☺

CASE STUDY

Identify the areas of poor handwriting

CASE STUDY: ANSWER

INTERVENTION SAMPLE

AREAS OF FOCUS

No. Items Checked

1. Letter formation (Write a-z):

-Small letters

-Capital letters

2. Letters on line

3. Letter proportion

4. Letter spacing

BEFORE INTERVENTION

DURING INTERVENTION

DURING INTERVENTION

AFTER INTERVENTION

DURING INTERVENTION

Show good example Area focused

Child to practice writing alphabets Letters→words→sentences→paragraph

Checklist beside child In order of what parent/child wants to

focus on first)

Child’s self-awareness of

checking handwriting

In area focused

Child to write again after

checking mistake

Collaborate & constant

update/feedback with FT

LET’S GO THROUGH

LET’S GO THROUGH

LET’S GO THROUGH

LET’S GO THROUGH

LET’S GO THROUGH

LET’S GO THROUGH

OTHER AREAS/CONCERNS

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

No. Problem Solution

1 Pencil grip Use rubber band

2 Force (thumb/finger) Depends on type of pencil grip

3 Just the right length away from tip of

pen/pencil

Use rubber band/marker to draw line

4 Position of paper Demonstrate/show

5 Slanted lines Line drawing exercise

6 Huge handwriting • Bigger paper

• Bigger spacing between lines

7 Letter reversals • Finger

• Letter-tracing

• Sand-paper tracing

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

No. Problem Solution

1 Rush (Lack of time) • Reduce distraction

• Give child ample time to complete work

• Put a digital countdown timer in front of child

2 Thoughts faster than writing • Ask child to jot down points or do mind-map

3 Visual difficulties • Child to go for eye-check up

4 Eye-hand motor coordination • May need assessment

5 Gross motor/fine motor skills

(P.E teacher)

• Occupational therapy

• Gross/Fine motor exercises

6 Body position • Remind child to sit-up straight

• May need assessment (Weak muscles)

7 Attitude/motivation Explain consequences of illegible handwriting

*Left/right handed

RESOURCES

RESOURCES (ITEMS)

Ruler

Paper clips

Lined paper

RESOURCES (ITEMS)

Finger-spacers

RESOURCES (ITEMS)

Pencil grips

RESOURCES (ITEMS)

RESOURCES (PENMANSHIP)

Websites

Letters

❖http://www.k12reader.com/handwriting-practice-worksheets-block-style-print/

❖http://www.softschools.com/handwriting/alphabets/

Numbers (and letters)

❖http://www.softschools.com/handwriting/numbers/

RESOURCES (PAPER)

Websites

Single word -> multi-word-> sentence -> paragraph

❖ http://www.handwritingworksheets.com/flash/printdots/index.htm

Lined paper

❖ http://www.printablepaper.net/category/lined

❖ http://www.k12reader.com/subject/composition/lined-paper/

Apps

https://freeappsforme.com/letter-tracing-apps/