Handwriting Its More Important Than You Might Think

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Handwriting: It’s More Important Than You Might Think! 2014 IDA Annual Reading, Literacy, and

Handwriting: It’s More Important Than You Might Think! 2014 IDA Annual Reading, Literacy, and Learning Conference San Diego, CA

Bonnie Meyer • Executive Director, Slingerland® Institute for Literacy • Certified Slingerland Instructor of

Bonnie Meyer • Executive Director, Slingerland® Institute for Literacy • Certified Slingerland Instructor of Teachers

Advantages of Multisensory Instruction Automatic letter recognition is the key to automatic word recognition.

Advantages of Multisensory Instruction Automatic letter recognition is the key to automatic word recognition. Rapid letter naming is dependent on familiarity of the orthographic and phonological properties of letters.

Kinesthetic memory is the earliest, strongest and most reliable form of memory.

Kinesthetic memory is the earliest, strongest and most reliable form of memory.

 • Writing is a simultaneous production: spatial organization, margination, letter forms, spelling, grammar,

• Writing is a simultaneous production: spatial organization, margination, letter forms, spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, vocabulary and syntax. • It demands sufficient working memory to enable the student to remember and think at the same time.

The process of learning to write depends initially upon memorization of the graphic forms

The process of learning to write depends initially upon memorization of the graphic forms of every letter.

 • It takes place through a chain of isolated motor impulses, each of

• It takes place through a chain of isolated motor impulses, each of which is responsible for only one element of the graphic structure. • With practice this structure of the process is radically altered, and writing is converted into a single “kinetic melody”. Luria

 • Principles of multi-sensory handwriting instruction can be applied to any letter form

• Principles of multi-sensory handwriting instruction can be applied to any letter form – cursive, manuscript, D’nealian, etc. • Handwriting instruction is not taught in isolation, but integrated with letter-sound relationships and encoding words.

 • "What our research and other people's research is showing is, starting around

• "What our research and other people's research is showing is, starting around kindergarten, first grade, kids really do best when you integrate writing with the reading and you start with idea expression. You have them put their ideas on paper, and then you build into that some instruction in handwriting and spelling. Dr. Virginia Berninger

THE WRITING LESSON • Writing is a tool, it should be clear with well-formed,

THE WRITING LESSON • Writing is a tool, it should be clear with well-formed, uniformly sized letters. • Learning to write is not phenomenal, it must be taught.

Posture • Desk clear and 2” higher than bent elbow • Feet flat •

Posture • Desk clear and 2” higher than bent elbow • Feet flat • Back straight • Non writing hand holding paper

Tripod Pencil Grip • The correct grip: • Gives the student a better feel

Tripod Pencil Grip • The correct grip: • Gives the student a better feel for the letter. • Allows fluent rather than jerky writing • Reduces fatigue and strain on the hand • How to Change pencil grips • Tools to aid grips

The Necessary Tools • Easy reference alphabet cards • Writing implement • Pencils, pens,

The Necessary Tools • Easy reference alphabet cards • Writing implement • Pencils, pens, stylus? • Paper

Paper folds • Begin with large motor movements when teaching writing. • As students

Paper folds • Begin with large motor movements when teaching writing. • As students become automatic in performance, paper size may be reduced.

Paper position • Left hand – left corner up • Right hand – right

Paper position • Left hand – left corner up • Right hand – right corner up

Advantages of Manuscript Handwriting • Consistent with preschool learning • Firm beginning and ending

Advantages of Manuscript Handwriting • Consistent with preschool learning • Firm beginning and ending points • Introduces children to the letter forms they will need to recognize as they begin to learn to read. • The typeface used in the basic readers is more like print writing than cursive in appearance. • Allows primary-grade children to see the same symbol forms used for reading, writing, and spelling, thereby lessening confusion.

Advantages of Cursive Writing • Provides directional movement from left to right • Eliminates

Advantages of Cursive Writing • Provides directional movement from left to right • Eliminates the need to decide where each cursive letter should begin • Eliminates the need to raise the pencil while writing • Eliminates the need to learn two different writing styles

The goal is accurate automatic writing. Secure motor patterns eventually allow handwriting to be

The goal is accurate automatic writing. Secure motor patterns eventually allow handwriting to be such a habitual skill that the mind is free to think while the arm and hand automatically produce the words chosen by the mind. Getman (1984)

GROUPING BY SIMILAR STROKES • Manuscript • Down stroke • Over stroke • Slant

GROUPING BY SIMILAR STROKES • Manuscript • Down stroke • Over stroke • Slant and other • Cursive • Under stroke • Over stroke

Other Instructional Groupings • Ease of formation • Ease of sound • Need

Other Instructional Groupings • Ease of formation • Ease of sound • Need

LEARNING TO WRITE Learning To Write daily lessons involve multiple steps leading students to

LEARNING TO WRITE Learning To Write daily lessons involve multiple steps leading students to independent, automatic writing. 1. Teaching New Letters 2. Practice New Letters 3. Reviewing Letters 4. Letter Connections

LEARNING NEW LETTERS The six-step pattern for successful independent performance. 1. Introduction of New

LEARNING NEW LETTERS The six-step pattern for successful independent performance. 1. Introduction of New Letter 2. Board Demonstration 3. Individual Student Board Step 4. Student Group Step at the Board 5. Permanent Patterns 6. Expendable Patterns

Permanent Pattern

Permanent Pattern

Expendable Pattern

Expendable Pattern

Well if it isn’t Miss Mc. Cleary, my old grade school teacher—the one who

Well if it isn’t Miss Mc. Cleary, my old grade school teacher—the one who kept pestering me to dot my ‘i’s and cross my ‘t’s.

REVIEWING LETTERS From guidance and support to independence 1. 2. 3. 4.

REVIEWING LETTERS From guidance and support to independence 1. 2. 3. 4.

That’s printing and this is cursive writing. In cursive all the letters hold hands

That’s printing and this is cursive writing. In cursive all the letters hold hands

Letter Connections Daily practice Difficult connections • b – bo, bb, bl, … •

Letter Connections Daily practice Difficult connections • b – bo, bb, bl, … • o - oa, ot, ok … • v - ve, va, vo … • w – we, wo, wh …

Keys to success • Practice makes permanent – Dr. Nancy Cushen White • Skilled

Keys to success • Practice makes permanent – Dr. Nancy Cushen White • Skilled teachers who orchestrate the instructional process • Plan for success