What is So Important About Teaching Handwriting? Everything! Handwriting by Beth Moore Reading in the Rockies Beaver Creek, Colorado October 15 & 16, 2010 October 2010 Goals • Importance of Writing • Current Literacy Crisis • History of Written Language • Pioneers in Remediation • Neurology of Writing • Kinesthetic Memory • Developmental Stages of Writing • Handwriting Issues • Effective Handwriting Instruction • Fine Motor Training The Importance of Writing Means of self expression Expression of individual uniqueness Powerful kinesthetic reinforcement for reading and spelling Signatures/applications require writing Computers not always available Legibility improves grades and spelling Note taking required in middle and high school SAT II requires writing Means of Self Expression Elizabeth Moore Means of Self Expression Legibility Improves Grades and Spelling 1 What is So Important About Teaching Handwriting? Everything! Literary Crisis 38% of fourth graders below grade level 75% of drop-outs have reading problems October 2010 Picture Writing Events began to be recorded in pictures. 50% of drug abuse students have reading problems 60%of 20% inmates are illiterate of adults are functionally illiterate 75% of unemployed adults have reading and writing difficulties Pictures Stand for Words Ideograms Pictures began to stand for words as in Egyptian Hieroglyphics. These were called pictographs. Pictographs were replaced by ideograms. These were simplified pictures for words as in the Chinese language. Symbols Represent Sounds Back to the Ideogram About 1000 BC languages developed symbols for their sounds Elizabeth Moore The second event removed the sound symbol representation of words, teaching whole language or sight recognition of words- the ideogram again. 2 What is So Important About Teaching Handwriting? Everything! Sounds Not Connected to Symbols There is a large gap between the concrete sound and the abstract symbol. In the 1800’s and early 1900’s penmanship was taught with an emphasis on correct form and posture. Since 1940 there has been no intense, direct teaching of handwriting. October 2010 The Current State of Handwriting Little direct instruction Little supervised writing Teachers untrained Awkward grip positions Cramped, Cursive illegible writing taught but never established Reading and writing instruction separated from each other Dr. Samuel Orton 1879-1948 Anna Gillingham 1878-1964 Achievements: Psychiatrist Neurologist Pathologist Professor Researcher Author Reading Disability Specialist Achievements: • Educator • Teacher Trainer • Collaborated with Dr. Orton • Developed a remedial program for dyslexic students The Neurology of Writing Helene Durbrow Achievements: • Trained with Anna Gillingham • Began reading progams for dyslexic students • Ran a summer camp in Vermont • Specialist in handwriting • Author Understanding the Brain • Hemispheres • Lobes • Motor Cortex • Language centers • Cerebellum Elizabeth Moore 3 What is So Important About Teaching Handwriting? Everything! The Cerebellum The cerebellum coordinates and times all movement, controls muscles, establishes balance, posture, and equilibrium. October 2010 How is Memory Formed Neurons wire together Memory is stored as a web Kinds of memory episodic- events in life semantic- knowledge instinctive-impression procedural-movement working-short term Dr. Orton’s Conclusions Pathology studies showed language areas damaged in stroke patients affecting their reading, writing and spelling. Students with language difficulties also must have neurological issues in these areas. Memory for letter name, sound, and motor pattern is stored as an unconnected web in these children. The educational solution is to rewire the brain by connecting the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic channels together. Emergent-Scribbling Elizabeth Moore The Developmental Stages of Writing Exploration-holding objects; crayons in mouth Emergent-scribbling, making pictures Middle emergent-random letters and numerals incorporated End of emergent-letters written for sounds heard Writing becomes language Middle Emergent Phase 4 What is So Important About Teaching Handwriting? Everything! Letters Written for Sounds Heard Handwriting Issues Connected to injury or accident Poor fine motor skills Lack of dominance Connected to reading and writing difficultiesslow rate of speed, too many erasures-poor grip, fatigued hand, reversals, inconsistent spacing Not fluent or automatic Motor-visual much pressure Reversals Elizabeth Moore Letters Written for Sounds Heard Connected to Reading and Spelling Difficulties Letters omitted or doubled Inconsistent slant Letters poorly connected apraxia/dysgraphia Connected to Reading and Spelling Problems Too October 2010 Connected to Reading and Spelling Problems Reversals Erasures 5 What is So Important About Teaching Handwriting? Everything! Connected to Reading and Spelling Problems October 2010 Connected to Reading and Writing Problems • Reversals • Inversions • Fine motor issues • Incomplete motor patterns • Spatial problems • Inconsistent size • Spacing problems • Tall and small letters the same size • Multiple restarts Variations in Visual Motor Ability • Both 6 years old • Both with reading, writing, and spelling problems Principles of Effective Handwriting Instruction Prepare the motor system with large muscle movements. Left-right back and forth swing motion • One boy, one girl The Snowman Elizabeth Moore The Owl 6 What is So Important About Teaching Handwriting? Everything! Railroad Tracks October 2010 Variation of Railroad Tracks • Trace over and back with a one-two-one-two rhythm • Trace down and up with a one-two-one-two rhythm Christmas Tree Left to Right Scribbles Elizabeth Moore The Tornado Name Tracing 7 What is So Important About Teaching Handwriting? Everything! A Name Writing Journey October 2010 Preparing the Fine Motor System Practice push-pull movements with the fingers, looking at the hand and not looking at it. Give direct, detailed instruction, drill, and practice using the fingers in the correct grip position. Practice push-pull movements coloring small circles, squares, triangles, and rainbows using this correct grip. Approach Strokes Swing-ups are the easiest motorically. Practice these with large motor movements first, then add the fine motor using the fingers. Say “one two three four, take a break.” Roller Coasters Roller coasters follow the same cadence, “One two three four, take a break.” Loops should all the the same size and spacing. Ocean Waves Hills and Valleys Hills and Valleys are slightly more difficult because the hand for large motor and the fingers for fine motor have to move up, over, down, and across. Elizabeth Moore Ocean waves are the most difficult movement. These require the muscles to move over and back in addition to up and down and over. 8 What is So Important About Teaching Handwriting? Everything! October 2010 Swing-up Letters Practicing the Approach Strokes Teach cursive letters by approach strokes, from the easiest motor movement to the most difficult. Swing-ups are the easiest. Words can even be made with just the first four letters. Hills and Valley Letters Roller Coaster Letters “e” is a single loop. “l” is taught next with attention paid to its good posture. All the other roller coaster letters are made from the “l” shape. Ocean Waves Hills and valleys start with an up and over movement. Avoid teaching “m” and “n” at the same time. Building Linkages Between the Name, Key Word, and Sound of the Letter Ocean wave letters should be delayed until the other movements are solid. Swing over and turn back between one and two o’clock. Elizabeth Moore 9 What is So Important About Teaching Handwriting? Everything! Suggestions for Teaching Letters one letter at a time sure each letter is connected to its name, key word, and sound Connect letters to words immediately regardless of age or ability because writing must have meaning Work from large muscle movements to fine motor ones Delay capitals until all lower case letters are automatic October 2010 Suggestions for Teaching Letters Master Make Suggestions for Teaching Letters Give special attention to finish later letters Give special attention to bridge letters Suggestions for Teaching Letters Use eyes averted technique- results in automatic, quick, accurate letter writing Practice and drill letter motor patterns without looking at them, connecting the name and sound to the motion Later practice writing words and sentences without looking at the hand Anna Gillingham, “No act is really learned as long as it requires visual supervision.” Watch Our Writing Known The as the W.O.W position feet need to be flat on the floor The back should be straight and slightly angled forward Fingers should grip the pencil correctly The paper needs to slant-left for right handers and right for left handers The helping hand anchors the paper Elizabeth Moore Grip Issues Most writing problems originate here Students teach themselves how to hold a pencil, usually exerting too much pressure Not enough frequent, sustained, supervision of the grip Tension, Poor The fatigue, erasures, frustration result fine motor skills thumb doesn’t function as it should 10 What is So Important About Teaching Handwriting? Everything! October 2010 Slant Poor Grip Examples Slant personalizes writing Right slant, up and down, left slant are all desireable Right handed students usually slant to the right, but can do the others as well Left handed students tend to slant back or up and down Determining natural slant can be done with eyes averted Inconsistent slant is often a symptom of non fluent writing Pictures from the Pencil Grip Company Los Angeles, California General Suggestions Advantages of Cursive Use writing to simultaneously reinforce specific reading and spelling skills All letters start on the line Remain vigilant that letters are made correctly Continue to practice approach stroke exercises Include writing in all lessons Write the alphabet daily Put a line through mistakes instead of erasing Skip lines for clearer writing Give near and far point copying opportunities Advantages of Cursive Advantages of Cursive Words are easily seen as connected groups of letters Letters flow more easily from left to right Elizabeth Moore 11 What is So Important About Teaching Handwriting? Everything! Advantages of Cursive What is it? “p” or “d” or “q?” Fine Motor Training Problems students present: 1. Some hands loose and floppy 2. Spaghetti fingers 3. Hands lack strength 4. Hands tense and tight 5. Lack of coordination-dropping items 6. Finger motions avoided in favor of whole hand 7. Lack of established dominance Summary Ideas Handwriting is intimately tied to reading and spelling in the brain Handwriting reinforces reading and selling and should be taught simultaneously with it Handwriting must be directly taught, practiced, and supervised until it is automatic and writing can be done without the supervision of the eyes Elizabeth Moore October 2010 Advantages of Cursive Reversals are not as easily made because the motor patterns are more distinct Fine Motor Training Understanding hand function 1. Hand has skill side that needs to be developed 2. Space between the thumb and first finger needs openness and space 3. Fingers need to operate individually 4. Palm needs to hold an arch with strength 5. Fingers and thumb need to work together Summary Ideas Handwriting vigilance must be practiced to reinforce proper paper position, posture, and grip Handwriting expectations should be consistent from grade to grade Handwriting fine motor issues should be addressed where needed 12