Occupational Therapy Newsletter
Volume 16
February 2011
Do your students struggle with writing?
These may be some factors:
• hand weakness/poor endurance
• poor pencil grasp/poor control
• poor letter formation, size, line
placement
• undetermined hand dominance
• persistent reversals
• visual perception issues (size/spatial
discrimination)
• limited attention/ rushing through work
• language issues
• limited exposure/experience
Ask your school’s OT ! if you are interested in
How can I help my students?
" Adapted paper available through your OT.
May include textured raised lines, larger or
smaller lines, skip-a-line paper, fewer lines
on a paper.
" Reduce distractions on a worksheet: fold in
half, enlarge text, or photocopy larger.
" Use an alternate raised writing surface:
tape paper to window or white board, use
easel, 3-ring binder or slant board. Raised
surface helps grasp, endurance, and visual
connection with work.
" Varied writing surfaces for variety and less
stressful writing: MagnaDoodle, dry erase
board, Glo-Doodle.
" Practice numbers, letters, and words with
sensory media such as salt or sand tray,
shaving cream, carpet squares, clay, putty,
Wikki stix.
" Build strength: rubbing pictures, texture
under paper (i.e., sandpaper), use crayons
rather than markers. Strengthening media
including putty exercise, use of clay,
clothespins, scissors.
" Improve grasp with varied writing tools: try
short crayons or pencils, felt tip pen, thicker
pencil, various styles of grippers.
" Pencil choice: to make writing darker use a
#1 pencil or an erasable pen, or a #3 pencil
or mechanical pencil to prevent using
excess pressure, weighted pencil.
" Provide an alphabet/number model at the
student’s desk as copying from a distance
can be difficult.
" Keep place while copying with post-it,
ruler, or a cover shield.
" On the board, teacher may underline or
highlight words to copy rather than asking
student to copy entire text of notes.
" Teacher may provide copy of teacher’s
notes from computer or Smart Board.
learning more or want ideas for a specific student.
Kari Kleven and Marcia Behm, Occupational Therapists