Handwriting
Jane Warren
jcw12@soton.ac.uk
Education School
Fine Motor Skills/Handwriting
 Teach and model fully cursive script from the start
 Teach finger use for word spacing
 Use pencil grip/ triangular pen/pencil
 Make free flowing pens available
(fountain pens can impede flow of writing and prove fiddly
for some pupils)
 Allow use of coloured pens if suitable for task (can help
with organisation)
 Use clipboard to anchor paper
 Blu-Tack paper to desk/surface
Correct pen grip
For a right-hander (diagram) and left-hander
(photo)
Handwriting patterns
These eight patterns form the
basis of all letter shapes.
 Use them with
chalk/paint/crayons/plasticine/
wire etc;
 Try them large/small - on
lined/plain/textured/poster size/
‘sentence strips’ paper
 use in playground (if allowed)
 create border margin around
writing paper and use patterns on
them to ‘frame’ work.
Good practice in handwriting
 Avoid pupil copying from board. Either use a desk copy or get
pupil to read notes to TA who scribes for her/him
 Use colour markers for starting point on paper e.g. red margin on
left side (or ‘traffic lights’ green to red)
 Check for correct pencil grip at regular intervals, reward.
 Check correct sitting position, reward.
 Ensure elbow room is adequate.
 Ensure chair height is suitable for desk.
 Multisensory methods for letter formation e.g. sand tray,
‘Rol’n’Write’, stencils, air writing, on desk, with water, paint,
chalk, crayon, washing-up bottles…
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Dictation
A ‘Spelling Made
Easy’ dictation
before and after…..
Dictation can
be used to
practise the skill
of handwriting
without content
concerns.
More handwriting tips
 Use sloping surface (especially if left-handed) such as an A4
folder turned sideways
 Use lined paper or guidelines for plain paper
 Use right angle e.g. edge of desk, easel, to line up
 Leave a line between writing lines
 Use squared paper for columns e.g. maths
 Encourage firm hold with non-writing hand
 Use special handwriting paper for correct placement when
practising handwriting
Resources
Younger learners
 http://www.nha-handwriting.org.uk/
 http://www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk/kids_help.html
 http://www.debbiehepplewhitehandwriting.com/index.html
 http://www.cursivewriting.org/debbie-hepplewhite-handwriting.html
Older learners
 http://www.tigerpens.co.uk/blog/thick-or-thin-choosing-the-rightpen-for-your-hand/
 Sassoon, R. (2010) Improve your handwriting. London: Teach
Yourself.
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