Handwriting classes and tutoring for preschool, rising kindergarten, and beyond!
Handwriting is a very complex task. Think about it: even in the early stages of learning letter formation, a child must watch and listen to the demonstration, understand and practice correct grasp of a pencil, understand spatial concepts ("draw a line down..."), be able to maintain muscle strength in core to fine muscles to maintain posture, copy the letters while remembering the strokes and maintain enough force to make a mark on the paper.... and we haven't even done anything except attempt a vertical line at this point!!
Not only is handwriting complex, it is very important. It is a form of communicating our ideas, answers, thoughts, greetings, and basically, our knowledge to people. The End-of-Grade Tests that start in 3rd grade in most states score handwritten narratives. SAT's and ACT's have timed composition areas. Although legibility does not get a score, it helps if the scorers can read the composition and kids with good handwriting strokes have more efficient strokes... which equals faster handwriting...a plus for timed essays.
Watch how you hold that crayon
This article was posted in the NY Times and you can read the full article here.
NOAH LASCANO, 8, had a problem: His teachers couldn’t read his handwriting. His homework became a frustrating exercise in writing once, and then, at the teacher’s request, writing again, just for legibility.
His brother, James, 5, was struggling in kindergarten — even drawing stick figures was a task. When his mother, Paula Lascano, tried to cajole him into completing a few workbook assignments, he reported that “his hand got too tired.”
Like many parents, Ms. Lascano decided it was time for help, so 10 months ago she hired Casey Halper, a pediatric occupational therapist, to work first with James, and then with Noah, once a week. The boys manipulated stiff green putty, put pegs into boards, created chains of pennies and plastic connectors and wrote the alphabet — again and again.
These days, many little fingers are being drilled. Twenty-five years ago, pediatric occupational therapists primarily served children with severe disabilities like spina bifida, autism or cerebral palsy. Nowadays, these therapists are just as focused on helping children without obvious disabilities to hold a pencil.
Finish reading the article here https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/fashion/25Therapy.html