A Brief Introduction to Handwriting

 

 

We begin early! On the first days of school, each child will learn the proper grip and posture to prevent the development of incorrect habits.

 

We emphasize correct pencil grip and proper index finger placement and thumb placement. I will provide grippers for students who need additional support to improve their grip. Fine motor activities, which include picking up small objects and practicing finger-to-thumb touches, help reinforce and strengthen grip for better handwriting.

 

Large motor activities, including running, jumping, and skipping, also play a crucial role in enhancing your child’s coordination, which is essential for developing handwriting skills.

 

Children are introduced to the top, midline, and bottom lines to guide proper formation and practice of both uppercase and lowercase letters. These lines are also known as the sky, plane, and ground lines. The “worm line” is for letters with tails. I prefer the first approach, as it is less confusing.

 

Activities like skywriting and rainbow writing build fine motor skills that lead to proper handwriting. Forming letters with playdough is another fun and effective way to practice. Shaving cream and sand writing are also enjoyable options for practicing letter formation.

 

Daily handwriting lessons include learning the correct sitting posture (feet flat on the floor, chair properly aligned with the desk) and holding a pencil correctly. I use the "alligator grip" technique, a fun trick that helps students master the correct pencil hold. I will send home pictures from our handwriting books and instructions to help parents reinforce the correct posture at home.

 

A guide to proper letter formation is attached to each child’s Homework Book. Please refer to this when practicing at home.

 

Good habits start early, and bad habits are hard to break. Practicing correct letter formation lays the foundation for clear and legible handwriting. Students ' handwriting becomes precise and easy to read with focused and consistent practice using the correct strokes. Repetition, practice, proper posture, and pencil grip all contribute to strong handwriting skills during the primary years.