Handwriting Club

 

Appropriate Grade Level:  2nd – 5th

 

Procedures/Steps:

* The Handwriting Club goals are to:

            -improve students’ cursive handwriting skills

            -improve their abilities to work with peers in a some what loosely structured and

             stimulating situation

            -help teach them to identify some of their own individual sensory needs and strategies

            in order to address those needs

Typical Club Session Format and Sample Activities:

1. Gross Motor Warm-up Activities (5 minutes)

            Do jumping jacks

            Do crab walks

            Perform push ups on the floor

            Chair push-ups

                        a. Seated student places hands on either side of chair next to thighs

                        b. Straightens arms and lifts bottom off the chair

            Balance on one leg with eyes closed

            Walk toe-to-heel on a making tape line on the floor

2.  Fine Motor Warm-up Activities (5-10 minutes)

            Rub hands together

            Squeeze tennis balls

            Rub hands in circles on the carpet

            Play with Wikki Stix

            Build with small Lego blocks

            String small beads

            Roll clay between fingers

            “Walk” fingers up and down the pencil

3.  Letter Introduction (2-3 minutes)

            The teacher models writing the letter on the board and describes the steps

            The students imitate by writing in the air using large arm movements and repeating steps

             aloud

            The students then continue to say the steps while writing on the table with pointer finger

4.  Guided Practice Activities

            Write on board (white or chalk) while wearing wrist weights

            Write on another student’s back and have him or her guess the letter

            Write with:

                        Color Change Markers                         Scented Markers

                        Magna Doodle                                                 Battery-operated pens

                        Paint                                                                 Chalk on sidewalk

                        Finger paint, pudding or shaving cream

            Write in:

                        Clay tray                                                          Salt, rice, or sand tray

5.  Semi-independent Practice (5-10 minutes)

            Students write in their handwriting books with teachers monitoring

6.  Independent Practice

            Homework

            Additional activities: Writing for a purpose (i.e., make holiday cards or write thank-you

             notes)

 

Comments and/or tips:

*Choose 2 to 3 activities from 1, 2, and 4; complete all steps from 3, 5, and 6

*Participation in the club is voluntary

*Start by introducing the club to the students

*Have each student write a list of rules for the club.  Combine the rules and post them at each club meeting.  (This can also be used as the preintervention sample)

*Other creative ideas, such as t-shirts, can increase club attendance

*45 minutes is ideal for each meeting.  Typically 20-25 minutes of each meeting are activities other than writing with pencil and paper.

*The club is set up in stations with an adult at each station to facilitate and help.

 

Source:

Keller, M. (2001).  Handwriting club: Using sensory integration strategies to improve

handwriting.  Intervention in School and Clinic, 37(1), 9-12.