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Handwriting​
Handwriting is a complex process that involves several skills. These skills include fine motor (small muscle control of hands/fingers), gross motor (large muscle control),  posture (head, body control),  vision & vision-perception, sensory, and cognition. Difficulty in any of these areas can cause problems when learning to write legibly.  

Clicking on the "Writing Milestones" link will bring up the developmental milestones for fine motor and writing skills. 

Clicking on each skill listed below will give information on how to tell if your student has difficulty with that prerequisite skill, as well as a list of activities aimed at improving the skill. 

Back To Basics
This PowerPoint Presentation gives a quick overview of handwriting basics. You can get more detailed information, including ideas of how to improve it, from the links below. ​
If you do not see the slideshow above, click the link to download the file --->
handwriting_basics_for_website.pptx
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​Writing Milestones are the developmental sequence and approximate ages that students should be able to accomplish a particular skill. Although the list gives a specific age (year and month), each child is unique and may differ some from this chart.

Skills
​Fine motor skills are movements that require smaller muscles, such as in the hands, fingers, and wrists. Fine motor skills are used when writing, holding small items, grasping objects, buttoning clothing, turning pages, eating, cutting with scissors, and using computer keyboards.
Strength is required in the muscles of the torso, neck, shoulder, arms, hands, and fingers for precise and intricate movements. Poor handwriting or fine motor skills in some individuals can be related to insufficient strength in one of these are​as.
Visual perceptual skills are the ability to see and interpret (analyze and give meaning to) the visual information that surrounds us.
The way we learn to write, including the way we form our letters, can have a big impact on the legibility and speed of our writing.
​Sometimes poor handwriting occurs even when there are no underlying causes (or if the underlying cause has been successfully resolved). In this situation, the student must unlearn improperly formed habits and relearn correct ones. Practicing writing should always be used in conjunction while trying to correct and improve other foundational writing skills. 

Ot Handwriting Tip
Improve an improper pencil grip:
- Use SMALLER writing utensils (broken crayons/pencils) 
- Hold a COTTON BALL, POM POM or something similar between the pinkie and ring finger
- Use THICKER writing utensils
- Use a PENCIL GRIPPER
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