Handwriting instruction is often seen as less important in the curriculum, particularly due to pressures of passing high stakes assessments and the need to develop technology competencies, as technology in education and society has become commonplace. Current research shows that literacy skills are supported through the direct instruction of…

Handwriting is a key occupation for school-aged children and one of the common reasons for referral to a school-based occupational therapist. There are many interventions offered by school-based occupational therapists and this scoping review aimed to examine specific intervention approaches and compare their mode of service delivery (i.e., direct…

Background: This study was designed to develop a program to increase the confidence level among kindergarten teachers to teach handwriting in kindergarten. Methods: A pretest-posttest quasi-experimental research design was utilized. Five teachers employed at the kindergarten center in a school district in Illinois participated in the study. Data…

This study examined the longitudinal relationship between early handwriting skills and the growth of spelling and reading skills in a large sample (N = 569) of 5- to 6-year-old children unselected for ability. The quality of children's handwriting was assessed using five indicators (letter form, slant, rhythm, ability, general appearance).…

"Printing Like a Pro!" is a free program to help primary-grade students to print legibly. This pre-test post-test study aimed to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of this program used in a teacher-taught printing club with occupational therapy support. Eleven students in grades 2 and 3 with persistently poor legibility attended the…

Background: Written composition requires handwriting, spelling, and text planning skills, all largely learned through school instruction. Students' rate of learning to compose text in their first months at school will depend, in part, on their literacy-related abilities at school start. These effects have not previously been explored. Aim: We…

Learning to write involves the acquisition of several skills, not the least of which is handwriting. Indeed, studies in cognitive psychology have clearly demonstrated that it takes time to acquire this complex skill. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an explicit multicomponent alphabet writing instruction program implemented…

Poor handwriting is a common reason for referral to school-based occupational therapy. A survey was used to explore the extent to which current practice patterns in Ontario, Canada, align with evidence on effective intervention for handwriting. Knowledge-to-practice gaps were identified related to focus on performance components versus…

To be successful in school, it is important for students to be able to communicate to teachers what they know and have learned through exams, papers, daily assignments, and projects. The primary way students display this knowledge during these tasks is in written form, and thus, the skill of handwriting is essential. School-based occupational…

This study aimed at identifying the effectiveness of letter (c) modelling in developing the writing skills performance of Arabic learners speaking other languages and the number of views required for the line visual to develop their writing skills performance. The study sample consisted of 15 learners who were studying the Arabic language for the…

This study explores the impact of Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction (SIWI) on six students' written language skills through the application of a multiple-baseline probe single case design with embedded condition. This was part of a larger Institute of Education Sciences (IES)-funded project focused on the development and feasibility of…

Legible written communication is essential for students to share knowledge (Rogers and Case-Smith 2002). If students lack proficiency in written communication, their composition skills will suffer, which can affect their self-esteem and grades. Whether or not this proficiency is in handwriting or keyboarding is a question worthy of discussion. In…

This study explores the impact of Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction (SIWI) on six students' written language skills through the application of a multiple-baseline probe single case design with embedded condition. This was part of a larger Institute of Education Sciences (IES)-funded project focused on the development and feasibility of…

Writing is a complex activity that requires transcription and self-regulation. We used multiple-group structural equation modeling to test the contribution of transcription (handwriting and spelling), planning, revision, and self-efficacy to writing quality at 2 developmental points (Grades 4-6 vs. 7-9). In Grades 4-6, the model explained 76% of…

Occupational therapists assess fine motor, visual motor, visual perception, and visual skill development, but knowledge of the relationships between scores on sensorimotor performance measures and handwriting legibility and speed is limited. Ninety-nine students in grades three to six with learning and/or behavior problems completed the Upper-Limb…