Have you ever known a child who struggled to form their letters? Many children exhibit challenges that make it difficult to plan and execute motor movements, copy from the board, trace shapes or letters or even grasp their writing utensil functionally. As an occupational therapist currently working within a school district, I see many elementary school students demonstrating a developmentally inappropriate pencil grasp, incorrect letter formation and hand fatigue. Children with autism and special needs face specific barriers that merit attention.
The best way to build handwriting skills is through embedded practice and direct handwriting instruction. In fact, the research indicates that handwriting skills progress best through consistent handwriting exercise.
There are several structured handwriting programs that support students learning to write. These programs emphasize handwriting practice, but also incorporate creative tools. Some of these programs include Handwriting Without Tears, Size Matters Handwriting Program, First Strokes Multi Sensory Print Program, Fundations, TV Teacher and Handwriting Heroes. This article sheds light on these evidence-based handwriting curriculums, each developed by occupational therapists, delving into their program features:
RELATED: 10 Summer Activities to Support Sensory Awareness and Fine Motor Skills
Handwriting Curriculums
Handwriting Without Tears
Handwriting Without Tears is a long-standing curriculum that provides a unique multi-sensory approach to handwriting instruction. Founded by Jan Olsen in 1977, the HWT curriculum is designed for Pre-K through 5th grade. The program supports learning through music, movement and tactile-based activities. Examples of learning activities include writing and erasing letters with chalk and sponge cubes, building play-doh letters and wooden letters. The K-5 curriculum includes printing books, writing journals and chalkboard activities to reinforce letter size, formation and baseline placement through sensory-motor learning. Parents interested in locating a HWT-trained provider can find a full list of certified handwriting specialists here.
Size Matters Handwriting Program (SMHP)
The Size Matters Handwriting Program, by Real OT Solutions®, is a research-backed handwriting curriculum for Pre-K to 3rd grade created by Dr. Beverly Moskowitz, an occupational therapist, in the early 2010s. The program uses grade-level adapted writing paper and other specialized products to support letter size. SMHP groups letters into three sizes: size one (tall), size two (short) and size three (hanging). Letter spacing is taught through the use of visual examples, such as drawing spaghetti spaces between letters and meatball spaces between words. Examples of products that the curriculum uses to help students monitor proper letter size and shape include the AlphaTrangle, Letterbox Worksheets, Magnetic Rectasquare Board, a dice game, self-monitoring rules and various workbooks. They also offer parent kits for early learners, school-age, cursive and pre-writers, designed for home program use.
First Strokes Multi-Sensory Print Program
The First Strokes Handwriting Program is a multi-sensory curriculum also designed by an occupational therapist, in 2005. The program introduces learners to letter groups. Letters are grouped by “first strokes” such as circle, short lines, tall lines and leaning letters. Children use three-lined paper to learn proper sizing and spacing in this program. There is also a STOP Letter Reversal Program, focusing on the letters b,d,g,j,q,s,e and z. Other aspects of the program focus on scissor skills, tong skills, and picture-word build-a-sentence resources. The focus of this program is on stroke sequence, letter legibility and touch point accuracy. For more resources, parents can check out The Fine Motor Store or The Handwriting Clinic.
Fundations
Fundations offers a multi-sensory curriculum for students Pre-K to third grade. It offers tier 1 (whole class) and tier 2 (small group or 1:1) instruction. Fundations is actually part of a literacy program, so children going through this program pair letters with their sounds. Fundations resources include Fundations® Practice Books, Fun in Focus Intervention Kit, and FUN HUB online activities. Although parents cannot find a instructors certified in Fundations, they can find an instructor certified in the Wilson Reading System®, or a Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner at the link here.
TV Teacher
TV Teacher, also known as Ms. Marnie, offers a more unique method of handwriting instruction. Through engaging, musical and colorful videos, she makes letter formation come alive for children through music, creative characters and pictures. Some examples of videos in the program include “Alphabet Beats”, “Strokes, Shapes and Scenes”, and “Number Beats”. Parents can check out some free worksheets used in the video handwriting program here.
Handwriting Heroes
Handwriting Heroes is a curriculum for students Pre-K to 5th grade. It offers a similar approach to learning letters as some other programs as it groups letters into five main groupings: Skydivers (l, t, k, I, j), Bouncers (h, b, r, n, m, p), Cannon Pops (c, a, d, o, g, q), Skiers (v, w, x, y) and Surfers (s, u, f, e, z). The program uses music, animation, song and stories through videos, games and workbooks.
More Resources to Support Fine Motor Skills & Handwriting
- Activities to Improve Handwriting
- Fine Motor Worksheets
- 35 Fine Motor Activities: Therapists’ Ultimate List
- Occupational Therapy Tips for Handwriting
