Teaching Handwriting to Left-Handed Children

In the diverse classroom landscape, teachers encounter students with various needs and preferences, including the unique challenges left-handed students face when it comes to learning handwriting. While most instructional materials cater to right-handed individuals, educators must adapt their approach to accommodate left-handed learners effectively. This blog post will explore some essential considerations and strategies for teaching handwriting to left-handed students.

Four Essential Printing Readiness Skills

Do your students have the motor skills they need to be ready to learn to print? Over many years of teaching children early drawing, pencil skills and handwriting, I have found that there is a particular foolproof order of pre-writing development.   First: Children need to be able to imitate fine motor actions.  Learning the song plays that are associated with singing is a fun way to learn motor imitation.  1. Imitating Gross and Fine Motor Actions Second: They need to be able to follow dot cues to form early lines and shapes. They learn to control the pencil so that they can stay within paths. 2. Starting at a Go-Dot 2. Staying Within a Path Third: They learn to look ahead to where they want the pencil to go to make consistent, recognizable shapes. They first learn this skill when they are looking at the shape they want to draw.