This week we began the routine of spending a bit of time each day to focus simply on handwriting. Before we begin perfecting formation of each letter, we are spending a few weeks solidifying students’ prewriting skills. First we worked on posture and paper position, next we worked on pencil grasp, and finally on fine motor skills.

Posture and Paper Position
Using good posture supports students in writing effectively and comfortably. When children sit with their feet flat on the floor, back straight, and shoulders relaxed—they are better able to control their hand movements. Although we have many flexible seating options in our classroom, students are asked to select a chair that is solid, comfortable and just the right height – no exercise ball chairs for handwriting practice! Once seated, students angled their handwriting book at a comfortable angle and we discussed why this is essential to their handwriting. Our arms write best when our elbows are away from the body and our wrist can be straight. This means our elbows are typically at a 45 degree angle and so our papers need to be at an angle to match. Students experimented by moving their paper straight and close to their body, causing their elbows to be close to the body and their wrists at an awkward angle. We all agreed that angling the paper made for a more comfortable writing position.

Pencil Grasp
Most students are taught how to hold their pencils using an appropriate pencil grasp as early as preschool. For some children this comes naturally at an even younger age as soon as they start holding crayons or other art supplies. For other students, appropriate pencil grasp must be taught, and sometimes habits from their younger years must be adjusted over time. An ideal pencil grasp should include the thumb and index finger (sometimes the middle finger as well) gently pinching the pencil for control and the middle or ring finger supporting the pencil from underneath. This grip allows for better control and precision, making it easier for children to form letters and shapes accurately.

Fine Motor Skills 
Fine motor skills involve the coordination of the small muscles in the hands and fingers to perform precise movements. These skills are essential for tasks that require accuracy and control such as writing, buttoning a shirt, using utensils, or picking up small objects. Although building fine motor skills is an ongoing practice for all students, we spent some time using a pencil for fine motor practice this week as a support for handwriting. Students traced lines with their pencils, drew small marks, colored inside the lines and followed paths with their pencils.

Before we soon begin working on the proper formation of letters, we will explore left-to-right progression, letter size, and letter slant.