Charting the Cs logo with black and blue letters Charting the Cs Conference 2025: To Literacy and Beyond Cooperation Communication Collaboration What! That is amazing, I never see that in the classroom! All kids have the ability to be successful. Success is understanding our strengths and areas of difficulty. We can use our strengths and a variety of tools to reduce and overcome challenges. Tuesday April 29, 2025 By Tami Hellewell, Occupational Therapist OTR/L Carrie Kesteloot, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant COTA/L Objectives 1.Learn about 3 common OT complaints from teachers 2.Acquire a minimum of 3 tools to fix the common OT complaints 3.Learn how to use books to engage students of all ages Complaint #1 Illegible Handwriting or Immature Art Projects A hand holding a pencil and the words: I don't have a bad handwriting. I have my own font. A close-up of a child's writing A close-up of a handwritten note A close-up of a handwritten note ILLEGIBLE HANDWRITING OR IMMATURE ART PROJECTS Snowman art project that has no resemblance to the model How a snowman art project is supposed to look. Here is an art project that was brought to us by a teacher, this child can’t follow directions and has no clue how to manipulate the materials to make a snowman in the snow. ILLEGIBLE HANDWRITING OR IMMATURE ART PROJECTS •OT: took the materials and added step by step visual directions for each step of the process. •Paint snow on the ground and add some snowflakes in the air •Add 2 or 3 white circles of paint on top of each other •Use the glitter glue and trace around the outside of your white circles •Use the yarn to add a scarf •Use buttons to make eyes and buttons on the belly of the snowman •Use yarn to add arms and a smile By using visual demonstration and breaking down the steps, this child was then able to create an acceptable art project Illegible Handwriting Actually Means… •Poor spacing •Lack motor planning •Pencils tend to be held tightly •Writing is slow & laborious •Poorly formed, space, and directed letters •Poor line placement •Omission of letters or words •Lack of rhythm •Large writing •Heavy writing pressure •Odd grip or writing posture •Excessive erasing •Inconsistent letter formation •Errors with copying •Irregular letter sizes •Mixing of capital and lower case letters •Poor use of margins (cone writing) •Poor page organization •General illegibility •Poor attention to detail HOW TO REMEDIATE ILLEGIBLE OR SLOPPY WORK 01 •Have a model available •Use a self review system 02 Give strong visual cues •Paper choice •Limit space •Use a line •Highlight •Use a model/word wall/folder with commonly used words CLEAR EXPECTATIONS 1.Is there a handwriting curriculum? 2.Are there examples? 3.Is there student accountability? 2 lined paper with strong visual cues 1.Is there a handwriting curriculum? 2.Are there examples? 3.Is there student accountability? Data sheet using smiley faces. Pre-k data sheet with smiley faces 1.Is there a handwriting curriculum? 2.Are there examples? 3.Is there student accountability? Writing data sheet with smiley faces Classroom data sheet with smiley faces STRONG VISUAL CUES 1.Paper choice 2.Highlighted Space 3.Add a box 3 lined paper example Regular notebook lined paper Traditional Paper 1.Paper choice 2.Highlighted Space 3.Add a box 1.Paper choice 2.Highlighted Space 3.Add a box Handwriting without highlighted lines Handwriting with highlighted lines Simple adaptations to help with a struggling student. Example of using highlighted lines Common letter formation terminology STRONG VISUAL CUES, cont. 2 1.Paper choice 2.Highlighted Space 3.Add a box 1/4" white graph paper 1.Paper choice 2.Highlighted Space 3.Add a box Numbers written on a calendar in 1" boxes Numbers on a calendar using 1/4" boxes Paper Options to Consider 2 line paper that looks like regular notebook paper 2 lined paper from Handwriting without Tears curriculum Redi-space paper to help with spacing Cursive vs printing Fun Fact About Writing •Both stimulate the brain & helps with long term memory in different areas •An MRI of the brain after a brain injury demonstrated that some people couldn’t recognize or read print but were still able to read & write in cursive. (Indiana University, 2013). CLASSROOM ACCOMMODATIONS •Highlight margins with green for GO and red for STOP •Cut out Windows •Declutter space or worksheet •Colored overlays •Enlarged print •Breakdown tasks Alternative Positions Standing station 418 Ball chairs 025 Wiggle Stools Flexible seating Classwork Technology Options Chromebook Ipads ReadWrite for Google Chrome™ - Chrome Web Store READING PENS | Dyslexia UK Google Docs Voice Typing ... Accessibility Options on chromebooks FUN FACTS ABOUT REVERSALS •It is normal to reverse until the ages of 7 or 8 •Reversals are more common when a child scans from right - left vs. left - right = Poor laterality •Poor object constancy = reversals with b,d,p,q •Reversals count for 45% of errors in 4 year olds, 23% of 5 years old, and 5% of 7 year olds directionality JPG Fun Facts About Visual Perceptual Skills Little words such as - the, at, it are often omitted because they don’t have an image to represent them. •Poor drawing = decrease short term memory •Drawing skills directly correlate with reading skills •ST Memory – limited to 5 - 7 items, quick recall, working memory, words stored as sounds •LT Memory – Info transferred during REM sleep, words stored as their meanings Brain in head Sequencing/Matching/Visual memory Sequencing red black playing cards Matching playing card suits Sequencing the same color playing cards Complaint #2 What kind of a GRIP is that? funny grip 2.jpg 0007004FMP_Staff BB700629: Elevated or air grip Non functional grip Poor wrist extension with writing Shaft grasp Other poor grips Visual Signs of Improper Grasps •Hand fatigue •Complaints of PAIN •Writing refusals •Illegible handwriting •Slow writing •Copying errors •Changes hands •Constantly changing pencils grasps •Extreme writing size - too large or too small •Uses larger muscle such as shoulder, arm, forearm, or wrist to write vs. fingers •Simple writing •Handwriting pressure is either too hard or soft •Hand and arm floating in the air LOTS OF FUNCTIONAL GRIPS? Dynamic Finger Movement Minimal Joint Pressure Limited fatigue Efficient & Effective Tripod Grip Writer's grasp Quadruped Grasp Tripod with open grasp HOW TO REMEDIATE A NON-FUNCTIONAL GRIP 01 Consider the factors? •Why is the grip bad? •How old is the student? 02 Choosing the right tools •Simple •Advanced HOW TO REMEDIATE A NON-FUNCTIONAL GRIP -SIMPLE Dots Marble in ring & little finger Smile - “Be Happy” “Pick up a crayon” Handwriting without Tears song Flip Stop & Go fingers Duck Fingers Proper paper placement for Left or Right handed students HOW TO REMEDIATE A NON - FUNCTIONAL GRIP – ADVANCED Consult an OT Pencil Grips Exercises Pencil Adaptations Visual Cues or Accommodations Classroom Adaptations Wrist Extension How to remediate a Non-functional grip –Weak Grips Exercises •Rip and stick paper using pincer fingers •Twist screw caps on and off •Spin jacks/flip tokens •Place stickers on paper •Pick small beads out of play doe •Use tweezers to pick up small items •Place an item for the child to hold with their ring and pinky finger •Carrie's bus driver activity Use a writing utensil with resistance to build strength •Crayon •Colored Pencils •Pencils •Chalk •Write on sandpaper/woven plastic Pencil adaptations •Put a sticker on the shaft where their fingers need to be •Place a rubber band/pipe cleaner where the fingers need to be •Use a rubber band or hair bungie to hold the pencil in place •Use a clothes pin or a paper clamp •Use shorter pencils HOW TO REMEDIATE A NON - FUNCTIONAL GRIP – POOR GRADATION Heavy Writing Pressure •Mechanical pencils •Fine tip pencils •Hard Lead pencils Light Writing Pressure •Soft lead pencils •Weighted pencils Fun Activities to Increase Pincer Strength A person using a toothpick to drop beads into a glass Putting toothpicks into a salt shaker A tray of pom poms A person holding a tweezers and placing bead into a hole Fine motor coordination and strengthening A tennis ball with a slit to squeeze and insert items in Stacking dice Using a clothespin to pick up small items and place into ice cube holes Clothespins clipped onto the back of a truck bed A person holding tweezers to a muffin tin with colorful balls Target coloring and Coloring modifications Helps with dynamic finger movements & Strengthening Target coloring a mickey mouse Target coloring: color only the eyes, polka dots Rip and stick: rip small strips of paper and then glue them on to the picture Rip and stick project Complaint #3 Cutting Difficulties •Poor Bilateral Hand Coordination •Linear cuts vs curved cuts •Minimal exposure •Poor Wrist Extension •Visual inattention or Awareness Variety of scissors Cutting Remediation Scissor Options •Handle Blocking •Spring loaded •Traditional •Kids vs Adult •Loop •Other Other Cutting Options •Paper Slicer •Paper Cutter •Rip and stick •Hole punches •Give Strong Visual Cues=Bold lines to cut on •Right handed = Counter clockwise / Left handed = Clockwise •Use tongs to help coordinate the fingers for cutting •Increase finger strength and coordination= cut straws, play - doe, Change your media from tissue paper to construction paper to cardboard. Cutting example Cutting Remediation -videos Cutting under the legs Cutting under the legs Intrauterine Stroke with right side weakness - videos Video of left handed cutting Left handed cutting example Bilateral Coordination Bilateral hand activities A person holding a pair of scissors and paper straw A person stringing straw pieces Now, let’s see how we can bring literacy and writing to life! One-Dog Canoe One-Dog Canoe book cover. A duck, a child and a dog canoeing. Page 1 of the book, pin the tail on the dog -video Video of a student pinning the tail on a dog Using a resistive surface to help with writing memory A child sitting at a desk with a chalkboard A book page with a child and dog in a canoe Using a reading pen to supplement reading skills -video Using a reading pen to read text Page 2 dog puzzle -video Video of putting a dog puzzle together A cartoon of a beaver in a river Writing on a bag filled with paint -video Tracing in blue water_Hellewell: Writing on a bag filled with paint - video A beaver in a canoe Video of a student placing boats into small holes - video Video of a student placing boats into small holes A cartoon of a child and a dog in a canoe Catching a bird using a magnet on a string -video Catching a bird using a magnet on a string A cartoon of a child hugging a duck Tracing around a dragon fly -video Catching a bird using a magnet on a string A book page with a cartoon of a wolf and a child in a canoe Videos of getting animals out of a web Video getting animals out of a web Writing Bear in small boxes a book page of a girl with a dog, a beaver, a wolf in a canoe She loves to read -video Video of student reading a book a book page with a bear, a beaver, a wolf, a dog and a child falling off a canoe 3rd grader who struggles with reading & writing - videos Video-3rd grader reading a book Video of a third grader using a reading pen Guess what grade student this delicious gift came from? A piece of paper with a drawing on it A piece of paper with writing on it DICTATION Writing example with spelling A book with a picture of a moose and a child Video of a student using a chalkboard Video of a student using a chalkboard Video of cutting using spring scissors Video of cutting using spring scissors A book page with a cartoon of a bear and a child in a boat Traced the bear first and then ripped paper to glue on the line A brown bear cut out of paper next to a brown bear cut out of paper One-Dog Canoe book: a book page with a bear on a boat with a child, a dog, a beaver, a duck and a wolf. Video placing pegs into the boats Video placing pegs into the boats Using her device to help read the book -videos The perfect demonstration Using an AAC Device perfect demonstration video This is the reality Using an AAC Device reality video Video of matching animals Video of matching animals One-Dog Canoe book: an open book page with a cartoon of a child, a dog, and a bear in a canoe Reading can be a challenge - video 3rd grader with a cochlear implant Video with a cochlear implant Using a reading pen -video Video of using a reading pen Writing is even tougher -video Crazy grip & minimal writing Video of Handwriting sample A spelling handwriting sample Using dictation and read aloud A dictation example Video of student with a fish activity Video of student with a fish activity One-Dog Canoe book: an open book page with a cartoon of a child, a dog, a beaver, a duck, a moose and a bear in the water of a river Video popping frogs into a container Video popping frogs into a container One-Dog Canoe book: an open book page with a cartoon of a child, a dog, a beaver, a duck, a moose and a bear falling off a canoe Video of a student using tweezers Video of a student using tweezers One-Dog Canoe book: an open book page with a cartoon of a child, a dog, a beaver, a duck, a moose and a bear in the water of a river Incorporating a Sensory Element A wooden board with letters on it in rice One-Dog Canoe book: an open book page with a cartoon of a child and a dog in a canoe, and a beaver, a duck, a moose and a bear on the river bank Video of student coloring the canoe Video of student coloring the canoe One-Dog Canoe book: an open book page with a cartoon of a child and a dog in a canoeing in the river Charting the Cs logo with black and blue letters Thank You Tami Hellewell, Occupational Therapist tami.hellewell@swwc.org Carrie Kesteloot, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant carrie.kesteloot@swwc.org