HAND WRITING SOLUTIONSMelody L. Polson000314714TDT1 Task 3.2Conceptual Framework

PROBLEM: STUDENTS DO NOT PRACTICE HANDWRITING

Students no longer have penmanship as a common part of curriculum development. Teachers focus on the ability to form print letters, but little time on developing smooth handwriting, or are allowed to ask students to practice handwriting exercises. Time in the classroom is precious.

Few students find joy in practicing writing outside the classroom.

BODIES BENT, TOO TIGHT, AND TOO CLOSE…

Each of these three students is exhibiting the bad grip, poor posture, and bad habit of poor handwriting technique that results in illegibility and muscle fatigue. Investment in handwriting development and a targeted choice of writing implement will help them overcome these less-than-optimal beginnings.

.5MM POLYMER IS TOO FINE

Common, inexpensive mechanical pencils use .5mm. Polymer leads. If a student has a ‘hard grip’ or a ‘heavy hand’- pushing ON the writing implement, rather than guiding it to glide across the paper, the polymer lead breaks easily.

2.0 MM CAN BE SHARPENED, AND IS STURDY.

Use of a heavier graphite lead permits students to develop a ‘lighter hand.’ By giving the student a choice of hardness in the graphite stick, the student can make dark, easily readable marks on the page, sharpen the lead to a desired point, and still hold up to a developing grip.

LIGHTER WEIGHT WORKS FOR SKILLED WRITERS…

The mechanics of the mechanical pencil are the same, whether the lead inside is .5mm. or the more sturdy 2.0mm.

RESOURCES EXIST

Luckily, Youtube and other sources now host teaching video to guide a student through the exercises that used to be taught as a part of every-day curriculum. Now, if a student wants to improve either their handwriting, or even keyboarding accuracy and speed, it must be done outside the classroom. MONKEYSEE.COM hosts a number of educational tutorials. This series of handwriting guides and exercises re-create the penmanship course.

CHOICE IS A FINE MOTIVATOR

By giving students a choice of writing implement,they invest in the use of their handwriting. Whether color, common black, gel, fluid ink, or felt tip, alternatives can make a difference in the waya student approaches writing and the transferof ideas.

These three imagesRepresent the problemAnd the goal-

THESE TWO IMAGES ARE ONE PROPOSED SOLUTION; LEADS THAT MARK A DARK, EASILY READ CHARACTER, AND SHARPEN TO A GOOD POINT THAT WON’T BREAK.

REFERENCESA Poor Grip Can Affect Handwriting, images

http://www.ot-mom-learning-activities.com/poor-pencil-grip.html

Artist’s Journal Workshophttp://artistsjournalworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/05/pen-testsfavorite-tools.html

Barchowski, N. J., How to Improve Handwriting,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW277jFtJNY

Berk, H., Proper handwriting grip, image, Cursive Handwriting Getting Erased as Schools Teach Typing Over Script,http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/21/cursive-handwriting/

Image, Grip is Less Important than Letter Formationhttp://neuronetlearning.com/blog/pencil-grip-is-less-important-than-letter-formation-and-speed/

Image, Mechanical Pencil Grip,http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Q-Tech-Mechanical-Pencils-1-dozen-7mm-lead-diameter-/110865256112

Image, Mechanical Pencils,http://www.larrydmarshall.com/whats-the-best-mechanical-pencil-for-sketching/

Image, Staedtler lead holder close-up, http://strangewhiteelf.blogspot.com/2012/08/lead-holders.html

REFERENCESImage, .5mm to 2.0mm tip comparison & label

http://davesmechanicalpencils.blogspot.com/2008/03/staedtler-925-25-mechanical-pencil.html

Image, Handwriting Difficultieshttp://neuronetlearning.com/blog/children-with-handwriting-difficulties/