the write stuff

Young children's hand skills are generally on the decline resulting in fine motor delays and poor handwriting skills. Today's children are no longer exposed to activities and toys that develop the musculature, hand structures and precise movements of the hands needed for school success. 
   As a result, children are coming into the classroom with delayed fine motor control. Yet, curriculum demands continue to increase, thus producing a widening gap between curriculum expectations and developmental readiness.   

The Write Stuff Workshop provides the therapist, educator and parent with a thorough understanding of hand development and its role in the promotion of fine motor skills that lead to handwriting.  

The Write Stuff is based on Susan Thompson's successful and popular fine motor development program, Handy Learning. 

This course is offered LIVE through in-house contracts and ONLINE.  

1.  Identify foundational hand skills 
2. Recognize specific deficits in hand skill development 
3. Define and identify the "Write Stuff": components for developing good handwriting 
4. Problem solve (through a case study) hand delays and how to address them in an integrated classroom approach Identify therapeutic and non-therapeutic toys for hand development (scavenger hunt) 
5. Recognize pre-writing skills and age appropriateness for each skill 
6. Identify technology developments and their impact on handwriting 
7. Identify "poor" handwriting and differentiate various etiologies behind poor handwriting  

Learning Objectives are measured through small group participation, applied learning activities and short question and answer strategies throughout the workshop.  

 I. Introduction 

• Key Components of handwriting 
• The Pencil Grasp Cutting skills as they relate to hand development 
• Effective Teaching Strategies  

 II. Write Stuff Activities 

• Proven fine motor activities to develop hand skill 
• Using fine motor activities to teach the curriculum 
• Finding appropriate educational fine motor toys 
• Setting up the environment for effective therapy 
• Recognizing significant delays and problem solving through them 
• Developing strategies to accelerate hand development  

III. In the Classroom 

• Become an environmental designer 
• Hands-on activities 
• Collaborating with the teacher and the curriculum 
• Scavenger Hunt (applied learning activity)   

IV. Hand Development 

• Terminology 
• Hand Anatomy 
• Stages of Hand development 
• Postural influences 
• Sequence of prehensile patterns 
• Sensory influences  

THERAPISTS: Occupational Therapist Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants Physical Therapist Physical Therapy Assistant Speech Therapist   

TEACHERS: Special Education teachers Preschool, Kindergarten First grade teachers Private school teachers   

ADMINISTRATORS Special Education Supervisors Elementary Principals/Assistant Principals

PARENTS Parents of young children (2-7 years old) 

 Intermediate. AOTA Category I: Domain of Occupational Therapy: Areas of Occupation, Category II: Occupational Therapy Process: Intervention. .1 CEUs/1.0 Contact hour per module. 6 modules total for .6 CEUs/6.0 Contact hours