Therapro recognizes the value in the experience that comes from therapists working in the field. Back in January we tried a little experiment, we had you all tell us your best tips and tricks related to handwriting evaluations.  We then took all of that wonderful information and compiled it into a collaborative blog post.  The information that comes from this type of collaborative approach is invaluable and so we have put together our second collaborative blog post on pencil grips.

To gather information about the whats and whys of pencil grip usage we asked you about the grips you are currently using, your favorite type of pencil grip, and the reason that you use pencil grips. The Stetro Grip was identified as a favorite based on its size and “feel in little hands.” The Pencil Grip was a close second based on its design and because “students love it.” 

Check out all of the results:

Some other great information that came out of this project were the ways therapists assess the need for pencil grips as well as tips and tricks therapists use to help promote a better pencil grasp.  

When determining the need for a pencil grip, the therapist Therapro surveyed suggested the following: 

• Do a “Before and After”.  Assess a writing sample with and without a pencil grip to determine if the pencil grip influences legibility or changes the length of time a child is able to participate in the writing task.  
• Just Ask!: A child’s willingness to use a pencil grip is often an overlooked factor but is absolutely critical. The user should always be an active participant in the decision to use a pencil grip and should have a role in deciding which one works best for them.
• Check Applicability & Practicality.  Other important factors to consider include  how practical is the pencil grip and is it applicable to the student’s current needs. Consider factors such as; Does the child switch classes/ have different environments that they are expected to do writing tasks in? Are there other writing instruments that the child uses (crayons, paintbrushes, etc.) and do they need to be modified in any way? Is the child still expected to do writing tasks or are they moving toward alternative input methods such as typing? 

Tips and Tricks for promoting functional grasp patterns included:

• Hold small objects in the last two fingers to promote the separation of the two sides of the hand.
• Use small writing tools (for example broken crayons,  crayon rocks or short pencils) to promote the development of a tripod grasp.
• Use triangular shaped writing instruments to promote a tripod grasp. 
• Use vertical surfaces (for example, tape the writing paper to the wall) or use slant boards for optimal hand placement and to promote better posture.
• Highlight the writing space or use highlighter paper to help students write within the boundary area and to increase visual attention. 
• In a pinch, wrapping clay around the pencil can be used for a pencil grip! 

Thank you to all of the wonderful therapists who took the time to share their expertise with us.  If you are looking for further guidance on choosing the right pencil grip, be sure to check out Therapro’s Get a Grip on Grips Handy Guide!

On February 2, 2020 Therapro was happy to host another successful webinar, Let’s Do It Write! Writing Readiness presented by Gail Kushnir, MA OT, B.Ed. During this webinar many writing readiness topics were discussed including the use of pencil grips. Gail noted the purpose of a pencil grip is to provide maximum support to the child in order to allow skill, stamina, and speed while handwriting. With a vast array of grips available, choosing the right one can be a daunting task. Gail simplified the process with these basic rules:

Still not sure, check out Therapro’s Get a Grip on Grips Handy Guide!

January 23 celebrated National Handwriting Day.  In honor of a holiday near and dear to many occupational therapists’ hearts we tasked you all with sending us your best ideas, tips, tricks, and opinions on all things handwriting.  We then compiled these comments into Therapro’s first ever series of collaborative blog posts.  Our first topic, handwriting evaluations! Here is what you all had to say:

Favorite & Most Helpful Handwriting Assessment or Evaluation Methods

By far most therapists surveyed relied on non standardized measures and skilled observations to collect information about a students handwriting.    When it came down to standardized measures the most popular were The Print Tool, The Evaluation of Children’s Handwriting (ETCH), and the Test of Handwriting Skills Revised.

Pros & Cons

When discussing the pros and cons of each of these measures a few common themes emerged:

• The Print Tool provides detailed information about a student’s physical approach to handwriting but can be time consuming to administer and score.
• Non-standardized measures can be quick and easy but don’t provide needed normative data.
• It is difficult to gain reliable information when a student does not yet know the alphabet. 

Other Factors to Consider When Evaluating Handwriting

Therapists surveyed indicated that evaluating a student’s motor performance as well as visual perceptual skills were critical aspects of the handwriting assessment process.  Sensory, environmental, and psychosocial factors were also identified as areas to include when assessing a student’s handwriting.

Helpful Hints & Suggestions for Evaluating Handwriting

• Include both a near point and far point copy tasks .
• Include observations of the student performing both preferred and non preferred tasks.
• When observing a child writing, position yourself  for an optimal view of the student writing hand.
• Eliminate distraction.
• Have grips, different seating options, adaptative paper, and a variety of writing tools  available to try.
• Have letter strips available for visual reference.
• Choose a topic that is of interest to the student to write about.

Thank you to all of the therapists who shared their knowledge and expertise!