Tag Archives: OT

Psymark Featured on the OT Schoolhouse Podcast: Exploring Digital Visual-Motor Assessments

Assessments, , , ,

Technology is transforming school-based occupational therapy, and the latest episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast highlights a game-changing tool that’s making assessments more efficient than ever. In this episode, Karen Silberman, creator of the Psymark Psymark Visual-Motor Progress Monitoring Apps, and occupational therapist Heather Donovan join host Jayson Davies to dive into the latest innovations in Psymark’s digital tools for visual-motor assessments. This tool not only saves time but also equips practitioners and educators with actionable intervention strategies—helping support students more effectively while reducing unnecessary referrals.

Psymark Visual-Motor apps

What You’ll Learn

In this episode, listeners will gain insights into Psymark’s groundbreaking research and the effectiveness of its digital tools. Highlights include:

  • Pencil-Finger-Stylus Study: Findings show that digital input methods produce nearly identical results to traditional pencil-and-paper tasks, reinforcing the validity of digital assessments.
  • Concurrent Validity Study: Recent research demonstrates that the Psymark Shapes test has a strong correlation with the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI), a widely recognized assessment tool.
  • Real-World Impact: A case study from a school district revealed a 48% increase in students reaching the Proficient range after a 12-week intervention, highlighting the effectiveness of targeted support using Psymark’s tools.

A Sneak Peek at an Exciting New Digital Visual-Motor Assessment

Listeners will also get an exclusive preview of the upcoming Psymark Visual Motor Screener (VMS), set to launch this spring! This powerful screening tool is designed for both occupational therapists and general education teachers, allowing them to efficiently assess large groups of students and provide tailored intervention strategies for those who need additional support.

The VMS toolkit will include:

  • The Visual Motor Screener (VMS)
  • A training video
  • A comprehensive manual

This new tool will empower professionals to quickly identify visual-motor challenges and implement targeted strategies to help students succeed.

Don’t Miss This Episode!

Hear how Psymark is leading the way in digital visual-motor assessments. visit otschoolhouse.com/episode171 to listen and discover how these advancements are shaping the future of occupational therapy and student success.

At Therapro, we’re committed to providing resources and tools that support therapists, educators, and families. Stay connected for more updates on the latest in assessments and interventions!

Dynamic Seating: Boosting Focus, Movement, and Posture in Learning Environments

Alternative & Active Seating, Sensory, , ,

In today’s dynamic classrooms and therapy settings, keeping students engaged and focused can be a challenge—especially for those who struggle with sitting still. But what if seating could encourage movement while enhancing concentration? That’s the power of dynamic seating for learning. Alternative seating solutions like the Kore Wobble Chair, Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet by Bouncyband, and The AlertSeat allow children to stay active while working at standard desks or tables, promoting better posture, focus, and core strength. For floor-based learning, options such as floor cushions, scoop rockers, and Howda Designz Chairs provide comfortable, flexible seating that supports sensory needs and active learning. At Therapro, we believe that active seating isn’t just a trend—it’s a proven strategy for enhancing learning, movement, and overall well-being.

What is Dynamic Seating?

Dynamic seating refers to chairs or seating solutions that allow for some degree of movement. Unlike traditional chairs, these seats encourage slight movements that help improve focus and engage muscles in the body, especially in the core and trunk. This kind of seating is ideal for students or individuals who struggle with staying seated for long periods but still need to focus on tasks like reading, writing, or listening.

Some examples of dynamic seating for learning include:

Kore Kids Wobble Chair for dynamic movement while seated

Kore Wobble Chairs: These chairs feature a rounded base that allows children to rock, tilt, or swivel while seated. They are perfect for classrooms and therapy settings where movement is essential for focus and engagement.

black chair with Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet attached for a dynamic seating option

Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet by Bouncyband: These simple, rubber feet can be attached to most standard chairs, transforming them into dynamic, wobble seating. They are an excellent solution for classrooms or home offices.

Adult Size Howda Hug Design Chari for a dynamic sitting option at floor level.

The Howda Designz Chairs: Designed for floor-based learning, Howda Hug Design Chairs offer flexible, supportive seating that promotes core engagement, posture, and sensory input. Their lightweight, adjustable design allows for gentle rocking, helping improve focus and self-regulation in classrooms, therapy sessions, and home learning spaces.

How Does Dynamic Seating Help?

Improved Focus and Engagement:

For many children, especially those with ADHD, sitting still for long periods can be a struggle. Dynamic seating offers an outlet for excess energy, helping them stay focused on tasks without feeling restless. By allowing movement, these chairs help children channel their energy into productive ways, which leads to improved engagement in learning.

Better Posture and Core Strength:

Sitting on wobble seating, therapy balls, or using floor cushions helps engage the core muscles, which can lead to better posture over time. For kids who have trouble sitting upright in traditional chairs, this added stability from active seating encourages proper alignment and muscle engagement, promoting overall physical health.

Sensory Integration and Regulation:

For children with sensory processing challenges, dynamic seating can help self-regulate. Movement allows for sensory input, which can calm or energize a child, depending on their needs. It offers them a way to manage sensory overload while remaining engaged with their environment.

Ideal Use Cases for Dynamic Seating:

In Classrooms:

Dynamic seating can benefit students with attention challenges, sensory needs, or those who require additional support to remain focused during lessons or independent work. Products like the Kore Wobble Chair and Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet can be used in classrooms to promote active engagement.

In Therapy Sessions:

Therapists use dynamic seating to help children improve their motor skills, posture, and sensory integration. It’s an effective tool for occupational therapy and other therapies that target movement and coordination. The AlertSeat is a great option for therapists looking to provide a subtle yet effective seating solution.

At Home:

Parents can incorporate dynamic seating in their home learning environments. This allows kids to stay engaged during homework or study time while benefiting from the added movement.

Dynamic seating is a game-changer for those looking to improve focus, posture, and movement during learning activities. Whether in the classroom, therapy setting, or at home, active seating solutions provide the perfect balance of support and movement to enhance learning and physical well-being.

Explore our full range of Sitting and Moving seating solutions at Therapro and discover the perfect chair to support your active learners. Shop now!

The DASH-2: Assessing Handwriting Speed and Legibility

Assessments, , , ,
The DASH2- Detailed Assessment of the Speed of Handwriting

Handwriting remains an important skill for recording information, expressing one’s thoughts on paper and communicating ideas to others, despite the increasing use of technology in educational settings. Writing demands placed upon students increase as they progress from primary, through secondary, to further and higher education. Confident, legible, and fast handwriting can support success both within the educational system and in workplace settings that still require the ability to write legibly and fast.

The most important objective in acquiring the skill of handwriting is to be able to write legibly, however, in many situations, the speed of handwriting is also important.

Based on this realization, the authors of the DASH-2 (who are experts in motor control) wanted to provide a reliable measure of the speed of handwriting while at the same time accounting for legibility. Thus, when measuring the speed of production, only letters/words that are legible within the context of the writing are counted. 

Uses of the DASH-2

The primary aim of the DASH-2 is to provide a reliable age-appropriate measure of handwriting speed and legibility. Data from the DASH-2 can be used to:

  • identify individuals with handwriting difficulties
  • determine eligibility for extra support 
  • provide a detailed description of handwriting performance
  • contribute to diagnostic assessment (e.g. Dysgraphia)
  • monitor progress and evaluate intervention effectiveness
  • aid research

DASH-2 Tasks

The DASH-2 contains five handwriting tasks:

  • Copy Best: Copying a sentence in ‘best’ handwriting for 2 minutes
  • Alphabet Writing: Writing lower case letters in alphabetic order from memory continuously for 1 minute
  • Copy Fast: Copying letters in words and words in sentences from a model sentence that contains all the letters of the alphabet quickly for 2 minutes. This is the same sentence used in Copy Best.
  • Graphic Speed: Drawing X’s in circles for 1 minute
  • Free Writing: Writing on the topic of My Life of Past/Present/Future for 10 minutes

Interpretation of Test Results: The 7Ss and 4Ps

Although the main focus is on speed and legibility, the authors encourage obtaining other useful information about an individual’s handwriting and written expression. They offer a format that is part of the Record Form for making Qualitative Observations during the testing.

The 7Ss are features of the examinee’s handwriting that can be observed in the finished product:

  1. Shape/letter formation
  2. Size
  3. Spacing
  4. Slant/slope
  5. Stringing together/joining
  6. Site/sitting on the line
  7. Shakiness

The 4Ps have been associated with poor handwriting outcomes.

  1. Posture
  2. Paper Position
  3. Pen/Pencil Grip
  4. Pressure 

Types of Scores:

The DASH-2 yields different types of scores pertaining to the five DASH-2 tasks:

  • Raw scores and scaled scores for each of the four core tasks
  • A total Standard Score
  • Percentile equivalents for the total standard score

The four types of supplementary scores provide:

  • A scaled score for the Graphic Speed task
  • a Copy Speed Difference score for the Copy Best/Copy Fast tasks
  • The percentage of illegible words from Free Writing
  • A WPM score for each section on the Free Writing task, to provide a profile of the whole Free Writing task

Summary:

This relatively new handwriting assessment fills a gap in our tools for the evaluation of handwriting speed and legibility for older students. Developed by the same authors of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children – Third Edition who are experienced in observing motor control and evaluation development, we can feel comfortable in getting reliable results from the DASH-2. It is being used in some exciting research projects at the University of Washington. We think it is an important component in our ability to identify handwriting difficulties with a standardized and reliable assessment.

Guest Blogger: Karen Conrad Weihrauch, ScD, OTR/L