Is your child experiencing handwriting difficulty?
"The truth is that mastering handwriting sets children up for other learning successes. Handwriting builds confidence, teaches children to have an organized approach and enhances their ability to communicate." - Jan Olsen (OTR and Founder of Handwriting Without Tears®), Curious Parents, February 2007
Every day, we use handwriting. It is a form of written communication to express our ideas and thoughts. Handwriting is very important in all of our lives. Like spelling, grammar, and phonics, handwriting is a support skill that helps build a strong foundation for student success. Many students are going through the school system with handwriting that is very difficult to read. With all the concentration in the schools to prepare for the state tests, sometimes there is limited time available to work on improving handwriting.
However, if the test examiners are unable to read your child’s writing on the test, their test scores may be lower. If the teacher is unable to read the students writing, their work will be marked wrong. This can lead to decreased self esteem and stress for your child. Although many students have access to computers, there are many occasions when handwriting is required. Until budgets allow a computer on every desk, handwriting will continue to be the principle means of communication at school.
Handwriting is also important in adulthood. Even in this digital age, as an adult, you may need to use your best handwriting to fill out an application and to write your signature. Did you know that it is estimated that in any given year, approximately 7,000 people may die because a pharmacist couldn’t read a prescription? While prescription pads may likely become electronic in the future, there will always be professions that rely on hastily jotted notes. Not all of these jobs will go completely electronic in the very near future. Consider construction sites: not practical places for most electronic devices. But if you are around a building site you’ll see pencil marks on most of the lumber. Measurements, locations and quantities are all written on the wall, and while an illegible note might not kill anyone, there’s a high likelihood it could cost a contractor some money.
Handwriting involves many skills including fine motor skills. Fine motor skills involve the control of small precise movements with the fingers, wrists and hands. A child’s handwriting skills depend on the child’s fine motor skills. These skills are important for day to day activities in life. A good pencil grip, eye hand coordination, visual perception ability (remembering what they have been taught) visual motor integration skills (the ability to copy what students are shown) and posture are all components for good handwriting. For some students, reproducing letters and numbers that they are shown in a classroom or group setting is very easy for them and they learn very quickly but for others, they may need extra help. Sometimes, a student requires more intense assistance to develop the skills necessary for good handwriting. Occupational therapists have been working with children for many years to improve their fine motor and written communication skills. The Golden Light Wellness Center is sponsoring handwriitng clinics Draw to Write Classes and evaluaton program The Print Tool.
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Draw to Write Classes
for Children
taught by: Debra C. George, Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR/L)
Debra has developed the
Draw to Write Classes that are taught at the Golden Light Wellness Center.
This program is designed to help children who are having difficulty learning print or cursive letters, having difficulty connecting the letters, or who have writing that is not legible or is difficult to read. This program uses step by step drawing techniques to help children learn basic shapes that are used in writing.
Each
Draw to Write Classes includes step by step drawing instruction and print or cursive instruction tailored to your child's level and individual needs.
This program is for children who have completed 1st through 6th grade.
***First and last class of each session includes a "informal assessment" to determine skill level, needs and finally progress made. All supplies are included. Legible handwriting will help your child when taking the PSSA exams.
Please call 610-932-9511for more information and class schedules. Class size is limited.
"The truth is that mastering handwriting sets children up for other learning successes. Handwriting builds confidence, teaches children to have an organized approach and enhances their ability to communicate." - Jan Olsen (OTR and Founder of
Handwriting Without Tears®), Curious Parents, February 2007
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Spring 2009 Schedule
All classes held at the Golden Light Wellness Center in Oxford
Classes in the Spring are held on an individual basis and are available on
Saturdays and evenings.
Call to schedule a class or private session.
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Summer 2009 Schedule
All classes held at the Golden Light Wellness Center in Oxford
Session #1 Classes (8) are held Fridays: July 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7, 14, 21, 28, 2009
9-10 am Print
1030-1130 am Cursive
1:00-2:00 pm Print or Cursive
6:00-7:00 pm Print
7:15-8:15 pm Cursive
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Session #2 Classes (8) are held Mondays and Thursdays
July 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30, 2009
1:00-2:00 Print or Cursive
6:00-7:00 pm Print
7:15-8:15 pm Cursive
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Session #3 Classes (8) are held: Monday through Thursday
August 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 2009
9:00-10:00 am Print
10:00-11:00 am Cursive
7:30-8:30 pm Cursive
Mail in your application form to
Draw to Write Classes
Golden Light Wellness Center
350 Lincoln Street
Oxford, PA 19363
and enclose a $70.00 check payable to Debra George
to guarantee a place for your child.
Session fees are $250 for the 8 classes per student. Fee includes all supplies
Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
Classes are also offered in keyboarding.
Private lessons and group classes are available.
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NEW PROGRAM!!!
Would you like more information on how you may help your own child with their handwriting?
You may schedule your child to be given The Print Tool evaluation and obtain a remediation plan on how you can help your child achieve their handwrtiing goals.
The Print Tool is used to evaluate students experienceing handwriting difficulty. It is a complete printing assessment for students age six and older. This assessment may take approximately 20 minutes to administer and the scores for specific skills show student strengths and needs. These scores then form the basis for an appropriate remediation plan. The Print Tool assesses capitals, numbers and lower case letter skills. The skills evaluated include: memory, orientation, placement, size, start, sequence, control, and spacing.
A child's pencil grip, posture and paper placement are also reported.
Once your child is tested and scores are obtained, you will receive a written remediation plan.
Fee for this service is $150.00
Please call Debbie at 610-932-9511 to schedule
Debbie is certified through the Handwriting Without Tears program
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NEW PROGRAM!!!!!
ADULT PRIVATE HANDWRITING INSTRUCTION
Did you know.... In any given year, approximately 7,000 people die because a pharmacist couldn’t read a prescription. And while prescription pads will likely become electronic in the future, there will always be professions that rely on hastily jotted notes. Not all of these jobs will go electronic any time soon. Consider construction sites: not practical places for most electronic devices. But if you wander around a building site before anyone gets around to painting, you’ll see pencil marks on most of the lumber. Measurements, locations and quantities are all written on the wall, and while an illegible note might not kill anyone, there’s a high likelihood it could cost a contractor some money. So no matter what your profession is, handwriting continues to be a very important means of written communication.
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Private Handwriting Classes are available for adults. Classes are for 8 one hour lessons. Adults must
commit to practicing skills learned in class on their own. Class may help to increase legibility of print or cursive and increase fluency and speed of writing.
Fee for 8 one hour lessons $350.00 All supplies are provided.
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ABOUT THE THERAPIST....
Debra George began her career when she graduated from Lehigh County Community College in 1977 with in Associates Degree in Occupational Therapy. She worked with Geriatrics in a long term care facility for 13 years as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant /Activities Director III while completing a Bachelors Degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Lincoln University in 1986.
In 1989, Debra completed a second Bachelors Degree in Occupational Therapy from the Dominican College of Blauvelt, New York and has been working as a Registered Occupational Therapist in the field of pediatrics (early intervention and school districts) since 1990.
Debra's interest in the pediatric field has been in handwriting and written communication skills.
She began working with
Handwriting Clinics through Easter Seal of Chester County in 1998. She has become Certified with the Interactive Metronome program and has taken the Handwriitng Without Tears course including The Print Tool. Most recently Debra has become certified through the Handwriting Without Tears program
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Debra George has also completed a massage therapy program through the
Health Alliance in 1998
and became an Infant Massage Instructor through the International Association of Infant Massage in 1999 and has completed both
CranioSacral Therapy Level I and Level II courses through The Upledger Institute.
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