The OT's Corner

	The OTs' Corner ADD and ADHD I'm currently reading Patterns of Sensory Processing in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, by Winnie Dunn and Donna Bennett, Occupational Therapy Research Journal, Winter 2003 22, pg 4- 15 and taking notes to share, as I have time. Read more [PDF File] Development I stumbled across a resource on Dyspraxia written by a physiotherapist that I really like. It is a good reference, listing the ages that many motor skills are acquired. "Physiotherapy and Dyspraxia for Professionals" by Michele Lee, Grad. Dip. Phys. MCSP. SRP. Fine Motor Distal Transverse Arch - A Question About High Tone in this Arch Improving Motor Skills in Kindergartners by Anne Bosma, Amy Domka and Jill Peterson [PDF File] "This action research project evaluated a program for improving motor skills in kindergartners by incorporating into the core curriculum, motor activities [and] new materials focused on motor skills..." I appreciated reading this article on ERIC for its insights into explaining why the motor skills of so many children is declining. "The Thumb Wrap Pencil Grasp" Read here about how to change dysfunctional pencil grasps, my emails explaining the "wrapped thumb" pencil grasp and children hyperextending their thumbs during fine motor activities. I'd like to eventually write an article, but being pressed for time, I will just post the information here for now. Hand Dominance Hand Dominance Screening Tool by Carrie Lippincott, OTR/L [PDF Format] If you have any constructive feedback on improving the usefulness of this tool, I would be happy to hear from you. Activities to Encourage Hand Dominance by Carrie Lippincott, OTR/L [PDF Format] Handwriting Issues: "The Thumb Wrap Pencil Grasp" Read here about how to change dysfunctional pencil grasps, my emails explaining the "wrapped thumb" pencil grasp and children hyperextending their thumbs during fine motor activities. I'd like to eventually write an article, but being pressed for time, I will just post the information here for now. "Handwriting Readiness: Locatives and Visuomotor Skills in the Kindergarten Year" by Deborah Marr, Mary-Margaret Windsor and Sharon Cermak The full article available is available online at the above link. Abstract "Handwriting is an integral part of every child's school experience. In order to provide the best program to children both with and without handwriting problems, elementary educators need to understand the factors underlying the skill of handwriting. This study investigated the relationship between the cognitive understanding of locatives (e.g., words used for spatial and temporal concepts such as "up" or "next to") and the graphomotor task of shape and letter copying in typically developing kindergarten children. Additionally, changes in those skills during the kindergarten year were examined. The Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration, the Boehm Test of Basic Concepts, and the Scale of Children's Readiness In Printing were administered to a sample of 138 children during the first and second half of their kindergarten year. The findings showed a significant increase in performance on all three measures from time one to time two. The relationships among the three tests varied. A moderate positive relationship between the visuomotor and handwriting test was found. This result supports previous findings that link visuomotor skills to handwriting. All other relationships were low. This study adds to a growing body of knowledge about the prerequisite skills needed for handwriting." Six Questions Educators Should Ask before Choosing a Handwriting Program. Eric Digest This article discusses vertical versus slanted print from a historical perceptive, developmental concerns in relation to the a handwriting style used, which alphabet is easier to write and read and teach, in addition to which alphabet is more easily integrated. It is an article that all OTs who teach handwriting should read. Passing of some of our mentors and fellow OTs Bonnie Hanschu passed away on July 30, 2004. Read more Regi Boehme passed away on July 3, 2004. Read more Research Information This is a list of sites I've gathered to help with research and the application of evidence-based approaches If you have any questions please feel free to email me at: carrie@make-the-grade-ot.com Home Articles and Links Index Treatment Areas Success Stories Experience

The OTs' Corner

ADD and ADHD

I'm currently reading Patterns of Sensory Processing in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, by Winnie Dunn and Donna Bennett, Occupational Therapy Research Journal, Winter 2003 22, pg 4- 15 and taking notes to share, as I have time. Read more [PDF File]

Development

I stumbled across a resource on Dyspraxia written by a physiotherapist that I really like. It is a good reference, listing the ages that many motor skills are acquired. "Physiotherapy and Dyspraxia for Professionals" by Michele Lee, Grad. Dip. Phys. MCSP. SRP.

Fine Motor

Distal Transverse Arch - A Question About High Tone in this Arch

Improving Motor Skills in Kindergartners by Anne Bosma, Amy Domka and Jill Peterson [PDF File]

"This action research project evaluated a program for improving motor skills in kindergartners by incorporating into the core curriculum, motor activities [and] new materials focused on motor skills..." I appreciated reading this article on ERIC for its insights into explaining why the motor skills of so many children is declining.

"The Thumb Wrap Pencil Grasp"

Read here about how to change dysfunctional pencil grasps, my emails explaining the "wrapped thumb" pencil grasp and children hyperextending their thumbs during fine motor activities. I'd like to eventually write an article, but being pressed for time, I will just post the information here for now.

Hand Dominance

Hand Dominance Screening Tool by Carrie Lippincott, OTR/L [PDF Format]

If you have any constructive feedback on improving the usefulness of this tool, I would be happy to hear from you.

Activities to Encourage Hand Dominance by Carrie Lippincott, OTR/L [PDF Format]

Handwriting Issues:

"The Thumb Wrap Pencil Grasp"

"Handwriting Readiness: Locatives and Visuomotor Skills in the Kindergarten Year" by Deborah Marr, Mary-Margaret Windsor and Sharon Cermak

The full article available is available online at the above link.

Abstract

"Handwriting is an integral part of every child's school experience. In order to provide the best program to children both with and without handwriting problems, elementary educators need to understand the factors underlying the skill of handwriting. This study investigated the relationship between the cognitive understanding of locatives (e.g., words used for spatial and temporal concepts such as "up" or "next to") and the graphomotor task of shape and letter copying in typically developing kindergarten children. Additionally, changes in those skills during the kindergarten year were examined. The Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration, the Boehm Test of Basic Concepts, and the Scale of Children's Readiness In Printing were administered to a sample of 138 children during the first and second half of their kindergarten year. The findings showed a significant increase in performance on all three measures from time one to time two. The relationships among the three tests varied. A moderate positive relationship between the visuomotor and handwriting test was found. This result supports previous findings that link visuomotor skills to handwriting. All other relationships were low. This study adds to a growing body of knowledge about the prerequisite skills needed for handwriting."

Six Questions Educators Should Ask before Choosing a Handwriting Program. Eric Digest

This article discusses vertical versus slanted print from a historical perceptive, developmental concerns in relation to the a handwriting style used, which alphabet is easier to write and read and teach, in addition to which alphabet is more easily integrated. It is an article that all OTs who teach handwriting should read.

Passing of some of our mentors and fellow OTs

Bonnie Hanschu passed away on July 30, 2004. Read more

Regi Boehme passed away on July 3, 2004. Read more

Research Information

This is a list of sites I've gathered to help with research and the application of evidence-based approaches

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at: carrie@make-the-grade-ot.com

Home Articles and Links Index Treatment Areas Success Stories Experience