The Writing Process

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

 We started off this class by discussing the Writing Process and participating in a writing task analysis. What we quickly realized is that the writing process is a very complicated process that involved lower content skills such as formulating ideas and organization, mechanical skills that involve such things as use of pencil/pen as a tool for writing, motor planning, punctuation, phonemic awareness and so much more as you can see by the diagram below!

When you actually break down the writing process, it is no surprise that many students have difficulty with the writing process. Thus we reviewed a variety of apps for writing to help with the process. These included such apps as;  clicker, co-writer 7 , inspiration and using speak selection. These apps and features all help students "show what they know." We watched some videos of students using some of these apps and the success they were having with them. 

We also watched a video on pencil-grip, positioning and handwriting which described how issues with pencil-grip can really effect handwriting. What really resonated with me was how the the body and body control plays a huge role in handwriting skills. Students need good core body control to control their hands for writing tasks. There was a emphasis on the way a student DOES their writing as equally as important as how their writing looks. That is why our OT's are always encouraging us to have our students participate in exercises that improve student's core tummy muscles which will then help improve pencil grasps.

We also watched another short video on Low AT for handwriting. We saw a variety of pencil grips such as, the writing bird, pen again and the fingertip pen to help students with their pencil grips. I especially liked the writing bird! I think sometimes we can forget how important low tech At can be.