HWT Versus Teacher Designed Handwriting Instruction

A recent study was done comparing 8 first grade classrooms who participated in either a teacher designed handwriting program or the Handwriting Without Tears handwriting program.  The Minnesota Handwriting Assessment was used for pre test and post test scores.  The results indicated that the first grade students who participated in the teacher designed handwriting program had higher average post test scores on each of the subtests.  The handwriting skills of both groups did improve though.  When it came to special education students, there was no significant difference between the average post test scores for the students in the teacher designed program versus the handwriting without tears group.

Reference:  Colleen Schneck ScDOTR/LFAOTA, Sharon Shasby EdD.OTR/LFAOTA, Christine Myers PhDOTR/L Michelle L. DePoy Smith PhD.  Handwriting Without Tears versus Teacher-Designed Handwriting Instruction in First Grade Classrooms. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention. Volume 5, Issue 1, 2012 DOI: 10.1080/19411243.2012.675759

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