Handwriting tutoring is an important skill that helps students of all ages and ability levels to become better writers. A good handwriting tutor will be able to assess their student’s writing skills and then work with them to improve those skills.
Tutors who specialize in teaching handwriting will use a variety of occupational therapy for kids strategies to teach their clients. Some are more focused on teaching letter formation, while others focus more on phonics and spelling. A skilled handwriting tutor can adapt these methods to fit the needs of their students.
Before starting a handwriting tutoring career, you should decide what kind of students you want to work with. You can find curricula that are geared toward students with special needs or those who need alternative handwriting methods, such as shorthand. You can also choose to work with students who are learning English as a second language or those who are struggling with reading or writing in general. Check out this website at http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/15/health/altschool-personalized-education/ for more info about education.
Your first lesson will involve a thorough assessment of the student’s writing abilities. This assessment will include watching the student hold a pencil or pen and then writing individual letters. During this first session, your handwriting tutor will determine what areas need improvement and devise an appropriate lesson plan.
You’ll also need to make sure that you have the proper tools for your lessons. A sturdy pencil or pen and a pad of paper are essential, as is a pencil sharpener. You may also need to provide a variety of paper styles, such as lined, unlined, and graph paper.
When your first session begins, it’s best to start with a simple exercise that will help your student build muscle memory. This exercise should be a kinesthetic activity that’s easy to clean up.
A kinesthetic exercise that will help your student build muscle memory is to cover their desk with shaving foam and let them trace various shapes onto the foam. This will help them practice the small muscles that they need for cursive writing.
This kinesthetic activity is a great way to get the student started on learning cursive handwriting, and it’s quick to clean up afterward.
Once your student has mastered the basic skills, you can introduce more advanced techniques such as forward and backward slashes and diagonal lines. Eventually, your students should be able to write words and sentences from memory.
You should also work on spacing between words and letters. This is important to ensure that your students are writing correctly and in the correct order.
During your sessions, you should also make sure that your students are practicing the correct posture and positioning when they write. This will help them learn to write correctly, and it will improve their speed and efficiency.
It is very important to ensure that your students are sitting in the correct position while they are writing. This will help them to avoid cramped hands and necks, as well as a strained arm.
In addition to making sure your students are learning the correct techniques, it is also important to encourage them and praise them for their work. This will help to encourage them to continue to work hard on their handwriting.