Handwriting Review 1998

Language by Hand: A Synthesis of a Decade of Research on Handwriting
Virginia Berninger and Steve Graham

The authors give an overview of a decade of research

Developing and trialing a system for describing pencil grips
Ann-Sofie Lyytinen-Lund

The object of the study was to develop a system for describing and classifying pencil grips, which could be used in the classroom environment. The system can be used to reliably rate and study students' pencil grips, working postures and movements. The author comments that after 5 years of research on pencil grip issues, it is her belief that the concept of a 'correct pencil grip' needs to be challenged.
 

A follow-up study of keyboard use for children with a motor dysgraphia
Anne O'Hare, Kim Lie and S. Denwood

The study assessed whether use of a keyboard was an effective intervention for children with a severe motor dysgraphia. A child is said to be dysgraphic if s/he has a writing impairment confirmed on functional analysis or on standardized testing which is sufficiently severe to interfere with daily living that requires expressive writing skills (DSM-IV, 1994). The study concluded that children with a motor dysgraphia of different types can benefit from the introduction of a keyboard to assist their writing. As they may have other motor and academic difficulties along with peer relationship problems, and their motor learning difficulties are likely to be long term, serious consideration should be given to such intervention.
 

Grip characteristics of the 1990s
Stephanie Thomas

The author looked at how children today are holding their pens and pencils, do they differ in this respect from their parents and grandparents, and are gripping characteristics changing in the 1990's as opposed to  pre 1960 when the classic dynamic tripod was the norm. The overwhelming impression after 3 years of study was that mature adults were very different in their grip characteristics from children of school age. Mature adults conform to textbook descriptions of the 'correct' posture, paper position and gripping distance from point. There is no empirical evidence to support the efficacy of what is perceived to be correct, nor has it been established that school children are technically 'incorrect' . However if the revolution in gripping characteristics should turn out to have negative effects on education, the author considers that the consequences could be serious as there is a current school population where such grip characteristic are endemic, and parents and teachers who are themselves unable to provide a good model for emulation.
 

Book Reviews

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