Printing, Cursive & Word Processing Resources (K-8)
One of the key changes in the revised Elementary Language Curriculum (2023) brought handwriting expectations back. In Strand D, students will learn printing (Grades 1 and 2), cursive (starting in Grade 3), and word-processing skills (Grades 4 to 8).
PRINTING RESOURCES
Check out: Learning to Printing on the Handwriting page for a quick overview of some tips and sequence for letter introduction.
SECTION 5 of the revised Teaching Sounds, Teaching Letters (2023) is another fantastic resource for printing instruction and provides more in-depth information, including:
Whole-Body connection: p. 29
Strategies to support development of gross & fine motor skills and ability to cross the midline (p.31)
Printing Instruction Readiness (p.34)
Functional pencil grasp: p.32
Stages of pencil grasp development: p.32
Strategies to support developing pencil grasps: p. 32
Scaffolds to support printing: p.34
Multi-sensory & Kinesthetic: p.35
Verbal pathways for printing: p.36 and 115
Printing Instruction Resource - Print Like a Pro: p.36
Printing instruction-Review, Observe, Corrective feedback: 39
When & When Not To Correct Printing: p.37
Compositional writing instruction: p.38
Developmental stages of writing: p.39
Developmental stages of artistic dev.: p.40
Creating the conditions for success: p.41
Pre-writing strokes and letter forms: p.106
Tools to track the development of these skills (page 30 or 133)
CURSIVE WRITING RESOURCES
Check out the newest resource developed by OCDSB Occupational Therapists in collaboration with Program, Learning & Innovation, which aligns with Expectation D.2.2 Printing, Handwriting, and Word Processing for grades 3-8 of the revised Language Curriculum.
This resource features the most up to date research on cursive writing instruction and important considerations for efficiently and effectively teaching cursive writing from OCDSB occupational therapists.
WORD PROCESSING RESOURCES
If you have any questions, please email literacy@ocdsb.ca