This qualitative study focused on educators' perspectives of teaching students with dysgraphia. Dysgraphia can be referred to as a specific learning disorder (SLD) in writing and includes difficulties with handwriting, spelling, and/or composition skills. To explore the educators' experiences, an interpretative phenomenological analysis method was…

This study examined the relationship of holistic scoring with handwriting legibility, spelling accuracy and number of T-units within compositions written by children in grades 3 through 6 using path analysis. A sample of 223 compositions was rated for handwriting legibility and composition quality, and coded for number of T-units and percentage of…

The effects of electromyogram (EMG) biofeedback training on cursive handwriting were investigated with nine fourth graders. A significant reduction in EMG between the first baseline session and last training session was obtained. Four of five characteristics of handwriting improved significantly. (Author/SBH)

The question and answer format of this booklet presents 35 questions about handwriting most often asked by teachers and parents. The answers that follow each question are derived from an earlier study of handwriting instruction undertaken in Ontario, Canada, schools. The questions in the first section of the booklet deal with current handwriting…

Fourth graders with learning disabilities in transcription (handwriting and spelling), LD-TD, and without LD-TD (non-LD), were compared on three writing tasks (letters, sentences, and essays), which differed by level of language, when writing by pen and by keyboard. The two groups did not differ significantly in Verbal IQ but did in handwriting,…

The article proposes a simplified handwriting method for learning disabled children having difficulty with conventional cursive writing. The approach is based on the vertical downstroke rather than the diagonal slant and emphasizes the natural connection between manuscript letters. (Author/CL)

Practical steps for remediating cursive handwriting difficulties focus on the five elements of spacing, speed, slant of letters, letter size, and letter shape. (JW)

A reversal design with multiple baseline features was used to assess the efficacy of self-instructions, self-correction, and a combination of the two on a nine-year-old learning disabled boy's handwriting performance. (Author)

An 11 year old learning disabled boy was taught two different strategies, both of which markedly improved his handwriting performance on a paragraph copying task. Results for the study indicated that allowing the student his choice of strategies produced better performance than did teacher determined choices. (Author)

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 21 titles deal with a variety of topics, including the following: the effectiveness of media presentations in teaching research skills; language as a means of increasing perception; language arts curriculum planning and execution…

The effectiveness of a self-instructional procedure in improving and maintaining the letter-formation skills of three students (10.4 to 11.7 years old) who were learning disabled and had handwriting deficiencies was investigated. (SW)

The article illustrates how basic skills in penmanship, spelling, and grammar can be learned while simultaneouly developing rapport between disabled writers and their instructors. (SW)

The article presents six remedial handwriting activities which address a variety of deficits commonly affecting the handwriting of learning disabled (LD) students. Each activity is presented with a rationale, step-by-step instructions, exemplary worksheets as necessary, and suggestions for teaching. In the "Coin Challenge" students learn correct…

A relaxation method for handwriting improvement was examined using experimental and no-treatment control groups composed of 10 students receiving a poor rating on handwriting characteristics and a normal control group of 10 composed of students receiving average ratings. (Author/PHR)