What is First Strokes

 

First Strokes Multi-sensory Print Program

The First Strokes Multi-Sensory Handwriting Program was designed by an occupational therapist to teach print handwriting on a multi-sensory basis.  Inherent in the program, is large gross-motor (kinesthetic) learning of the lower and upper case, print letters. The program includes:
  • First Strokes Instructors Manual a comprehensive, 6 chapter book on teaching multi-sensory   print and cursive handwriting/grasp development/handwriting development/remedial strategies for poor handwriting (print and cursive), special populations, for therapists and teachers, written  by the occupational therapist who founded The Handwriting Clinic
  • Handwriting Assessment (pre-handwriting, and print through cursive)
  • Assistive Technology Assessment Supplement
  • Teacher Log of Student Progress/Grasp Development (reproducible for entire class or for students who are struggling with handwriting)
  • Classroom Modifications Checklist for  Interdisciplinary Team Members to coordinate remedial strategies
  • Billy Learns to Write His ABC's Storybook    reproducible storybook teaches students the First Stroke Concepts
  • Billy the Seal Presentation CD for Teachers/Therapists to present handwriting concepts through Power Point, print out individual student copies in color, or have student use as tutorial
  • Billy the Seal Handwriting Paper Stamps to work on generalizing handwriting to standard paper using the Billy the Seal cognitive cues.

First Strokes Multi-sensory Cursive Program

This is the first INTEGRATED handwriting program that totally integrates therapeutic intervention into the classroom.  A therapist can provide a quick training session to teachers and the teacher can then totally integrate the cursive program into the classroom for students who struggle (or for the entire classroom!).  Throughout the comprehensive workbook there are step-by-step instructions for how to integrate this program into busy classrooms without spending large amounts of classroom time on handwriting intervention.  By using easy to integrate multi-sensory strategies, even students who struggle with handwriting should be able to master the First Strokes® cursive program.

The First Strokes Cursive Kit includes:

  • Comprehensive Cursive Workbook – 100 pages!

  • Section for teachers and parents on “How to Use Workbook”.  This section INCLUDES how to integrate multisensory strategies into the classroom

  • Lower Case Instruction and Practice Pages – based on the “First Stroke”, students are provided cognitive cues for letter formation.  Letters are grouped within their “First Stroke: category.  Each letter page contains information on Handwriting Errors, so that the students learn legibility tips.

  • All lower case instruction for each letter includes cueing to “touch and trace” the writing line before bridging to the next letter.  This is a significant remedial handwriting strategy that helps students increase legibility of handwriting and spacing between letters.

  • At the end of each group of letters is a section for how to integrate visual memory and speed handwriting for the group of letters in that section

  • Capital letter section, categorized by the “First Stroke”.

  • Bridging letters section – practice bridging b, o, v, and w to other letters within words.

  • Generalization section – strategies and tips for how to generalize handwriting to notebook paper, worksheets, etc

  • Zany Writing Topic section – FUN classroom activities to generalize handwriting to sentences and paragraphs

  • Certification for Achievement – for the 40 second club (writing the alphabet bridged together in 40 seconds, without handwriting errors

  • Pack of Ruled Notebook Paper for Homework Practice – the student will use this paper for all practice of letters worked on in the workbook.  It is recommended that the student use this paper for a period of 6 weeks to mature the size of handwriting to 1/3 space for the body of the letters. 

  • Giant handwriting lines for Multi-sensory Practice – sheet protector with a cardstock sheet inside with giant handwriting lines.  Use individually or with an entire classroom.  Students can use a dry erase marker to practice letter formation before working in the workbook.

Billy the Seal

The First Strokes program uses Billy the Seal to introduce the First Strokes that are used in handwriting.  This reproducible story focuses children's interest in learning about how to draw the letters.  The characters within the story are integrated into the First Strokes Handwriting Program to teach children about handwriting spaces and letter formation.  Billy the Seal learns handwriting using the First Strokes.  He now thinks handwriting is fun and easy, and so will the children who learn print from this handwriting program.
  • An emphasis on learning the First Stroke of a letter in order to achieve proper sequencing of letter formation and to decrease reversals
  • Kinesthetic learning techniques employed at The Handwriting Clinic, which can be adapted for classroom learning or therapeutic intervention
  • Cognitive strategies to learn the strokes for letter formation
Perceptual cueing techniques within grayscale handwriting spaces, with techniques to generalize to regular handwriting paper

 

 
 
 

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