[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":9789},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-entries":3},[4,574,978,1191,1998,2067,2588,3087,3963,4488,5125,5439,6139,6554,7074,7562,8263,8899,9211,9421,9632],{"id":5,"slug":6,"title":7,"longTitle":7,"summary":8,"mainBody":9,"heroImage":568,"publishDate":570,"articleDate":570,"tags":571},"ELi6RNBjzOxh40oqONw95","handwriting-in-the-primary-curriculum","Handwriting in the Primary Curriculum ✍🏼","Why is handwriting particularly difficult for children now? This post explores how an overcrowded curriculum, shifting priorities and reduced practice time are affecting children’s development of this complex skill.",{"nodeType":10,"data":11,"content":12},"document",{},[13,46,53,61,97,122,148,155,171,175,187,190,197,204,241,248,275,282,289,296,308,320,340,353,369,372,379,386,393,400,407,414,421,436,455,458,466,545,548],{"nodeType":14,"data":15,"content":16},"paragraph",{},[17,22,28,32,42],{"nodeType":18,"value":19,"marks":20,"data":21},"text","This is part of the ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":23,"marks":24,"data":27},"Handwriting Matters",[25],{"type":26},"italic",{},{"nodeType":18,"value":29,"marks":30,"data":31}," series exploring handwriting, learning and classroom practice.\n\nPreviously, ",[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":34,"content":36},"hyperlink",{"uri":35},"https://open.substack.com/pub/betterhandwritten/p/why-is-it-so-hard?r=1u6072&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false",[37],{"nodeType":18,"value":38,"marks":39,"data":41},"Why is handwriting so hard for children?",[40],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":43,"marks":44,"data":45}," explored how essential brain functions are still developing — and learning to work together.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":47,"content":48},{},[49],{"nodeType":18,"value":50,"marks":51,"data":52},"The struggle for control we witness is good though! It’s normal and to be expected. Our role is to reassure, encourage and guide (with explicit instruction and feedback). Persisting and mastering a complex skill like handwriting supports ability to do hard things in the future and fuels self-belief.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":54,"content":55},{},[56],{"nodeType":18,"value":57,"marks":58,"data":60},"I can do hard things and it feels great when I achieve my goals.",[59],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":62,"data":63,"content":96},"embedded-asset-block",{"target":64},{"metadata":65,"sys":68,"fields":84},{"tags":66,"concepts":67},[],[],{"space":69,"id":74,"type":75,"createdAt":76,"updatedAt":76,"environment":77,"publishedVersion":81,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":70},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"Link","Space","2zeqkgv5pl1b","35PJDSYmomKTwkByhIB5Ma","Asset","2026-05-04T20:49:33.699Z",{"sys":78},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},"master","Environment",15,1,"en-US",{"title":85,"description":86,"file":87},"Quote reading 'All things are difficult before they are easy' over a mountain landscape.","Quote attributed to Thomas Fuller - 17th century historian.\n'All things are difficult before they are easy.'",{"url":88,"details":89,"fileName":94,"contentType":95},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/35PJDSYmomKTwkByhIB5Ma/9605a927672b3e6ed5033fdc69e4fb12/65f4457e-4c0e-4dc4-8a26-6999a9bc4cbc_1276x960.webp",{"size":90,"image":91},50526,{"width":92,"height":93},1276,960,"65f4457e-4c0e-4dc4-8a26-6999a9bc4cbc_1276x960.webp","image/webp",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":98,"content":99},{},[100,104,109,113,118],{"nodeType":18,"value":101,"marks":102,"data":103},"q",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":105,"marks":106,"data":108},"uote attributed to Thomas Fuller - 17th century historian",[107],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":110,"marks":111,"data":112},"\n\nSo handwriting has always been — and will always be — a difficult skill for children to master, but why is it particularly challenging ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":114,"marks":115,"data":117},"now",[116],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":119,"marks":120,"data":121},", in 2025?",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":123,"content":124},{},[125,129,135,139,144],{"nodeType":18,"value":126,"marks":127,"data":128},"There are a number of reasons. One — our focus today — is an overcrowded primary curriculum. Too many priorities. Talking with teachers in recent years, the problem that almost always comes up first, is ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":130,"marks":131,"data":134},"time",[132],{"type":133},"bold",{},{"nodeType":18,"value":136,"marks":137,"data":138},"… ‘",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":140,"marks":141,"data":143},"There’s no time. We can’t fit it in. We have to do phonics and everything else.",[142],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":145,"marks":146,"data":147},"’",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":149,"content":150},{},[151],{"nodeType":18,"value":152,"marks":153,"data":154},"Over the last 50 years handwriting has gradually slipped into the shadows of the curriculum. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":156,"content":157},{},[158,162,167],{"nodeType":18,"value":159,"marks":160,"data":161},"Before that, it was a ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":163,"marks":164,"data":166},"very ",[165],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":168,"marks":169,"data":170},"high priority because most communication was handwritten — letters, forms, job applications, records, accounts, voting documents… Neat, legible handwriting ensured people could participate effectively in society, do their jobs and make the best of opportunities to expand and improve their lives. Handwriting was at the heart of classroom practice.",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":173,"content":174},"hr",{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":176,"content":177},{},[178,182],{"nodeType":18,"value":179,"marks":180,"data":181},"Thinking about it, my handwriting secured me my first teaching job 32 years ago! Applications and supporting statements were still handwritten then (I’m really not as old as that makes me sound 😂). From 113 applicants, 5 of us were shortlisted and, after I’d been given the good news, the headteacher told me the final decision had come down to a comparison of our handwriting, on the basis of who would be able to model most effectively for teaching. ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":183,"marks":184,"data":186},"I’ll be writing about teacher handwriting next time!",[185],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":172,"data":188,"content":189},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":191,"content":192},{},[193],{"nodeType":18,"value":194,"marks":195,"data":196},"The 1960s saw rapid social change and challenges to traditional approaches. Throughout the 70s and 80s primary education became highly decentralised. Approaches varied. Some schools were highly structured, others child-led or topic-based. Some taught handwriting rigorously, others barely at all. Individual headteachers had significant influence over curriculum priorities and organisation.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":198,"content":199},{},[200],{"nodeType":18,"value":201,"marks":202,"data":203},"I was at primary school in the 70s! 😁 Mr Griffiths, our charismatic Welsh headteacher loved to sing! He also valued handwriting highly and recognised the importance of teaching it explicitly, often popping into lessons to spot-check our understanding with questions like, “Should a capital letter be the full height, or three-quarters the height of the lines?”",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":205,"content":206},{},[207,211,216,220,225,229,237],{"nodeType":18,"value":208,"marks":209,"data":210},"And although I had no memory of entering, I will never forget winning second prize in a school handwriting competition. I was five and ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":212,"marks":213,"data":215},"so",[214],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":217,"marks":218,"data":219}," proud! Although I must be clear, I’m ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":221,"marks":222,"data":224},"firmly against",[223],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":226,"marks":227,"data":228}," handwriting competitions (as I am ‘pen licences’). The intention to motivate is well-meant but the risk of damage to self-concept is high, for both winners and losers. That’s for another blog but in the meantime ",[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":230,"content":232},{"uri":231},"https://snacks.pepsmccrea.com/p/avoid-zero-sum-games",[233],{"nodeType":18,"value":234,"marks":235,"data":236},"see this great post from Peps McCrea",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":238,"marks":239,"data":240},".",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":242,"content":243},{},[244],{"nodeType":18,"value":245,"marks":246,"data":247},"The point I want to draw attention to is, handwriting was definitely centre-stage in the school curriculum. And you might be interested to hear, we learned to read with phonics and decodable books too!",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":249,"content":274},{"target":250},{"metadata":251,"sys":254,"fields":262},{"tags":252,"concepts":253},[],[],{"space":255,"id":257,"type":75,"createdAt":258,"updatedAt":258,"environment":259,"publishedVersion":261,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":256},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"QG5eSU5IELOCVFwWbRIJX","2026-05-04T20:49:27.727Z",{"sys":260},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},8,{"title":263,"description":264,"file":265},"School prize book plate with handwritten name 'Nicola Carey' and text '2nd prize Handwriting, Young Infants, May 1975'.","handwriting-competition-1975",{"url":266,"details":267,"fileName":272,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/QG5eSU5IELOCVFwWbRIJX/f21812520c6964a6e83b829d694682c3/handwriting-competition-1975.jpg",{"size":268,"image":269},2487295,{"width":270,"height":271},3024,4032,"handwriting-competition-1975.jpg","image/jpeg",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":276,"content":277},{},[278],{"nodeType":18,"value":279,"marks":280,"data":281},"There are also fond memories of making viking longships, butter, truncated icosahedrons (stapling the tabs of card hexagons and pentagons together), doing yoga, country-dancing and of course… knitting a square, then transforming it to become the cylindrical body of Dougal from Magic Roundabout!",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":283,"content":284},{},[285],{"nodeType":18,"value":286,"marks":287,"data":288},"I was lucky. I learned to read and write early. But I must also share, I moved on to secondary education without understanding how to punctuate speech, or that two quarters was equivalent to one half.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":290,"content":291},{},[292],{"nodeType":18,"value":293,"marks":294,"data":295},"I can still picture this scene, in the sweetshop next to our school…",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":297,"content":298},{},[299,304],{"nodeType":18,"value":300,"marks":301,"data":303},"Me:",[302],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":305,"marks":306,"data":307}," Two-quarters of cola-cubes please.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":309,"content":310},{},[311,316],{"nodeType":18,"value":312,"marks":313,"data":315},"Shopkeeper:",[314],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":317,"marks":318,"data":319}," You mean one half.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":321,"content":322},{},[323,327,331,336],{"nodeType":18,"value":300,"marks":324,"data":326},[325],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":328,"marks":329,"data":330}," ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":332,"marks":333,"data":335},"(smiling politely)",[334],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":337,"marks":338,"data":339}," No, two quarters please.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":341,"content":342},{},[343,348],{"nodeType":18,"value":344,"marks":345,"data":347},"Shopkeeper: ",[346],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":349,"marks":350,"data":352},"(rolls eyes as he weighs out the sweets)",[351],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":354,"content":355},{},[356,360,365],{"nodeType":18,"value":357,"marks":358,"data":359},"At some point soon after, I had an ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":361,"marks":362,"data":364},"a-ha!",[363],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":366,"marks":367,"data":368}," moment… and felt deeply embarrassed! I went on to get at an A in O-level maths (a year early) so it worked out okay, but still…",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":370,"content":371},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":373,"content":374},{},[375],{"nodeType":18,"value":376,"marks":377,"data":378},"By the early 1980s several national studies had raised concerns about inconsistencies in provision across the primary curriculum. The 1988 Education Reform Act set out to address the situation and a National Curriculum was introduced.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":380,"content":381},{},[382],{"nodeType":18,"value":383,"marks":384,"data":385},"Statutory expectations relating to handwriting were (and are) in there, but then something happened that pushed handwriting back into the shadows.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":387,"content":388},{},[389],{"nodeType":18,"value":390,"marks":391,"data":392},"Technology advanced — keyboarding began to compete with handwriting — and the internet was born. The explosion of fast access to on-line information blew our minds. It’s an expression that’s in danger of becoming a reality as we increasingly reach cognitive overload day after day. And now AI has joined the party.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":394,"content":395},{},[396],{"nodeType":18,"value":397,"marks":398,"data":399},"As information has become more instantly accessible, school curriculums have added additional knowledge content, and lessons have become in-depth earlier. It’s as if we’re so excited by all this knowledge as adults, we feel compelled to share it with the children we teach.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":401,"content":402},{},[403],{"nodeType":18,"value":404,"marks":405,"data":406},"The problem is, there are now too many priorities. Everything is important… all subjects , all components of subjects, all aspects of learning. Pupil (and teacher) overwhelm is a genuine concern. And in an overcrowded curriculum, time and space to teach vital skills like handwriting gets squeezed. Teachers just can’t see where to fit anything else in.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":408,"content":409},{},[410],{"nodeType":18,"value":411,"marks":412,"data":413},"A curriculum heavy on content but light on skills risks creating a generation of pupils who know things (or how to look them up) but can’t use them. In the long term, this weakens learning, creativity, independence and opportunity. Brains won’t get the exercise they need. Without activity, struggle and repetition, neural networks can’t form and strengthen. If we don’t use it, we’ll lose it.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":415,"content":416},{},[417],{"nodeType":18,"value":418,"marks":419,"data":420},"So how do we decide what to include and what to leave out? Teachers must look to school leaders for clarity. School leaders must look to national bodies for clarity - for guidance and expectations.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":422,"content":423},{},[424,428,432],{"nodeType":18,"value":425,"marks":426,"data":427},"I’m sure this is why The Writing Framework was released in July 2025, well ahead of the revised National Curriculum, which is due to be published in Spring 2027 and implemented from Autumn 2028. It couldn’t wait. Clarity is needed ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":114,"marks":429,"data":431},[430],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":433,"marks":434,"data":435},", so an essential process of gradual change can begin. It’s an exciting time!",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":437,"content":438},{},[439,443,451],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":441,"data":442},"",[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":444,"content":446},{"uri":445},"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68bec95444fd43581bda1c86/The_writing_framework_092025.pdf",[447],{"nodeType":18,"value":448,"marks":449,"data":450},"The Writing Framework",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":452,"marks":453,"data":454}," - Take a look at pages 31 — 39 ✍🏼",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":456,"content":457},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":459,"content":460},{},[461],{"nodeType":18,"value":462,"marks":463,"data":465},"You may also find these helpful:",[464],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":467,"data":468,"content":469},"unordered-list",{},[470,496,521],{"nodeType":471,"data":472,"content":473},"list-item",{},[474],{"nodeType":14,"data":475,"content":476},{},[477,480,488,492],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":478,"data":479},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":481,"content":483},{"uri":482},"https://www.betterhandwritten.com/blog/can-and-should-pen-hold-be-corrected",[484],{"nodeType":18,"value":485,"marks":486,"data":487},"Can and should pen hold be corrected?",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":489,"marks":490,"data":491}," \n",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":493,"marks":494,"data":495},"When and how pen hold might be supported — and when it’s best left alone",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":497,"content":498},{},[499],{"nodeType":14,"data":500,"content":501},{},[502,505,513,517],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":503,"data":504},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":506,"content":508},{"uri":507},"https://www.betterhandwritten.com/blog/why-do-some-students-struggle-to-copy-from-the-board",[509],{"nodeType":18,"value":510,"marks":511,"data":512},"Why do some students struggle to copy from the board?",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":514,"marks":515,"data":516},"\n",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":518,"marks":519,"data":520},"Looking more closely at attention, memory and what children actually see",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":522,"content":523},{},[524],{"nodeType":14,"data":525,"content":526},{},[527,530,538,541],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":528,"data":529},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":531,"content":533},{"uri":532},"https://www.betterhandwritten.com/blog/the-tactile-system",[534],{"nodeType":18,"value":535,"marks":536,"data":537},"The tactile system",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":514,"marks":539,"data":540},[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":542,"marks":543,"data":544},"Understanding how the sense of touch supports control, feedback and the act of writing",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":546,"content":547},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":549,"content":550},{},[551,555,564],{"nodeType":18,"value":552,"marks":553,"data":554},"If you'd like to receive these reflections each week, you can subscribe to the ",[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":556,"content":558},{"uri":557},"https://betterhandwritten.substack.com/",[559],{"nodeType":18,"value":560,"marks":561,"data":563},"Handwriting Matters Newsletter",[562],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":565,"marks":566,"data":567},".\nMany teachers and parents read along — you’re very welcome to join them.",[],{},{"url":569},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/35PJDSYmomKTwkByhIB5Ma/9605a927672b3e6ed5033fdc69e4fb12/65f4457e-4c0e-4dc4-8a26-6999a9bc4cbc_1276x960.webp","2025-12-04T11:00+01:00",[572,573],"Curriculum","Handwriting Development",{"id":575,"slug":576,"title":577,"longTitle":577,"summary":578,"mainBody":579,"heroImage":973,"publishDate":975,"articleDate":975,"tags":976},"2YPRKkrDMMI6sdEtGNc9be","why-writing-is-hard-for-children","Why Is Learning to Write So Hard for Children?","Why learning to write is so challenging for children — and how handwriting plays a vital role in brain development and becoming a confident writer.",{"nodeType":10,"data":580,"content":581},{},[582,608,629,636,643,646,654,661,668,675,678,685,692,699,706,713,720,728,735,738,745,752,768,775,782,789,796,803,810,817,824,827,834,841,848,855,862,869,876,954,957],{"nodeType":62,"data":583,"content":607},{"target":584},{"metadata":585,"sys":588,"fields":596},{"tags":586,"concepts":587},[],[],{"space":589,"id":591,"type":75,"createdAt":592,"updatedAt":592,"environment":593,"publishedVersion":595,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":590},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"2FC8jfabVi2phVmhfnc0Ku","2026-05-04T20:42:45.004Z",{"sys":594},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},6,{"title":597,"description":598,"file":599},"Neural connections forming in the brain, illustrating how learning builds and strengthens pathways over time","Neurons firing.",{"url":600,"details":601,"fileName":606,"contentType":95},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/2FC8jfabVi2phVmhfnc0Ku/ac79cc6c88ba36e6cca76457fef762c0/3ac5b619-2ae0-488a-9c09-0be0b79c9dab_2008x1128.webp",{"size":602,"image":603},42210,{"width":604,"height":605},1456,818,"3ac5b619-2ae0-488a-9c09-0be0b79c9dab_2008x1128.webp",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":609,"content":610},{},[611,616,620,625],{"nodeType":18,"value":612,"marks":613,"data":615},"'Learning to write is one of the hardest challenges pupils face at school, but it is vitally important.'",[614],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":617,"marks":618,"data":619},"\n\nWhen you’re a busy teacher or school leader, faced with a 150-page document to digest, the opening sentence of ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":621,"marks":622,"data":624},"The Writing Framework (DfE, 2025)",[623],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":626,"marks":627,"data":628}," is easy to skim over without much thought. \n\nBut it’s a powerful statement.\nIt acknowledges the complexity of an incredible human skill — one that has taken thousands of years to evolve — and reminds us of our responsibility to pass this gift on to future generations.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":630,"content":631},{},[632],{"nodeType":18,"value":633,"marks":634,"data":635},"So why is writing so difficult for children? And why is it vitally important? ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":637,"content":638},{},[639],{"nodeType":18,"value":640,"marks":641,"data":642},"Lots to unpack, but for now let’s focus on the big picture to frame our thinking. ",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":644,"content":645},{},[],{"nodeType":647,"data":648,"content":649},"heading-3",{},[650],{"nodeType":18,"value":651,"marks":652,"data":653},"Writing: a remarkable human invention",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":655,"content":656},{},[657],{"nodeType":18,"value":658,"marks":659,"data":660},"The earliest writing systems were preceded (for about 40,000 years) by pictures and marks on cave walls, bone and stone. Humans began to move thoughts from the internal space of their minds to external surfaces, which meant they could be remembered and communicated. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":662,"content":663},{},[664],{"nodeType":18,"value":665,"marks":666,"data":667},"That, quite simply, is exactly how writing still works for us today. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":669,"content":670},{},[671],{"nodeType":18,"value":672,"marks":673,"data":674},"But of course there’s been a long evolutionary road travelled since that spark of human initiative. Centuries of skill refinement and product development followed… activity that gradually, gradually expanded and changed the formation and functioning of our brains.",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":676,"content":677},{},[],{"nodeType":647,"data":679,"content":680},{},[681],{"nodeType":18,"value":682,"marks":683,"data":684},"The birth of alphabets",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":686,"content":687},{},[688],{"nodeType":18,"value":689,"marks":690,"data":691},"Don’t you think it’s fascinating that after a 40,000-year incubation, in a relatively short space of time, first writing systems began to emerge independently in different parts of the world? ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":693,"content":694},{},[695],{"nodeType":18,"value":696,"marks":697,"data":698},"First, there was cuneiform in Mesopotamia: picture symbols that morphed into wedge-shaped marks, pressed into wet clay to record trade activity, laws and stories. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":700,"content":701},{},[702],{"nodeType":18,"value":703,"marks":704,"data":705},"Only a hundred years or so later, Egyptian hieroglyphs proclaimed royal decrees and told stories of pharaohs, gods and the afterlife. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":707,"content":708},{},[709],{"nodeType":18,"value":710,"marks":711,"data":712},"And then — a couple of thousand years on — came the industry disruptors, thinking differently. The Phoenicians literally rewrote the writing rulebook. Recognising the limitations of picture symbols, they created the first alphabet — a system of written symbols that represented speech sounds. This meant abstract ideas and detail could be communicated more effectively. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":714,"content":715},{},[716],{"nodeType":18,"value":717,"marks":718,"data":719},"Writing now represented what was said rather than what was seen. And today — nearly 3000 years later — although our alphabet looks very different, that principle still holds. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":721,"content":722},{},[723],{"nodeType":18,"value":724,"marks":725,"data":727},"By the way, if you’re wondering (as I did), the word ‘phonics’ isn’t directly related to ‘Phoenicians’. The tempting connection is deceiving. Both have their origins in Greek but the meanings are totally different (phonics — ‘sound’, Phoenicians — ‘purple/red people’). ",[726],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":729,"content":730},{},[731],{"nodeType":18,"value":732,"marks":733,"data":734},"This short, simplified history is intended to get you thinking — and to recognise how deeply interwoven writing is with the development of our brains and minds.",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":736,"content":737},{},[],{"nodeType":647,"data":739,"content":740},{},[741],{"nodeType":18,"value":742,"marks":743,"data":744},"Why writing is difficult for children",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":746,"content":747},{},[748],{"nodeType":18,"value":749,"marks":750,"data":751},"This is why writing is indeed one of the hardest challenges children face at school. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":753,"content":754},{},[755,759,764],{"nodeType":18,"value":756,"marks":757,"data":758},"Their brains are still developing. Paradoxically though, the challenge of learning to write by hand (the lens I look through) is vitally important ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":760,"marks":761,"data":763},"to",[762],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":765,"marks":766,"data":767}," the development of their brains. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":769,"content":770},{},[771],{"nodeType":18,"value":772,"marks":773,"data":774},"Doing the hard thing makes hard things easier for the brain to navigate in the future. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":776,"content":777},{},[778],{"nodeType":18,"value":779,"marks":780,"data":781},"Do you remember that time during Lockdown, when we were only allowed out once a day? The weather was warm and sunny, and each morning I would head along Quakers Walk with Poppy, my lovely labrador. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":783,"content":784},{},[785],{"nodeType":18,"value":786,"marks":787,"data":788},"Day-by-day, week-by-week we watched a new housing estate slowly, slowly rise from the ground… not one house at a time, but one level at a time. And once the rooftops were finally in place, the roads and pathways connecting them with each other and the wider world were finished, completing the picture and ready (post Lockdown) for life to flow in. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":790,"content":791},{},[792],{"nodeType":18,"value":793,"marks":794,"data":795},"Handwriting demands the simultaneous coordination of brain functions that aren’t yet fully developed in young children. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":797,"content":798},{},[799],{"nodeType":18,"value":800,"marks":801,"data":802},"Think of each necessary function (motor control, visual processing, language networks and executive functions — I’ll explain more about these in future posts) as separate houses being built, layer by layer. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":804,"content":805},{},[806],{"nodeType":18,"value":807,"marks":808,"data":809},"Young children’s building sites are still under construction. The houses are not complete and they’re not yet well-connected. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":811,"content":812},{},[813],{"nodeType":18,"value":814,"marks":815,"data":816},"Handwriting, like the new houses and roads, provides the foundation for writing. It paves the way for becoming a writer — a journey that unfolds throughout a lifetime. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":818,"content":819},{},[820],{"nodeType":18,"value":821,"marks":822,"data":823},"It takes time. Like the time it takes to build the housing estate, for people to move in, to hang their pictures, put up blinds, fill the cupboards and make their houses homes. To plant seeds and watch their gardens grow season-by-season, to meet and chat with neighbours, and become a community.",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":825,"content":826},{},[],{"nodeType":647,"data":828,"content":829},{},[830],{"nodeType":18,"value":831,"marks":832,"data":833},"Handwriting builds the brain",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":835,"content":836},{},[837],{"nodeType":18,"value":838,"marks":839,"data":840},"Learning handwriting is a struggle at first. But the struggle is good. It supports brain development — the integration of motor, sensory and cognitive systems. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":842,"content":843},{},[844],{"nodeType":18,"value":845,"marks":846,"data":847},"Through the process of struggle, children develop neural circuits. These circuits connect to become networks. And the neural networks created through learning handwriting (precisely because it’s complex and we begin teaching early in children’s lives), support the ability to work through complex, multi-step tasks as they move through education and life. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":849,"content":850},{},[851],{"nodeType":18,"value":852,"marks":853,"data":854},"Handwriting is not just learning to write.\nIt’s learning how to learn. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":856,"content":857},{},[858],{"nodeType":18,"value":859,"marks":860,"data":861},"Writing is indeed one of the hardest challenges children face at school.\nBut yes, it’s vitally important and worth investing the time and attention teaching and learning need.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":863,"content":864},{},[865],{"nodeType":18,"value":866,"marks":867,"data":868},"In future posts, I’ll explore what this means in practice — and how we can support children through this process.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":870,"content":871},{},[872],{"nodeType":18,"value":873,"marks":874,"data":875},"You might also be interested in:",[],{},{"nodeType":467,"data":877,"content":878},{},[879,905,928],{"nodeType":471,"data":880,"content":881},{},[882],{"nodeType":14,"data":883,"content":884},{},[885,888,897,901],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":886,"data":887},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":889,"content":891},{"uri":890},"https://www.betterhandwritten.com/blog/handwriting-lines",[892],{"nodeType":18,"value":893,"marks":894,"data":896},"Handwriting Lines",[895],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":514,"marks":898,"data":900},[899],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":902,"marks":903,"data":904},"Understanding how the lines children write on shape their movement and control",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":906,"content":907},{},[908],{"nodeType":14,"data":909,"content":910},{},[911,914,921,925],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":912,"data":913},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":915,"content":916},{"uri":507},[917],{"nodeType":18,"value":510,"marks":918,"data":920},[919],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":514,"marks":922,"data":924},[923],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":518,"marks":926,"data":927},[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":929,"content":930},{},[931],{"nodeType":14,"data":932,"content":933},{},[934,937,946,950],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":935,"data":936},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":938,"content":940},{"uri":939},"https://www.betterhandwritten.com/blog/sensory-processing",[941],{"nodeType":18,"value":942,"marks":943,"data":945},"Sensory Processing and Handwriting",[944],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":514,"marks":947,"data":949},[948],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":951,"marks":952,"data":953},"Exploring the role of tactile, proprioceptive and vestibular systems in writing",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":955,"content":956},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":958,"content":959},{},[960,963,970],{"nodeType":18,"value":552,"marks":961,"data":962},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":964,"content":965},{"uri":557},[966],{"nodeType":18,"value":560,"marks":967,"data":969},[968],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":565,"marks":971,"data":972},[],{},{"url":974},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/2FC8jfabVi2phVmhfnc0Ku/ac79cc6c88ba36e6cca76457fef762c0/3ac5b619-2ae0-488a-9c09-0be0b79c9dab_2008x1128.webp","2025-11-27T11:00+01:00",[573,977],"Writing Framework",{"id":979,"slug":980,"title":981,"longTitle":981,"summary":982,"mainBody":983,"heroImage":1187,"publishDate":1189,"articleDate":1189,"tags":1190},"3Mu8aaavVRvJH4FspgbPOm","teaching-handwriting","Teaching Handwriting","An introduction to the renewed focus on handwriting following the publication of the Writing Framework, and a reflection on the opportunity — and challenge — of improving provision in primary schools.",{"nodeType":10,"data":984,"content":985},{},[986,1011,1018,1036,1043,1063,1078,1085,1092,1103,1168,1171],{"nodeType":62,"data":987,"content":1010},{"target":988},{"metadata":989,"sys":992,"fields":1000},{"tags":990,"concepts":991},[],[],{"space":993,"id":995,"type":75,"createdAt":996,"updatedAt":996,"environment":997,"publishedVersion":999,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":994},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"5hCAlwsC2SiCQ8ddKiIyjV","2026-05-04T18:06:58.754Z",{"sys":998},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},20,{"title":1001,"description":1002,"file":1003},"Hand holding a mug reading 'The Adventure Begins' overlooking a lake and mountains","Introducing the Handwriting Matters blog — the start of the journey together",{"url":1004,"details":1005,"fileName":1009,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/5hCAlwsC2SiCQ8ddKiIyjV/3475440f4828962abf449edee095d76e/teaching_handwriting_blog.jpeg",{"size":1006,"image":1007},486652,{"width":1008,"height":1008},1667,"teaching_handwriting_blog.jpeg",[],{"nodeType":1012,"data":1013,"content":1014},"heading-2",{},[1015],{"nodeType":18,"value":981,"marks":1016,"data":1017},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1019,"content":1020},{},[1021,1025,1032],{"nodeType":18,"value":1022,"marks":1023,"data":1024},"In July 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) in England published ",[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":1026,"content":1027},{"uri":445},[1028],{"nodeType":18,"value":448,"marks":1029,"data":1031},[1030],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1033,"marks":1034,"data":1035},". This comprehensive non-statutory guidance is designed to support teaching in primary schools, helping them better meet the statutory expectations of the National Curriculum.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1037,"content":1038},{},[1039],{"nodeType":18,"value":1040,"marks":1041,"data":1042},"Handwriting — a foundational transcription skill that's seen marked deterioration in recent years — is considered at length. Indeed, never before has such detailed guidance on teaching handwriting been communicated by a national body.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1044,"content":1045},{},[1046,1050,1059],{"nodeType":18,"value":1047,"marks":1048,"data":1049},"Since founding ",[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":1051,"content":1053},{"uri":1052},"https://www.betterhandwritten.com/about",[1054],{"nodeType":18,"value":1055,"marks":1056,"data":1058},"Better Handwritten",[1057],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1060,"marks":1061,"data":1062}," in 2019, I’ve worked with school leaders and teachers to develop the knowledge, systems and processes needed to teach handwriting effectively — and right now, I’m excited. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1064,"content":1065},{},[1066,1070,1074],{"nodeType":18,"value":1067,"marks":1068,"data":1069},"We have an opportunity to prioritise improving provision for all children — to focus attention on handwriting. ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":448,"marks":1071,"data":1073},[1072],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1075,"marks":1076,"data":1077}," not only gives permission, but sets a clear expectation",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1079,"content":1080},{},[1081],{"nodeType":18,"value":1082,"marks":1083,"data":1084},"I think it’s a fantastic piece of work. But it’s not going to be easy for schools to unpack the content and implement the guidance. It will be a journey — one that takes the time it takes — threading its way through the crowded reality of school life.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1086,"content":1087},{},[1088],{"nodeType":18,"value":1089,"marks":1090,"data":1091},"This blog is part of that journey — a space to share and develop understanding of handwriting, step by step, through classroom experience, research, observation and shared reflection.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1093,"content":1094},{},[1095,1099],{"nodeType":18,"value":1096,"marks":1097,"data":1098},"If handwriting matters to you, you’re very welcome here.\n\n",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":462,"marks":1100,"data":1102},[1101],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":467,"data":1104,"content":1105},{},[1106,1127,1147],{"nodeType":471,"data":1107,"content":1108},{},[1109],{"nodeType":14,"data":1110,"content":1111},{},[1112,1115,1123],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":1113,"data":1114},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":1116,"content":1117},{"uri":939},[1118],{"nodeType":18,"value":1119,"marks":1120,"data":1122},"Sensory Processing",[1121],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1124,"marks":1125,"data":1126}," \nUnderstanding the role of tactile, proprioceptive and vestibular systems in handwriting",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1128,"content":1129},{},[1130],{"nodeType":14,"data":1131,"content":1132},{},[1133,1136,1143],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":1134,"data":1135},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":1137,"content":1138},{"uri":507},[1139],{"nodeType":18,"value":510,"marks":1140,"data":1142},[1141],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1144,"marks":1145,"data":1146}," \nExploring the role of working memory and movement",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1148,"content":1149},{},[1150],{"nodeType":14,"data":1151,"content":1152},{},[1153,1157,1164],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":1154,"data":1156},[1155],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":33,"data":1158,"content":1159},{"uri":890},[1160],{"nodeType":18,"value":893,"marks":1161,"data":1163},[1162],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1165,"marks":1166,"data":1167}," \nHow children interpret and use lines in writing",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":1169,"content":1170},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1172,"content":1173},{},[1174,1177,1184],{"nodeType":18,"value":552,"marks":1175,"data":1176},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":1178,"content":1179},{"uri":557},[1180],{"nodeType":18,"value":560,"marks":1181,"data":1183},[1182],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":565,"marks":1185,"data":1186},[],{},{"url":1188},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/5hCAlwsC2SiCQ8ddKiIyjV/3475440f4828962abf449edee095d76e/teaching_handwriting_blog.jpeg","2025-11-20T11:00+00:00",[977,572],{"id":1192,"slug":1193,"title":1194,"longTitle":1194,"summary":1195,"mainBody":1196,"heroImage":1991,"publishDate":1993,"articleDate":1993,"tags":1994},"5FBBBnIZn2uc7trceJbxWH","types-of-pen-hold-and-managing-change","Part II : Types of Pen Hold and Managing Change","Helpful to know before making changes.",{"nodeType":10,"data":1197,"content":1198},{},[1199,1206,1213,1220,1227,1234,1241,1248,1255,1262,1265,1272,1279,1282,1289,1296,1303,1327,1334,1367,1373,1380,1433,1436,1443,1450,1457,1464,1471,1497,1506,1513,1537,1546,1553,1577,1586,1593,1596,1603,1610,1633,1642,1665,1674,1681,1704,1713,1716,1723,1786,1789,1796,1803,1810,1817,1847,1863,1886,1902,1918,1934,1937,1945,1963,1971,1978,1985],{"nodeType":14,"data":1200,"content":1201},{},[1202],{"nodeType":18,"value":1203,"marks":1204,"data":1205},"“Nicola, can you stay behind at the end of the lesson please,” said Mr Cowan my first-year secondary English teacher (it was before the term ‘Year 7’ existed).",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1207,"content":1208},{},[1209],{"nodeType":18,"value":1210,"marks":1211,"data":1212},"I rolled my eyes…internally. I was usually only internally rebellious.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1214,"content":1215},{},[1216],{"nodeType":18,"value":1217,"marks":1218,"data":1219},"Believe it or not I was sometimes naughty at school. I was one of those students who managed to get away with things because I was generally cheerful and helpful. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1221,"content":1222},{},[1223],{"nodeType":18,"value":1224,"marks":1225,"data":1226},"So I assumed I was probably going to be gently reprimanded for some wrong-doing, but to my horror Mr Cowan announced, “I’ve noticed your pen hold is wrong and I've put you down to attend a group each week to correct it.”",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1228,"content":1229},{},[1230],{"nodeType":18,"value":1231,"marks":1232,"data":1233},"I was mortified!",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1235,"content":1236},{},[1237],{"nodeType":18,"value":1238,"marks":1239,"data":1240},"I’d always prided myself on having nice handwriting and was at that exciting stage where I was experimenting with developing my own cool style. I’d never even considered how I held my pen! How dare he! A wave of heat flooded my face and I found myself struggling to hold back tears of embarrassment and rage. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1242,"content":1243},{},[1244],{"nodeType":18,"value":1245,"marks":1246,"data":1247},"I attended one session. I was moody, sulky and stubbornly refused to engage. The internal rebel stepped out onto the stage and blinked in the spotlights.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1249,"content":1250},{},[1251],{"nodeType":18,"value":1252,"marks":1253,"data":1254},"Mr Cowan gave up and we moved on. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1256,"content":1257},{},[1258],{"nodeType":18,"value":1259,"marks":1260,"data":1261},"This is NOT how to manage or affect changing a pen hold. ",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":1263,"content":1264},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1266,"content":1267},{},[1268],{"nodeType":18,"value":1269,"marks":1270,"data":1271},"Looking back years later, a teacher myself, I imagined Mr C had been on a course. He’d probably been told that the tripod grip was the one and only correct grip (he was misinformed) and had honourably set about fixing those of us whose pen holds were incorrect. I know he had the right intentions; he just went about it the wrong way.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1273,"content":1274},{},[1275],{"nodeType":18,"value":1276,"marks":1277,"data":1278},"And no, I’m not revealing my pen hold yet; it’s a cliff-hanger, you’ll have to wait til the end!",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":1280,"content":1281},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1283,"content":1284},{},[1285],{"nodeType":18,"value":1286,"marks":1287,"data":1288},"Before I outline key points to be aware of when supporting someone to change their grip, let’s look at types of pen hold. I’ll only cover some common ones so that I (hopefully) don’t lose your attention! Please bear in mind there are a range of variations.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1290,"content":1291},{},[1292],{"nodeType":18,"value":1293,"marks":1294,"data":1295},"Considering these will help make sense of why awkward holds develop, why there are benefits to modifying some holds and why others are absolutely fine to leave alone.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1297,"content":1298},{},[1299],{"nodeType":18,"value":1300,"marks":1301,"data":1302},"Firstly, let me remind you of the Better Handwritten goals I shared in Part I of this blog, 'Can and should pen hold be corrected?'",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":1304,"content":1326},{"target":1305},{"metadata":1306,"sys":1309,"fields":1317},{"tags":1307,"concepts":1308},[],[],{"space":1310,"id":1312,"type":75,"createdAt":1313,"updatedAt":1313,"environment":1314,"publishedVersion":1316,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":1311},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"3ietEY9KKSeEHTTJSvfD5p","2021-03-09T22:11:27.283Z",{"sys":1315},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},5,{"title":1318,"file":1319},"Better Handwritten Logo",{"url":1320,"details":1321,"fileName":1325,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3ietEY9KKSeEHTTJSvfD5p/d226213f746db068dd1d9557fd9b751d/Better_Handwritten_Logo.jpeg",{"size":1322,"image":1323},106459,{"width":1324,"height":1324},1600,"Better Handwritten Logo.jpeg",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1328,"content":1329},{},[1330],{"nodeType":18,"value":1331,"marks":1332,"data":1333},"When thinking about a person and their handwriting:",[],{},{"nodeType":467,"data":1335,"content":1336},{},[1337,1347,1357],{"nodeType":471,"data":1338,"content":1339},{},[1340],{"nodeType":14,"data":1341,"content":1342},{},[1343],{"nodeType":18,"value":1344,"marks":1345,"data":1346},"we want them to feel good about it.",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1348,"content":1349},{},[1350],{"nodeType":14,"data":1351,"content":1352},{},[1353],{"nodeType":18,"value":1354,"marks":1355,"data":1356},"we want it to be legible (to themselves and to others)",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1358,"content":1359},{},[1360],{"nodeType":14,"data":1361,"content":1362},{},[1363],{"nodeType":18,"value":1364,"marks":1365,"data":1366},"we want it to be useful (different handwriting for different purposes)",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1368,"content":1369},{},[1370],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":1371,"data":1372},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1374,"content":1375},{},[1376],{"nodeType":18,"value":1377,"marks":1378,"data":1379},"For some people, pen hold impacts negatively on these goals because it:",[],{},{"nodeType":467,"data":1381,"content":1382},{},[1383,1393,1403,1413,1423],{"nodeType":471,"data":1384,"content":1385},{},[1386],{"nodeType":14,"data":1387,"content":1388},{},[1389],{"nodeType":18,"value":1390,"marks":1391,"data":1392},"is painful (the kind of pain that you get used to and grudgingly accept or avoid encountering whenever possible)",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1394,"content":1395},{},[1396],{"nodeType":14,"data":1397,"content":1398},{},[1399],{"nodeType":18,"value":1400,"marks":1401,"data":1402},"causes frustration (for example with smudging, when work is constantly spoiled and writing hand stained) which leads to stress",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1404,"content":1405},{},[1406],{"nodeType":14,"data":1407,"content":1408},{},[1409],{"nodeType":18,"value":1410,"marks":1411,"data":1412},"draws unwanted attention and comments about looking awkward or different (causing self-consciousness and anxiety)",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1414,"content":1415},{},[1416],{"nodeType":14,"data":1417,"content":1418},{},[1419],{"nodeType":18,"value":1420,"marks":1421,"data":1422},"constantly interrupts their view of what’s been written, which affects immediate review and reflection",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1424,"content":1425},{},[1426],{"nodeType":14,"data":1427,"content":1428},{},[1429],{"nodeType":18,"value":1430,"marks":1431,"data":1432},"affects outcomes (an inefficient grip blocks finger movements; this impacts on ability to write at speed, which in turn can impact on school work and exam performance)",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":1434,"content":1435},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1437,"content":1438},{},[1439],{"nodeType":18,"value":1440,"marks":1441,"data":1442},"So how does an individual’s pen hold evolve in the first place?",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1444,"content":1445},{},[1446],{"nodeType":18,"value":1447,"marks":1448,"data":1449},"Put simply, there's a process to work through.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1451,"content":1452},{},[1453],{"nodeType":18,"value":1454,"marks":1455,"data":1456},"Pencils and pens are tools; from an early age we became aware of them by observing others using them. As with learning many early skills, we copied - based on our perception and ability at the time.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1458,"content":1459},{},[1460],{"nodeType":18,"value":1461,"marks":1462,"data":1463},"As young children that probably meant picking up a crayon in our little hand. We weren’t aware of the details of finger position and anyway, didn’t have fine motor control yet, so we adopted a fist grip. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1465,"content":1466},{},[1467],{"nodeType":18,"value":1468,"marks":1469,"data":1470},"A fist grip uses a whole arm movement... try miming it like I just did!",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":1472,"content":1496},{"target":1473},{"metadata":1474,"sys":1477,"fields":1485},{"tags":1475,"concepts":1476},[],[],{"space":1478,"id":1480,"type":75,"createdAt":1481,"updatedAt":1481,"environment":1482,"publishedVersion":1484,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":1479},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"4akW4goY8zgnYNNFFmQalT","2021-03-09T21:13:32.463Z",{"sys":1483},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},4,{"title":1486,"file":1487},"Fist Grip",{"url":1488,"details":1489,"fileName":1494,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/4akW4goY8zgnYNNFFmQalT/7af44fa7a317409889cd5d05777fa6e0/Fistgrip.png",{"size":1490,"image":1491},66604,{"width":1492,"height":1493},242,276,"Fistgrip.png","image/png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1498,"content":1499},{},[1500],{"nodeType":18,"value":1501,"marks":1502,"data":1505},"Around age 1 - 2",[1503,1504],{"type":26},{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1507,"content":1508},{},[1509],{"nodeType":18,"value":1510,"marks":1511,"data":1512},"Gradually we discovered control was easier with our palm facing down and forefinger on top. We could control this from the elbow so it was a little less tiring.",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":1514,"content":1536},{"target":1515},{"metadata":1516,"sys":1519,"fields":1526},{"tags":1517,"concepts":1518},[],[],{"space":1520,"id":1522,"type":75,"createdAt":1523,"updatedAt":1523,"environment":1524,"publishedVersion":595,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":1521},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"10lCBr9Ht1AnxziQc2kocq","2021-03-09T21:49:27.340Z",{"sys":1525},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":1527,"file":1528},"Forefinger Pen Hold",{"url":1529,"details":1530,"fileName":1535,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/10lCBr9Ht1AnxziQc2kocq/0d6e86e2a5eb81774e70cfd8420171ff/Forefinger_pen_hold.png",{"size":1531,"image":1532},147210,{"width":1533,"height":1534},486,462,"Forefinger pen hold.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1538,"content":1539},{},[1540],{"nodeType":18,"value":1541,"marks":1542,"data":1545},"Around age 2 - 3",[1543,1544],{"type":133},{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1547,"content":1548},{},[1549],{"nodeType":18,"value":1550,"marks":1551,"data":1552},"Over time, as muscles in the wrist and fingers strengthened, our hand began to turn to the side which meant we could control movement from the wrist and relax the arm.  We had to adjust our fingers to balance the pencil.",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":1554,"content":1576},{"target":1555},{"metadata":1556,"sys":1559,"fields":1566},{"tags":1557,"concepts":1558},[],[],{"space":1560,"id":1562,"type":75,"createdAt":1563,"updatedAt":1563,"environment":1564,"publishedVersion":1316,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":1561},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"7dOT7YRGv8krQeCzFU0wqy","2021-03-09T22:11:18.780Z",{"sys":1565},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":1567,"file":1568},"Four finger pen hold",{"url":1569,"details":1570,"fileName":1575,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/7dOT7YRGv8krQeCzFU0wqy/41d0d5f9218b640e394cbce64e6ece79/Four_finger_pen_hold.png",{"size":1571,"image":1572},603503,{"width":1573,"height":1574},1030,564,"Four finger pen hold.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1578,"content":1579},{},[1580],{"nodeType":18,"value":1581,"marks":1582,"data":1585},"Age 4+",[1583,1584],{"type":133},{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1587,"content":1588},{},[1589],{"nodeType":18,"value":1590,"marks":1591,"data":1592},"This seems to be the point where some creative positioning develops which unfortunately, if unnoticed and left unchecked, results in an awkward and often uncomfortable hold becoming automated.",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":1594,"content":1595},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1597,"content":1598},{},[1599],{"nodeType":18,"value":1600,"marks":1601,"data":1602},"What we want is an efficient grip that allows distal control (the ability to move the muscles of the fingers separately).",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1604,"content":1605},{},[1606],{"nodeType":18,"value":1607,"marks":1608,"data":1609},"This brings us to the most effective pen holds: the dynamic tripod and quadrupod grips:",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":1611,"content":1632},{"target":1612},{"metadata":1613,"sys":1616,"fields":1623},{"tags":1614,"concepts":1615},[],[],{"space":1617,"id":1619,"type":75,"createdAt":1620,"updatedAt":1620,"environment":1621,"publishedVersion":1484,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":1618},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"7dwdBmYnaegfTmHCbjSb7S","2021-03-09T23:24:14.988Z",{"sys":1622},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":1624,"file":1625},"Tripod Grips",{"url":1626,"details":1627,"fileName":1631,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/7dwdBmYnaegfTmHCbjSb7S/e23f2d32d37b6cbd15de0594d3fbcde0/Tripod_grips.png",{"size":1628,"image":1629},508074,{"width":1573,"height":1630},356,"Tripod grips.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1634,"content":1635},{},[1636],{"nodeType":18,"value":1637,"marks":1638,"data":1641},"The dynamic tripod hold has 3 digits in contact with the pen \n(thumb, forefinger and middle finger)",[1639,1640],{"type":133},{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":62,"data":1643,"content":1664},{"target":1644},{"metadata":1645,"sys":1648,"fields":1655},{"tags":1646,"concepts":1647},[],[],{"space":1649,"id":1651,"type":75,"createdAt":1652,"updatedAt":1652,"environment":1653,"publishedVersion":1316,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":1650},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"57MPGZ0CJ50zUoOkKsoM8F","2021-03-09T23:25:53.156Z",{"sys":1654},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":1656,"file":1657},"Quadrupod Grips",{"url":1658,"details":1659,"fileName":1663,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/57MPGZ0CJ50zUoOkKsoM8F/8bdba7d9f07ae3a389d3cfe8941c9f81/Quadrupod_Grips.png",{"size":1660,"image":1661},533090,{"width":1573,"height":1662},366,"Quadrupod Grips.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1666,"content":1667},{},[1668],{"nodeType":18,"value":1669,"marks":1670,"data":1673},"The dynamic quadrupod has 4 digits in contact \n(thumb, forefinger, middle finger and ring finger)",[1671,1672],{"type":133},{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1675,"content":1676},{},[1677],{"nodeType":18,"value":1678,"marks":1679,"data":1680},"There are also 'lateral' versions of these grips where the thumb crosses the pencil, holding it in place but still allowing effective finger movements. These are generally fine too:",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":1682,"content":1703},{"target":1683},{"metadata":1684,"sys":1687,"fields":1694},{"tags":1685,"concepts":1686},[],[],{"space":1688,"id":1690,"type":75,"createdAt":1691,"updatedAt":1691,"environment":1692,"publishedVersion":1484,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":1689},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"6M44f1o86xqsAcM8Dxu9q","2021-03-09T23:27:59.112Z",{"sys":1693},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":1695,"file":1696},"Lateral Grips",{"url":1697,"details":1698,"fileName":1702,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/6M44f1o86xqsAcM8Dxu9q/4ec1607f6e793e508a17bfa04fa5fa02/Lateral_Grips.png",{"size":1699,"image":1700},472456,{"width":1573,"height":1701},423,"Lateral Grips.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1705,"content":1706},{},[1707],{"nodeType":18,"value":1708,"marks":1709,"data":1712},"Lateral tripod and lateral quadrupod holds",[1710,1711],{"type":133},{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":172,"data":1714,"content":1715},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1717,"content":1718},{},[1719],{"nodeType":18,"value":1720,"marks":1721,"data":1722},"Here are key points to give some careful thought to when reviewing a child's grip and managing change:",[],{},{"nodeType":467,"data":1724,"content":1725},{},[1726,1736,1746,1756,1766,1776],{"nodeType":471,"data":1727,"content":1728},{},[1729],{"nodeType":14,"data":1730,"content":1731},{},[1732],{"nodeType":18,"value":1733,"marks":1734,"data":1735},"there is a developmental sequence to an individual’s pen hold evolving",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1737,"content":1738},{},[1739],{"nodeType":14,"data":1740,"content":1741},{},[1742],{"nodeType":18,"value":1743,"marks":1744,"data":1745},"not all children will naturally evolve an efficient grip",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1747,"content":1748},{},[1749],{"nodeType":14,"data":1750,"content":1751},{},[1752],{"nodeType":18,"value":1753,"marks":1754,"data":1755},"an efficient grip allows effective movement of the finger muscles; an inefficient grip restricts and blocks finger movement",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1757,"content":1758},{},[1759],{"nodeType":14,"data":1760,"content":1761},{},[1762],{"nodeType":18,"value":1763,"marks":1764,"data":1765},"adults may need to intervene and support change; it is crucial that teachers and parents understand how to help and work together",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1767,"content":1768},{},[1769],{"nodeType":14,"data":1770,"content":1771},{},[1772],{"nodeType":18,"value":1773,"marks":1774,"data":1775},"change is often met with emotional resistance; this is normal and to be expected. If this is not managed effectively however, the upset and damage caused may result in a negative association with writing and damaged self-esteem",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":1777,"content":1778},{},[1779],{"nodeType":14,"data":1780,"content":1781},{},[1782],{"nodeType":18,"value":1783,"marks":1784,"data":1785},"inefficient pen holds should not be ignored and change shouldn’t be abandoned when resistance is met (but it must be managed compassionately and with confidence)",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":1787,"content":1788},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1790,"content":1791},{},[1792],{"nodeType":18,"value":1793,"marks":1794,"data":1795},"Mr Cowan gave up.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1797,"content":1798},{},[1799],{"nodeType":18,"value":1800,"marks":1801,"data":1802},"Amy gave up (Blog Part I).",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1804,"content":1805},{},[1806],{"nodeType":18,"value":1807,"marks":1808,"data":1809},"Adam’s primary school teacher gave up (Blog Part I).",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1811,"content":1812},{},[1813],{"nodeType":18,"value":1814,"marks":1815,"data":1816},"Not because they didn’t care, but because they were worried they would do more damage than good. They didn’t have the knowledge and understanding of the process of change or strategies to manage it effectively and confidently.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1818,"content":1819},{},[1820,1824,1831,1835,1843],{"nodeType":18,"value":1821,"marks":1822,"data":1823},"I hope this blog and ",[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":1825,"content":1826},{"uri":482},[1827],{"nodeType":18,"value":1828,"marks":1829,"data":1830},"Part I : Can and should pen hold be corrected?",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1832,"marks":1833,"data":1834}," have been interesting and helpful to you.\n\nIf you have questions or would welcome support around changing pen hold, sign up for one of the FREE ",[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":1836,"content":1838},{"uri":1837},"https://courses.betterhandwritten.com/collections",[1839],{"nodeType":18,"value":1840,"marks":1841,"data":1842},"Better Handwritten Starter Guides",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1844,"marks":1845,"data":1846},". You'll then have access to the community support page and can come and chat to me there :) ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1848,"content":1849},{},[1850,1854,1859],{"nodeType":18,"value":1851,"marks":1852,"data":1853},"And no, I hadn’t forgotten... I’ll finish with ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1855,"marks":1856,"data":1858},"The Big Reveal",[1857],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1860,"marks":1861,"data":1862},"!\n\nI have a DYNAMIC QUADRUPOD hold :)",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":1864,"content":1885},{"target":1865},{"metadata":1866,"sys":1869,"fields":1876},{"tags":1867,"concepts":1868},[],[],{"space":1870,"id":1872,"type":75,"createdAt":1873,"updatedAt":1873,"environment":1874,"publishedVersion":1316,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":1871},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"2nDDCDUwzgR61EvLDwtkEy","2021-03-09T23:33:13.464Z",{"sys":1875},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":1877,"file":1878},"Nicky's Pen Hold",{"url":1879,"details":1880,"fileName":1884,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/2nDDCDUwzgR61EvLDwtkEy/d762859ffe45d5aa7b4e448c0942cc02/Nicky-s_pen_hold.png",{"size":1881,"image":1882},1195561,{"width":1883,"height":1573},910,"Nicky's pen hold.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":1887,"content":1888},{},[1889,1893,1898],{"nodeType":18,"value":1890,"marks":1891,"data":1892},"PS I actually have THREE pen holds and switch according to the task (or how I'm feeling)!\n\nThe ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1894,"marks":1895,"data":1897},"quadrupod ",[1896],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1899,"marks":1900,"data":1901},"is my long established, habitual grip.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1903,"content":1904},{},[1905,1909,1914],{"nodeType":18,"value":1906,"marks":1907,"data":1908},"I use a ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1910,"marks":1911,"data":1913},"lateral quadrupod",[1912],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1915,"marks":1916,"data":1917}," when recording demonstration videos, so my thumb doesn't block the view of pen meeting paper. Seeing the way letters and joins is the important thing for the viewer.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1919,"content":1920},{},[1921,1925,1930],{"nodeType":18,"value":1922,"marks":1923,"data":1924},"And I use a",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1926,"marks":1927,"data":1929}," tripod",[1928],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":1931,"marks":1932,"data":1933}," grip when I feel like it. Now that's a choice... my choice and not made because someone else judges my other holds to be 'wrong' without knowing or explaining why.",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":1935,"content":1936},{},[],{"nodeType":1938,"data":1939,"content":1940},"heading-4",{},[1941],{"nodeType":18,"value":1942,"marks":1943,"data":1944},"Course now available to buy: ",[],{},{"nodeType":1946,"data":1947,"content":1948},"heading-1",{},[1949,1952,1960],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":1950,"data":1951},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":1953,"content":1955},{"uri":1954},"https://courses.betterhandwritten.com/courses/changing-pen-hold",[1956],{"nodeType":18,"value":1957,"marks":1958,"data":1959},"Changing Pen Hold",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":1961,"data":1962},[],{},{"nodeType":1964,"data":1965,"content":1966},"heading-6",{},[1967],{"nodeType":18,"value":1968,"marks":1969,"data":1970},"Everything you need to know about developing a comfortable, efficient pen hold and how to manage change in an easy, stress-free way.",[],{},{"nodeType":1964,"data":1972,"content":1973},{},[1974],{"nodeType":18,"value":1975,"marks":1976,"data":1977},"\nPrintable progress TRACKERS and CERTIFICATES included!",[],{},{"nodeType":1964,"data":1979,"content":1980},{},[1981],{"nodeType":18,"value":1982,"marks":1983,"data":1984},"\nIdeal for parents, teachers and self-improvement.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":1986,"content":1987},{},[1988],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":1989,"data":1990},[],{},{"url":1992},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3RzQ0TQ0A1Q1yLZ1IV1eO4/3fa9c22c32827cb017182dabf7557477/Right_handed_tripod_grip.png","2022-04-16T00:00+00:00",[1995,1996,1997],"Teachers","Parents","Adults",{"id":1999,"slug":2000,"title":2001,"longTitle":2001,"summary":2002,"mainBody":2003,"heroImage":2063,"publishDate":2065,"articleDate":2065,"tags":2066},"ocnSTgTgrmAELMqdlEkWs","purposeful-practice","Purposeful Handwriting Practice","A few thoughts...",{"nodeType":10,"data":2004,"content":2005},{},[2006,2031,2038,2045],{"nodeType":62,"content":2007,"data":2008},[],{"target":2009},{"metadata":2010,"sys":2013,"fields":2021},{"tags":2011,"concepts":2012},[],[],{"space":2014,"id":2016,"type":75,"createdAt":2017,"updatedAt":2017,"environment":2018,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":2015},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"3wxahTpfoEYCuRDfe2ffti","2021-05-17T08:19:22.822Z",{"sys":2019},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},3,{"title":2022,"file":2023},"Ideas Notebook",{"url":2024,"details":2025,"fileName":2030,"contentType":95},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3wxahTpfoEYCuRDfe2ffti/090f7700f1ac6e26bc90e4091b975108/Ideas_Notebook.webp",{"size":2026,"image":2027},51658,{"width":2028,"height":2029},800,601,"Ideas Notebook.webp",{"nodeType":14,"content":2032,"data":2037},[2033],{"nodeType":18,"value":2034,"marks":2035,"data":2036},"I'd like to make our handwriting sessions across the school more purposeful, as I feel at the minute it's a '10-minute-slot-that-we-have-to-do' attitude. Would love any ideas. Do you teach it stand alone? 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And maybe some time you'll visit and send some postcards from Scotland yourself :)",[],{},{},{"nodeType":62,"content":2481,"data":2482},[],{"target":2483},{"metadata":2484,"sys":2487,"fields":2494},{"tags":2485,"concepts":2486},[],[],{"space":2488,"id":2490,"type":75,"createdAt":2491,"updatedAt":2491,"environment":2492,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":2489},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"nKcSPSqvEZAya26RzIHfH","2021-03-10T23:25:44.296Z",{"sys":2493},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":2495,"file":2496},"Firth of Forth from Arthur's Seat",{"url":2497,"details":2498,"fileName":2502,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/nKcSPSqvEZAya26RzIHfH/13f0816728f30f71e9ea56443ca2c070/Firth_of_Forth_from_Arthur-s_Seat.png",{"size":2499,"image":2500},870898,{"width":1573,"height":2501},568,"Firth of Forth from Arthur's Seat.png",{"nodeType":14,"content":2504,"data":2511},[2505],{"nodeType":18,"value":2506,"marks":2507,"data":2510},"View of the Firth of Forth walking up to Arthur's Seat",[2508,2509],{"type":133},{"type":26},{},{},{"nodeType":62,"content":2513,"data":2514},[],{"target":2515},{"metadata":2516,"sys":2519,"fields":2526},{"tags":2517,"concepts":2518},[],[],{"space":2520,"id":2522,"type":75,"createdAt":2523,"updatedAt":2523,"environment":2524,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":2521},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"4WgG3U4bsIMSrDVCd3merl","2021-03-10T23:19:00.215Z",{"sys":2525},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":2527,"file":2528},"Edinburgh Castle",{"url":2529,"details":2530,"fileName":2534,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/4WgG3U4bsIMSrDVCd3merl/5c2f6030ea8338d54843a294cffd6f9c/Edinburgh_Castle.png",{"size":2531,"image":2532},1351988,{"width":1573,"height":2533},813,"Edinburgh Castle.png",{"nodeType":14,"content":2536,"data":2543},[2537],{"nodeType":18,"value":2538,"marks":2539,"data":2542},"View of Edinburgh Castle and the city from Calton Hill",[2540,2541],{"type":133},{"type":26},{},{},{"nodeType":62,"content":2545,"data":2546},[],{"target":2547},{"metadata":2548,"sys":2551,"fields":2558},{"tags":2549,"concepts":2550},[],[],{"space":2552,"id":2554,"type":75,"createdAt":2555,"updatedAt":2555,"environment":2556,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":2553},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"6jXMbCr1gHmMeXO8tBLPn","2021-03-10T23:22:31.698Z",{"sys":2557},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":2559,"file":2560},"Arthur's Seat",{"url":2561,"details":2562,"fileName":2566,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/6jXMbCr1gHmMeXO8tBLPn/2f426a506a8784729558362553075406/Arthur-s_Seat.png",{"size":2563,"image":2564},893872,{"width":1573,"height":2565},657,"Arthur's Seat.png",{"nodeType":14,"content":2568,"data":2575},[2569],{"nodeType":18,"value":2570,"marks":2571,"data":2574},"Looking across to Arthur's Seat (the peak on the left)",[2572,2573],{"type":133},{"type":26},{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":2577,"data":2582},[2578],{"nodeType":18,"value":2579,"marks":2580,"data":2581},"Do you have postcards you've kept? \nWhere from? Who from? I'd love to hear!\n\nYou can find me and let me know on Twitter: \n\n@nicky_parr",[],{},{},{"url":2584},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/5FUxkvDkRDXW2QKilWDIYC/4da1ad9d3187c4607d6c05da0edada69/Edinburgh-Postcard.png","2020-09-07T00:00+00:00",[2587],"Social",{"id":2589,"slug":2590,"title":2591,"longTitle":2591,"summary":2592,"mainBody":2593,"heroImage":3083,"publishDate":3085,"articleDate":3085,"tags":3086},"40qdsS8ojKXD9UNLwV12g0","happy-handwriting","Happy Handwriting","Handwritten cards and letters mean so much!",{"data":2594,"content":2595,"nodeType":10},{},[2596,2603,2627,2634,2641,2657,2664,2671,2678,2685,2692,2699,2706,2722,2729,2753,2760,2784,2791,2815,2822,2846,2853,2877,2884,2908,2915,2922,2948,2955,2979,2986,3010,3017,3024,3031,3038,3045,3052,3059,3062,3069,3076],{"data":2597,"content":2598,"nodeType":14},{},[2599],{"data":2600,"marks":2601,"value":2602,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It was my birthday yesterday!\n\nI had such a lovely day and I’ll be honest, one of the things I enjoyed most was opening my cards.\n",{"data":2604,"content":2626,"nodeType":62},{"target":2605},{"metadata":2606,"sys":2609,"fields":2616},{"tags":2607,"concepts":2608},[],[],{"space":2610,"id":2612,"type":75,"createdAt":2613,"updatedAt":2613,"environment":2614,"publishedVersion":1316,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":2611},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"6SOWOXtiry7lJRG5J6igOr","2021-02-08T18:49:48.654Z",{"sys":2615},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":2617,"file":2618},"Nixs Birthday Card",{"url":2619,"details":2620,"fileName":2625,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/6SOWOXtiry7lJRG5J6igOr/935e2f1f37480f775917c71f706dd6cc/image-35.jpeg",{"size":2621,"image":2622},16520,{"width":2623,"height":2624},224,228,"image-35.jpeg",[],{"data":2628,"content":2629,"nodeType":14},{},[2630],{"data":2631,"marks":2632,"value":2633,"nodeType":18},{},[],"You see, recognising the handwriting on each envelope and reading the handwritten messages inside brought so many smiles to my face and so many warm memories to my mind... so many stories and a sense of connection with the wonderful people I am so lucky to have in my life.",{"data":2635,"content":2636,"nodeType":14},{},[2637],{"data":2638,"marks":2639,"value":2640,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Sometimes people ask me whether handwriting has any relevance in the 'digital age'. ",{"data":2642,"content":2643,"nodeType":14},{},[2644,2648,2653],{"data":2645,"marks":2646,"value":2647,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Well for me it is never a question of having to choose ",{"data":2649,"marks":2650,"value":2652,"nodeType":18},{},[2651],{"type":26},"between",{"data":2654,"marks":2655,"value":2656,"nodeType":18},{},[]," keyboarding and handwriting. We benefit from and can enjoy both!",{"data":2658,"content":2659,"nodeType":14},{},[2660],{"data":2661,"marks":2662,"value":2663,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I love digital communication! It's fast and has the power to connect us across the world in a way that is absolutely incredible (and which we pretty much take for granted now).",{"data":2665,"content":2666,"nodeType":14},{},[2667],{"data":2668,"marks":2669,"value":2670,"nodeType":18},{},[],"But there's also nothing quite like writing or receiving a handwritten card or letter. Because our handwriting is part of our identity. ",{"data":2672,"content":2673,"nodeType":14},{},[2674],{"data":2675,"marks":2676,"value":2677,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It speaks of us. ",{"data":2679,"content":2680,"nodeType":14},{},[2681],{"data":2682,"marks":2683,"value":2684,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It connects us.",{"data":2686,"content":2687,"nodeType":14},{},[2688],{"data":2689,"marks":2690,"value":2691,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It's personal.",{"data":2693,"content":2694,"nodeType":14},{},[2695],{"data":2696,"marks":2697,"value":2698,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Handwriting expresses our energy... whether we're in a rush... or relaxed and taking our time... our feelings and emotions...  and our exeriences... it evolves with us and reflects the motion of our lives.",{"data":2700,"content":2701,"nodeType":14},{},[2702],{"data":2703,"marks":2704,"value":2705,"nodeType":18},{},[],"In this busy, busy world, it means a lot when someone makes the effort and takes the time to write. After all, what is really more valuable than our time?",{"data":2707,"content":2708,"nodeType":14},{},[2709,2713,2718],{"data":2710,"marks":2711,"value":2712,"nodeType":18},{},[],"One of the things I love about my birthday cards is knowing that, for those moments of writing, my friends and family were holding me in mind. And as I read them, I held each of ",{"data":2714,"marks":2715,"value":2717,"nodeType":18},{},[2716],{"type":26},"them ",{"data":2719,"marks":2720,"value":2721,"nodeType":18},{},[],"in mind. Picturing them... the last time we saw each other or spoke, the experiences we've shared together in the past...",{"data":2723,"content":2724,"nodeType":14},{},[2725],{"data":2726,"marks":2727,"value":2728,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Sitting in a bar on Hollywood Avenue with Ian and Jess during my first stay with them in California...",{"data":2730,"content":2752,"nodeType":62},{"target":2731},{"metadata":2732,"sys":2735,"fields":2742},{"tags":2733,"concepts":2734},[],[],{"space":2736,"id":2738,"type":75,"createdAt":2739,"updatedAt":2739,"environment":2740,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":2737},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"3Cw25VB3cbhO8sfeaUntVj","2021-03-05T22:38:05.380Z",{"sys":2741},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":2743,"file":2744},"Nix - Ian & Jess",{"url":2745,"details":2746,"fileName":2751,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3Cw25VB3cbhO8sfeaUntVj/7e4e7ffd773efdf69b4bd8eed9cdb031/Nix_-_Ian___Jess.png",{"size":2747,"image":2748},32407,{"width":2749,"height":2750},174,156,"Nix - 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Lockdown has been hard for her and she's 300 miles away from me. She managed to write the envelope for my card although it was blank inside. I know her wonderful carer Brugena would have had a hand in buying and posting my card. I'm so grateful she can be there in person for my auntie when I can only be in cards and over the phone.",{"data":2916,"content":2917,"nodeType":14},{},[2918],{"data":2919,"marks":2920,"value":2921,"nodeType":18},{},[],"My wonderful children... a thousand and one memories flood my brain!!",{"data":2923,"content":2947,"nodeType":62},{"target":2924},{"metadata":2925,"sys":2928,"fields":2937},{"tags":2926,"concepts":2927},[],[],{"space":2929,"id":2931,"type":75,"createdAt":2932,"updatedAt":2933,"environment":2934,"publishedVersion":595,"revision":2936,"locale":83},{"sys":2930},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"7zOz7sLKl4QHqoDbOCQiIm","2021-03-05T23:13:04.980Z","2021-03-05T23:15:35.894Z",{"sys":2935},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},2,{"title":2938,"file":2939},"From my daughter (my son has saved his for my visit next weekend!)",{"url":2940,"details":2941,"fileName":2946,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/7zOz7sLKl4QHqoDbOCQiIm/761c33566a9efc43d05117273debdcd5/Grace.jpg",{"size":2942,"image":2943},4467,{"width":2944,"height":2945},274,90,"Grace.jpg",[],{"data":2949,"content":2950,"nodeType":14},{},[2951],{"data":2952,"marks":2953,"value":2954,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Standing outside 'Orange Class' with Kath in 2001, waiting for our boys to stumble out from their morning in Reception and race to the monkey bars...",{"data":2956,"content":2978,"nodeType":62},{"target":2957},{"metadata":2958,"sys":2961,"fields":2968},{"tags":2959,"concepts":2960},[],[],{"space":2962,"id":2964,"type":75,"createdAt":2965,"updatedAt":2965,"environment":2966,"publishedVersion":1484,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":2963},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"5su9LwIt7gWkvElEi1GdFa","2021-03-05T23:17:26.916Z",{"sys":2967},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":2969,"file":2970},"Kath",{"url":2971,"details":2972,"fileName":2977,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/5su9LwIt7gWkvElEi1GdFa/7766920b312cfa12611b5fcd584235b1/Kath.jpg",{"size":2973,"image":2974},15480,{"width":2975,"height":2976},352,154,"Kath.jpg",[],{"data":2980,"content":2981,"nodeType":14},{},[2982],{"data":2983,"marks":2984,"value":2985,"nodeType":18},{},[],"The first time Maria cut my hair and I hated it! We sorted it out :) I wouldn't go anywhere else now...",{"data":2987,"content":3009,"nodeType":62},{"target":2988},{"metadata":2989,"sys":2992,"fields":2999},{"tags":2990,"concepts":2991},[],[],{"space":2993,"id":2995,"type":75,"createdAt":2996,"updatedAt":2996,"environment":2997,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":2994},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"3l0byZVT42ozjDBrgMGqdC","2021-03-05T23:23:21.807Z",{"sys":2998},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":3000,"file":3001},"Maria",{"url":3002,"details":3003,"fileName":3008,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3l0byZVT42ozjDBrgMGqdC/91bf00b98a4c9742957163e923970014/Maria.png",{"size":3004,"image":3005},48003,{"width":3006,"height":3007},284,104,"Maria.png",[],{"data":3011,"content":3012,"nodeType":14},{},[3013],{"data":3014,"marks":3015,"value":3016,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So many wonderful people, each one brought to me in an instant through their handwriting. There are more I'd love to share but I mustn't take up too much of your day. I really just want to remind you of the simple, powerful gift of connection through handwriting.",{"data":3018,"content":3019,"nodeType":14},{},[3020],{"data":3021,"marks":3022,"value":3023,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Is it something you've experienced?",{"data":3025,"content":3026,"nodeType":14},{},[3027],{"data":3028,"marks":3029,"value":3030,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Is it something you'd forgotten?",{"data":3032,"content":3033,"nodeType":14},{},[3034],{"data":3035,"marks":3036,"value":3037,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Is it something we're passing on to our children?",{"data":3039,"content":3040,"nodeType":14},{},[3041],{"data":3042,"marks":3043,"value":3044,"nodeType":18},{},[],"What are we modelling for them... in our actions and with our words?",{"data":3046,"content":3047,"nodeType":14},{},[3048],{"data":3049,"marks":3050,"value":3051,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Are we helping them develop handwriting they feel good about and enjoy using?",{"data":3053,"content":3054,"nodeType":14},{},[3055],{"data":3056,"marks":3057,"value":3058,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Haha! Plenty to think about! As ever, I'd love to hear your thoughts :)",{"data":3060,"content":3061,"nodeType":172},{},[],{"data":3063,"content":3064,"nodeType":14},{},[3065],{"data":3066,"marks":3067,"value":3068,"nodeType":18},{},[],"You can message Nicky:",{"data":3070,"content":3071,"nodeType":14},{},[3072],{"data":3073,"marks":3074,"value":3075,"nodeType":18},{},[],"nicky@betterhandwritten.com",{"data":3077,"content":3078,"nodeType":14},{},[3079],{"data":3080,"marks":3081,"value":3082,"nodeType":18},{},[],"or find her on Twitter: @nicky_parr",{"url":3084},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/68voYmIWrhnla4yBRuy5Oc/a0c9b2e24759b93328e5b159d527632d/happy-handwriting.jpg","2020-08-24T00:00+00:00",[2587],{"id":3088,"slug":3089,"title":893,"longTitle":893,"summary":3090,"mainBody":3091,"heroImage":3958,"publishDate":3960,"articleDate":3960,"tags":3961},"1BzbDFMaCgU7yv006sgzyG","handwriting-lines","Handwriting lines are often taken for granted, but many children don’t fully understand how to use them. This post explores common difficulties and how thoughtful use of lines can support handwriting development.",{"nodeType":10,"data":3092,"content":3093},{},[3094,3101,3108,3115,3122,3130,3137,3163,3171,3174,3189,3223,3248,3256,3280,3288,3312,3320,3323,3331,3338,3360,3367,3390,3402,3425,3433,3436,3443,3467,3475,3482,3485,3509,3517,3542,3549,3556,3563,3586,3594,3601,3608,3615,3622,3629,3632,3647,3654,3678,3690,3697,3721,3729,3732,3739,3763,3771,3778,3801,3808,3831,3838,3862,3869,3893,3900,3924,3932,3939,3942],{"nodeType":14,"data":3095,"content":3096},{},[3097],{"nodeType":18,"value":3098,"marks":3099,"data":3100},"Handwriting is often thought of as forming and joining letters. But it’s also about the lines — and the lines on paper are not always given the attention they deserve.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":3102,"content":3103},{},[3104],{"nodeType":18,"value":3105,"marks":3106,"data":3107},"Being aware of and learning to use lines is important.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":3109,"content":3110},{},[3111],{"nodeType":18,"value":3112,"marks":3113,"data":3114},"With every student I support — child or adult — I look closely at their use and awareness of lines.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":3116,"content":3117},{},[3118],{"nodeType":18,"value":3119,"marks":3120,"data":3121},"For now, we’ll focus on the horizontal lines — margins and top lines are for another time.",[],{},{"nodeType":647,"data":3123,"content":3124},{},[3125],{"nodeType":18,"value":3126,"marks":3127,"data":3129},"Regular Lines",[3128],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":3131,"content":3132},{},[3133],{"nodeType":18,"value":3134,"marks":3135,"data":3136},"You might not even consider what I call 'regular lines' as handwriting lines. We tend to take them for granted. Yet there's a reason why lined paper is used over plain... to guide the flow of words so they are easier to follow. 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line.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":3281,"content":3282},{},[3283],{"nodeType":18,"value":3284,"marks":3285,"data":3287},"letters starting to 'sit' on the lines",[3286],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":62,"data":3289,"content":3311},{"target":3290},{"metadata":3291,"sys":3294,"fields":3301},{"tags":3292,"concepts":3293},[],[],{"space":3295,"id":3297,"type":75,"createdAt":3298,"updatedAt":3298,"environment":3299,"publishedVersion":261,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":3296},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"34XzXH0jJUetcd7ksHfXku","2021-03-08T17:18:28.591Z",{"sys":3300},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":3302,"file":3303},"Learning to allow 'divers' to break through the bottom line",{"url":3304,"details":3305,"fileName":3310,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/34XzXH0jJUetcd7ksHfXku/34e2b6538e7a10814a9ce28dbc243739/Divers_breaking_through.png",{"size":3306,"image":3307},63415,{"width":3308,"height":3309},330,404,"Divers breaking 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They can really help children get control of letter size and position in relation to other letters. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":3339,"content":3340},{},[3341,3345,3351,3356],{"nodeType":18,"value":3342,"marks":3343,"data":3344},"I use the word ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":3346,"marks":3347,"data":3350},"can ",[3348,3349],{"type":133},{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":3352,"marks":3353,"data":3355},"v",[3354],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":3357,"marks":3358,"data":3359},"ery deliberately — because they can also cause problems. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":3361,"content":3362},{},[3363],{"nodeType":18,"value":3364,"marks":3365,"data":3366},"It's so important that time is spent making sure children know HOW to use them. Too often it's assumed this is obvious but it's not as simple as it might seem. 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They don't seem to see the lines and the writing drifts.",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":3483,"content":3484},{},[],{"nodeType":62,"data":3486,"content":3508},{"target":3487},{"metadata":3488,"sys":3491,"fields":3498},{"tags":3489,"concepts":3490},[],[],{"space":3492,"id":3494,"type":75,"createdAt":3495,"updatedAt":3495,"environment":3496,"publishedVersion":3151,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":3493},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"1cxRYkJR566SuI8OJM7rVi","2021-03-08T16:43:22.031Z",{"sys":3497},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":3499,"file":3500},"Trying to use handwriting lines like regular lines",{"url":3501,"details":3502,"fileName":3507,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/1cxRYkJR566SuI8OJM7rVi/185dc3dcaf381ab1a4146d06cdbf2e9a/Trying_to_use_hwr_lines_like_regular_lines.png",{"size":3503,"image":3504},336758,{"width":3505,"height":3506},902,314,"Trying to use hwr lines like regular lines.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":3510,"content":3511},{},[3512],{"nodeType":18,"value":3513,"marks":3514,"data":3516},"trying to use handwriting lines like regular lines",[3515],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":3518,"content":3519},{},[3520,3524,3529,3533,3538],{"nodeType":18,"value":3521,"marks":3522,"data":3523},"Sometimes children get muddled between '",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":3525,"marks":3526,"data":3528},"regular",[3527],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":3530,"marks":3531,"data":3532},"' and '",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":3534,"marks":3535,"data":3537},"special",[3536],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":3539,"marks":3540,"data":3541},"' lines. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":3543,"content":3544},{},[3545],{"nodeType":18,"value":3546,"marks":3547,"data":3548},"In the example on the left the child doesn't understand the significance of the line colours and is actually writing in the wrong place.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":3550,"content":3551},{},[3552],{"nodeType":18,"value":3553,"marks":3554,"data":3555},"On the right the child is using the main middle line as a regular one (well not for 'i' but for 'g' and 'h'). The confusion affects the practice.",[],{},{"nodeType":647,"data":3557,"content":3558},{},[3559],{"nodeType":18,"value":3560,"marks":3561,"data":3562},"When to use handwriting lines",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":3564,"content":3585},{"target":3565},{"metadata":3566,"sys":3569,"fields":3576},{"tags":3567,"concepts":3568},[],[],{"space":3570,"id":3572,"type":75,"createdAt":3573,"updatedAt":3573,"environment":3574,"publishedVersion":595,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":3571},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"4RHoJvbHkNCHU8JWUfQJCg","2021-03-08T16:56:39.081Z",{"sys":3575},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":3577,"file":3578},"Unnecessary use of handwriting lines",{"url":3579,"details":3580,"fileName":3584,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/4RHoJvbHkNCHU8JWUfQJCg/4a55f10b8017119202acbd95e262346c/Unnecesary_use_of_handwriting_lines.jpeg",{"size":3581,"image":3582},47116,{"width":3505,"height":3583},278,"Unnecesary use of handwriting lines.jpeg",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":3587,"content":3588},{},[3589],{"nodeType":18,"value":3590,"marks":3591,"data":3593},"unnecessary use of handwriting lines",[3592],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":3595,"content":3596},{},[3597],{"nodeType":18,"value":3598,"marks":3599,"data":3600},"Often I wonder why children are being asked to use special handwriting lines. 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It takes a bit of time to switch when you've been doing one more often than the other.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":3623,"content":3624},{},[3625],{"nodeType":18,"value":3626,"marks":3627,"data":3628},"Thirdly... time. Handwriting practice is shorter and slower. We can all write with more control when we slow down.",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":3630,"content":3631},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":3633,"content":3634},{},[3635,3639,3644],{"nodeType":18,"value":3636,"marks":3637,"data":3638},"It's not all doom and gloom! I love handwriting lines - children just need to be taught how to use them effectively and, in my opinion, they are best used as an intervention rather than j",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":3640,"marks":3641,"data":3643},"ust because they're handwriting lines so that's what we do",[3642],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":238,"marks":3645,"data":3646},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":3648,"content":3649},{},[3650],{"nodeType":18,"value":3651,"marks":3652,"data":3653},"In this context I prefer much simpler lines for practice:",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":3655,"content":3677},{"target":3656},{"metadata":3657,"sys":3660,"fields":3667},{"tags":3658,"concepts":3659},[],[],{"space":3661,"id":3663,"type":75,"createdAt":3664,"updatedAt":3664,"environment":3665,"publishedVersion":3151,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":3662},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"3u3bY5jR8tdbNhq4d1It4O","2021-03-08T17:00:01.971Z",{"sys":3666},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":3668,"file":3669},"Example of a 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Without that understanding, they can just as easily confuse as support.",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":3940,"content":3941},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":3943,"content":3944},{},[3945,3948,3955],{"nodeType":18,"value":552,"marks":3946,"data":3947},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":3949,"content":3950},{"uri":557},[3951],{"nodeType":18,"value":560,"marks":3952,"data":3954},[3953],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":565,"marks":3956,"data":3957},[],{},{"url":3959},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3yULepYiAxkyULy8mTs10T/7e93bfb1d3d4fa5a756d0b533d98ff47/Screenshot_2021-03-08_at_15.07.46.png","2020-08-17T00:00+00:00",[573,3962],"Classroom Practice",{"id":3964,"slug":3965,"title":3966,"longTitle":3966,"summary":3967,"mainBody":3968,"heroImage":4484,"publishDate":4486,"articleDate":4486,"tags":4487},"6KF3IMZWAHz4X3eFImCNlN","perfect-says-who","Perfect…Says Who?","Who gets to decide which letter formations are 'correct'?",{"nodeType":10,"data":3969,"content":3970},{},[3971,3978,4001,4008,4015,4038,4057,4060,4067,4074,4081,4105,4112,4119,4126,4133,4136,4143,4150,4166,4173,4180,4204,4211,4218,4241,4248,4255,4262,4269,4276,4289,4302,4315,4322,4329,4336,4343,4346,4353,4369,4391,4414,4420,4453,4460,4467,4470,4477],{"nodeType":14,"content":3972,"data":3977},[3973],{"nodeType":18,"value":3974,"marks":3975,"data":3976},"“ k can be quite a tricky letter,” I explained in one of my feedback videos. “Let’s have a look at how you’re forming it now, then I’ll show you three ways I’ve found other people like and that work well when you want to join up.”",[],{},{},{"nodeType":62,"content":3979,"data":3980},[],{"target":3981},{"metadata":3982,"sys":3985,"fields":3992},{"tags":3983,"concepts":3984},[],[],{"space":3986,"id":3988,"type":75,"createdAt":3989,"updatedAt":3989,"environment":3990,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":3987},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"2xEcjDzOe4l8q1SNIfMiuU","2021-03-11T10:07:03.348Z",{"sys":3991},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":3993,"file":3994},"k",{"url":3995,"details":3996,"fileName":4000,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/2xEcjDzOe4l8q1SNIfMiuU/5cd027efa07d1aee800f4b6fc0f6358d/k.jpeg",{"size":3997,"image":3998},5742,{"width":2349,"height":3999},136,"k.jpeg",{"nodeType":14,"content":4002,"data":4007},[4003],{"nodeType":18,"value":4004,"marks":4005,"data":4006},"As you can see (and as is often the case with many letters I look at) 6-year-old Ella had developed her own representation of ‘k’ as she had perceived it. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4009,"data":4014},[4010],{"nodeType":18,"value":4011,"marks":4012,"data":4013},"Here are the alternatives I modelled for her in a demonstration video so she could follow HOW they were formed. She experimented with them and decided she liked the top one best so that is the one we stuck with and practised. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":62,"content":4016,"data":4017},[],{"target":4018},{"metadata":4019,"sys":4022,"fields":4029},{"tags":4020,"concepts":4021},[],[],{"space":4023,"id":4025,"type":75,"createdAt":4026,"updatedAt":4026,"environment":4027,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":4024},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"2KwevnyjwEJhifGVvxB3Ci","2021-03-11T10:07:35.673Z",{"sys":4028},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":4030,"file":4031},"k practice",{"url":4032,"details":4033,"fileName":4037,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/2KwevnyjwEJhifGVvxB3Ci/e6ebf5e356126f7bc471b1d1d6413617/k_practice.png",{"size":4034,"image":4035},270545,{"width":4036,"height":2842},574,"k practice.png",{"nodeType":14,"content":4039,"data":4056},[4040,4044,4052],{"nodeType":18,"value":4041,"marks":4042,"data":4043},"In my blog  ",[],{},{"nodeType":33,"content":4045,"data":4050},[4046],{"nodeType":18,"value":4047,"marks":4048,"data":4049},"Perfect :)",[],{},{"uri":4051},"https://betterhandwritten.com/2020/08/03/perfect/",{"nodeType":18,"value":4053,"marks":4054,"data":4055},"  I said I’d come back to think more specifically about individual letter formations and who gets to decide what is ‘correct’ and ‘without fault’ * when it comes to handwriting. I think this is where some of the confusion and frustration around handwriting judgement arises. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":172,"content":4058,"data":4059},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4061,"data":4066},[4062],{"nodeType":18,"value":4063,"marks":4064,"data":4065},"Here’s some background to the issue:",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4068,"data":4073},[4069],{"nodeType":18,"value":4070,"marks":4071,"data":4072},"On a very simple level, when a child forms a particular letter, they create a neural pathway in the brain. That pathway is strengthened through repetition and eventually the brain automates the process, freeing up working memory for new thinking.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4075,"data":4080},[4076],{"nodeType":18,"value":4077,"marks":4078,"data":4079},"I get children to imagine crossing a field of tall grass. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":62,"content":4082,"data":4083},[],{"target":4084},{"metadata":4085,"sys":4088,"fields":4095},{"tags":4086,"concepts":4087},[],[],{"space":4089,"id":4091,"type":75,"createdAt":4092,"updatedAt":4092,"environment":4093,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":4090},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"6C6K0WOlIh7cfYPbjQSNdd","2021-03-11T10:08:23.606Z",{"sys":4094},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":4096,"file":4097},"Field of grass",{"url":4098,"details":4099,"fileName":4104,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/6C6K0WOlIh7cfYPbjQSNdd/d2b4066d1efbd8a98616c94326c3266e/Field_of_grass.png",{"size":4100,"image":4101},222362,{"width":4102,"height":4103},440,248,"Field of grass.png",{"nodeType":14,"content":4106,"data":4111},[4107],{"nodeType":18,"value":4108,"marks":4109,"data":4110},"To begin with it’s hard work treading down the grass but, after crossing a few times, it gets easier. Eventually (after crossing many times) a clear, definite pathway forms. They now barely notice it as they’re strolling along, and their thoughts are free to turn to other things like what they fancy eating or what game they’re going to play with their friend when they get to the other side of the field. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4113,"data":4118},[4114],{"nodeType":18,"value":4115,"marks":4116,"data":4117},"This is what it’s like with handwriting (or developing any other skill or habitual thinking for that matter). Repetition leads to automation. The unconscious mind takes over.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4120,"data":4125},[4121],{"nodeType":18,"value":4122,"marks":4123,"data":4124},"To replace an automated formation the new version must be practised to the point where the new pathway is strong enough to supersede the existing one. This takes time of course and is the reason children revert to ‘old habits’ like reversals or spelling mistakes no matter how often they are ‘reminded’. They simply haven’t had the opportunity to practise enough. Little and often is key to success. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4127,"data":4132},[4128],{"nodeType":18,"value":4129,"marks":4130,"data":4131},"(It's also the reason I STILL revert to typing in an old password when my thoughts are elsewhere as I log in!)",[],{},{},{"nodeType":172,"content":4134,"data":4135},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4137,"data":4142},[4138],{"nodeType":18,"value":4139,"marks":4140,"data":4141},"Now here are the issues relating to ‘perfect’ handwriting:",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4144,"data":4149},[4145],{"nodeType":18,"value":4146,"marks":4147,"data":4148},"The thing is, very specific teaching is effective...",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4151,"data":4165},[4152,4156,4161],{"nodeType":18,"value":4153,"marks":4154,"data":4155},"Very clear, specific formation of individual letters (and ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":4157,"marks":4158,"data":4160},"then",[4159],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":4162,"marks":4163,"data":4164}," ways to join them) supports reinforcement of the pathways. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4167,"data":4172},[4168],{"nodeType":18,"value":4169,"marks":4170,"data":4171},"I teach this way. I give choices where appropriate and explain (very simply) what’s happening in the brain; once we’re agreed though, we stick to it and I help children notice tiny details between formations and positioning. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4174,"data":4179},[4175],{"nodeType":18,"value":4176,"marks":4177,"data":4178},"Today for example, I'll be helping this 9-year-old notice the difference between his y and mine...",[],{},{},{"nodeType":62,"content":4181,"data":4182},[],{"target":4183},{"metadata":4184,"sys":4187,"fields":4194},{"tags":4185,"concepts":4186},[],[],{"space":4188,"id":4190,"type":75,"createdAt":4191,"updatedAt":4191,"environment":4192,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":4189},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"3PvT6hU4WMo9dkQJ5vX6iF","2021-03-11T10:08:54.122Z",{"sys":4193},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":4195,"file":4196},"daddy",{"url":4197,"details":4198,"fileName":4203,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3PvT6hU4WMo9dkQJ5vX6iF/225eeb614383a135bda57d956c00252c/daddy.png",{"size":4199,"image":4200},219245,{"width":4201,"height":4202},578,670,"daddy.png",{"nodeType":14,"content":4205,"data":4210},[4206],{"nodeType":18,"value":4207,"marks":4208,"data":4209},"I guess this could be seen as imposing my judgement of ‘perfect’ handwriting; the fact is, letters need to be clearly identifiable so they can be read. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4212,"data":4217},[4213],{"nodeType":18,"value":4214,"marks":4215,"data":4216},"He'd chosen between these 'y's:",[],{},{},{"nodeType":62,"content":4219,"data":4220},[],{"target":4221},{"metadata":4222,"sys":4225,"fields":4232},{"tags":4223,"concepts":4224},[],[],{"space":4226,"id":4228,"type":75,"createdAt":4229,"updatedAt":4229,"environment":4230,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":4227},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"4lDaZwBuDHnaUsPawLFR67","2021-03-11T10:09:21.639Z",{"sys":4231},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":4233,"file":4234},"y choices",{"url":4235,"details":4236,"fileName":4240,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/4lDaZwBuDHnaUsPawLFR67/3d7c16c5c06bd90499ade222d06d309c/y_choices.jpeg",{"size":4237,"image":4238},35679,{"width":1573,"height":4239},419,"y choices.jpeg",{"nodeType":14,"content":4242,"data":4247},[4243],{"nodeType":18,"value":4244,"marks":4245,"data":4246},"Once a decision is made I structure the process of repetition. Practice then allows the pathways through the field to become clear (automated) so that - in time - the writer is free to run around and play with their thoughts and words… expressing themselves without worrying about judgement of their handwriting or whether someone will be able to read it.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4249,"data":4254},[4250],{"nodeType":18,"value":4251,"marks":4252,"data":4253},"I talk about this to children often. I help remove stress and anxiety.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4256,"data":4261},[4257],{"nodeType":18,"value":4258,"marks":4259,"data":4260},"Ultimately part-cursive has been shown to be the most time-efficient script; I explain that we learn all the useful joins so that later on they will unconsciously decide which letters they do and don’t join when writing at speed. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4263,"data":4268},[4264],{"nodeType":18,"value":4265,"marks":4266,"data":4267},"I also remind them that once they’ve established a fluent, cursive script they feel good about they can have fun evolving their style and experimenting with alternative formations … adding little touches of personality! They’ll end up with different styles for different audiences and purposes.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4270,"data":4275},[4271],{"nodeType":18,"value":4272,"marks":4273,"data":4274},"For me, ‘perfect’ handwriting, that is ‘complete and correct in every way, of the best possible type or without fault’ * is that which:",[],{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":4277,"data":4288},[4278],{"nodeType":471,"content":4279,"data":4287},[4280],{"nodeType":14,"content":4281,"data":4286},[4282],{"nodeType":18,"value":4283,"marks":4284,"data":4285},"makes the writer FEEL GOOD ",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":4290,"data":4301},[4291],{"nodeType":471,"content":4292,"data":4300},[4293],{"nodeType":14,"content":4294,"data":4299},[4295],{"nodeType":18,"value":4296,"marks":4297,"data":4298},"is legible (to themselves and others)",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":4303,"data":4314},[4304],{"nodeType":471,"content":4305,"data":4313},[4306],{"nodeType":14,"content":4307,"data":4312},[4308],{"nodeType":18,"value":4309,"marks":4310,"data":4311},"is useful and used",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4316,"data":4321},[4317],{"nodeType":18,"value":4318,"marks":4319,"data":4320},"To this end I think it’s the job of Primary schools to give time and focus to developing a fluent, automated cursive script and that Secondary schools should then take up the baton and support the evolution of personal style and practical application. My goals are applicable to both settings.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4323,"data":4328},[4324],{"nodeType":18,"value":4325,"marks":4326,"data":4327},"I agree schools should have a consistent approach. That doesn’t mean following a scheme blindly. It’s okay to offer alternative formations. Nor does it mean forcing all teachers to write in the school's adopted script. Although this is helpful for demonstrating and many teachers choose to develop it, there are other ways to model formations to children (using the Better Handwritten videos for example). Teachers simply need to explain that they were taught and automated a different style when they were younger. They shouldn’t be made to feel bad about their handwriting. If they don’t feel good about it they can change it but if they’re happy with it they shouldn’t feel judged or criticised.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4330,"data":4335},[4331],{"nodeType":18,"value":4332,"marks":4333,"data":4334},"They DO need to understand how to teach handwriting well.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4337,"data":4342},[4338],{"nodeType":18,"value":4339,"marks":4340,"data":4341},"And they need to be aware of the powerful impact their interest or disinterest has on students.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":172,"content":4344,"data":4345},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"content":4347,"data":4352},[4348],{"nodeType":18,"value":4349,"marks":4350,"data":4351},"One of my daughter’s friends came to stay last year; as we were chatting it became apparent that (aged 19) he had NEVER received a handwritten letter. Birthday and Christmas cards - yes – but never a letter. 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So next week I’ll look more specifically at individual letter formations and who gets to decide what is ‘correct’ and ‘without fault’ when it comes to handwriting!",{"data":5062,"content":5063,"nodeType":14},{},[5064,5068,5072],{"data":5065,"marks":5066,"value":5067,"nodeType":18},{},[],"For now, having given it some attention and thought, I’ve decided I’m happy saying ‘",{"data":5069,"marks":5070,"value":4360,"nodeType":18},{},[5071],{"type":133},{"data":5073,"marks":5074,"value":5075,"nodeType":18},{},[],"’. I use it in ways that align with my intentions and beliefs. I’m aware I need to be mindful my words are received as intended though. Because each person’s interpretation of perfect will be personal, based on their experiences and their sense of self. ",{"data":5077,"content":5078,"nodeType":14},{},[5079],{"data":5080,"marks":5081,"value":5082,"nodeType":18},{},[],"For me handwriting is a means of expression, communication and support. It’s the perfect tool to be employed and enjoyed (one that is often taken for granted or dismissed as outdated). It's a skill that should be taught well so that children and adults always have it at their fingertips with no feeling of judgement becoming a barrier to using it. Then they can get on with being perfect just as they are with one less fear and worry.",{"data":5084,"content":5105,"nodeType":62},{"target":5085},{"metadata":5086,"sys":5089,"fields":5096},{"tags":5087,"concepts":5088},[],[],{"space":5090,"id":5092,"type":75,"createdAt":5093,"updatedAt":5093,"environment":5094,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":5091},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"1FAGKuzOJiGgjJt2QDebvM","2021-03-11T10:48:52.914Z",{"sys":5095},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":5097,"file":5098},"Perfect just as you are",{"url":5099,"details":5100,"fileName":5104,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/1FAGKuzOJiGgjJt2QDebvM/ff696179c9b60bce686c383e2222792a/Perfect_just_as_you_are.png",{"size":5101,"image":5102},569471,{"width":3505,"height":5103},448,"Perfect just as you are.png",[],{"data":5107,"content":5108,"nodeType":14},{},[5109,5113,5117],{"data":5110,"marks":5111,"value":5112,"nodeType":18},{},[],"What do you think? What does ",{"data":5114,"marks":5115,"value":4360,"nodeType":18},{},[5116],{"type":133},{"data":5118,"marks":5119,"value":5120,"nodeType":18},{},[]," mean to you? :)",{"url":5122},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/63bx1zfLAuBHMHZSnq232H/2d6592b593fe2e9eb48d1003f7557687/Perfect.jpeg","2020-08-03T00:00+00:00",[1995,1996,1997],{"id":5126,"slug":5127,"title":5128,"longTitle":5128,"summary":5129,"mainBody":5130,"heroImage":5435,"publishDate":5437,"articleDate":5437,"tags":5438},"7dogITRGZBWTNVaUgYVLOb","perfection-perception","Perfection Perception Perspectives","I'd like you to meet Laura ...\n",{"data":5131,"content":5132,"nodeType":10},{},[5133,5141,5160,5163,5170,5193,5200,5207,5214,5236,5243,5246,5253,5260,5263,5270,5277,5293,5300,5307,5310,5317,5324,5331,5338,5354,5361,5374,5387,5400,5407,5429],{"data":5134,"content":5135,"nodeType":14},{},[5136],{"data":5137,"marks":5138,"value":5140,"nodeType":18},{},[5139],{"type":26},"Note: Laura isn’t one person. She’s an amalgamation of people I’ve been privileged to listen to, chat with or support over many years. Laura represents their ‘perfection perception perspectives’.",{"data":5142,"content":5143,"nodeType":14},{},[5144,5149,5155],{"data":5145,"marks":5146,"value":5148,"nodeType":18},{},[5147],{"type":26},"The experiences are real. Through Laura I hope to give you an opportunity to think, reflect and understand that, for some who appear ‘lucky’ and acquire skills easily, there may be a hidden price they’re paying. Laura’s ",{"data":5150,"marks":5151,"value":5154,"nodeType":18},{},[5152,5153],{"type":133},{"type":26},"need",{"data":5156,"marks":5157,"value":5159,"nodeType":18},{},[5158],{"type":26}," for ‘perfect’ handwriting was in fact a clue to her misguided belief that she was valued and appreciated for what she produced rather than who she was.",{"data":5161,"content":5162,"nodeType":172},{},[],{"data":5164,"content":5165,"nodeType":14},{},[5166],{"data":5167,"marks":5168,"value":5169,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Laura’s world began to crumble, soon after being awarded the school’s annual coveted trophy for consistent high achievement. ",{"data":5171,"content":5192,"nodeType":62},{"target":5172},{"metadata":5173,"sys":5176,"fields":5183},{"tags":5174,"concepts":5175},[],[],{"space":5177,"id":5179,"type":75,"createdAt":5180,"updatedAt":5180,"environment":5181,"publishedVersion":1484,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":5178},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"7jf0lSt5I4VopHk2cfhKQi","2021-03-09T18:29:18.297Z",{"sys":5182},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":5184,"file":5185},"Trophy",{"url":5186,"details":5187,"fileName":5191,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/7jf0lSt5I4VopHk2cfhKQi/9e1c5fdfba7dc31b293b4a26c81e6953/Trophy.jpeg",{"size":5188,"image":5189},6375,{"width":2976,"height":5190},214,"Trophy.jpeg",[],{"data":5194,"content":5195,"nodeType":14},{},[5196],{"data":5197,"marks":5198,"value":5199,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It was the culmination of a year filled with praise: verbal praise, written praise, stickers, on-line sticker trackers, praise postcards… even phone calls home. She’d crossed the end of Year 8 finish line in 1st place and been heralded as an exceptional positive role model to other students. Unwittingly though, much of this praise for external achievement had resulted in Laura feeling that everything she produced needed to be ‘perfect’. She couldn’t afford to let anything slip.",{"data":5201,"content":5202,"nodeType":14},{},[5203],{"data":5204,"marks":5205,"value":5206,"nodeType":18},{},[],"The trouble for Laura was that now – suddenly - she found she had nothing left to give. She had completely burnt out. The only way was down and that was too much to bear.",{"data":5208,"content":5209,"nodeType":14},{},[5210],{"data":5211,"marks":5212,"value":5213,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Laura didn’t return to school for the next two years.",{"data":5215,"content":5235,"nodeType":62},{"target":5216},{"metadata":5217,"sys":5220,"fields":5227},{"tags":5218,"concepts":5219},[],[],{"space":5221,"id":5223,"type":75,"createdAt":5224,"updatedAt":5224,"environment":5225,"publishedVersion":595,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":5222},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"6z6PxeFgNhyUXYL43euyMQ","2021-03-08T23:16:02.995Z",{"sys":5226},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":5128,"file":5228},{"url":5229,"details":5230,"fileName":5234,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/6z6PxeFgNhyUXYL43euyMQ/fed690def9f6ed7a49c76fa5ae24d589/Perfection_Perception_perspectives.jpeg",{"size":5231,"image":5232},19804,{"width":5233,"height":3006},254,"Perfection Perception perspectives.jpeg",[],{"data":5237,"content":5238,"nodeType":14},{},[5239],{"data":5240,"marks":5241,"value":5242,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Handwriting – her beautiful handwriting - was in fact an indicator of her inner turmoil and a contributor to that burn out.",{"data":5244,"content":5245,"nodeType":172},{},[],{"data":5247,"content":5248,"nodeType":14},{},[5249],{"data":5250,"marks":5251,"value":5252,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Laura had excellent fine motor skills. She’d found it easy to develop neat, fluent cursive writing at an early age and her work was constantly praised and held up as an example of impeccable presentation for others to aspire to. As you might imagine, she’d been one of the first in her class to get a ‘pen licence’, was proud of her writing and enjoyed making her work beautiful.",{"data":5254,"content":5255,"nodeType":14},{},[5256],{"data":5257,"marks":5258,"value":5259,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Things started to get a tricky towards the end of primary school as feedback began to emerge that she was writing too slowly. Lower than expected test scores were attributed to not writing at speed. Although Laura tried to address this, it upset her when her writing looked messy and the anxiety she felt made it hard for her to focus. She became angry and unhappy but no-one could understand why. In fact, she was criticised for being miserable when she was so 'lucky' and others found things much harder. She began to feel she must be a bad person.",{"data":5261,"content":5262,"nodeType":172},{},[],{"data":5264,"content":5265,"nodeType":14},{},[5266],{"data":5267,"marks":5268,"value":5269,"nodeType":18},{},[],"When Laura moved to secondary school, she was keen to have a fresh start, make a good impression and do well. ",{"data":5271,"content":5272,"nodeType":14},{},[5273],{"data":5274,"marks":5275,"value":5276,"nodeType":18},{},[],"She made an excellent impression and did well. Very well. Brilliantly. She seemed like a magnet for praise and recognition.",{"data":5278,"content":5279,"nodeType":14},{},[5280,5284,5289],{"data":5281,"marks":5282,"value":5283,"nodeType":18},{},[],"What no-one realised (because she hid it so well) was that Laura was putting herself under immense pressure to keep up the standards she felt were expected of her and that she expected of herself. Beautiful handwriting was a",{"data":5285,"marks":5286,"value":5288,"nodeType":18},{},[5287],{"type":133}," must",{"data":5290,"marks":5291,"value":5292,"nodeType":18},{},[]," and yet it became impossible to produce with the increasing demands of her schoolwork. ",{"data":5294,"content":5295,"nodeType":14},{},[5296],{"data":5297,"marks":5298,"value":5299,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So Laura found a solution. She started to get up in the night to rewrite her work. She’d set an alarm for 3am and enjoy the peace and quiet of writing without distraction. No-one knew. No-one knew either, how angry she felt when teachers ‘messed up’ the work she had painstakingly written and re-written by marking it with untidy handwriting! Laura kept this up and kept it in… ",{"data":5301,"content":5302,"nodeType":14},{},[5303],{"data":5304,"marks":5305,"value":5306,"nodeType":18},{},[],"... until the end of Year 8.",{"data":5308,"content":5309,"nodeType":172},{},[],{"data":5311,"content":5312,"nodeType":14},{},[5313],{"data":5314,"marks":5315,"value":5316,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I’m sure you’ll agree, we need to be careful, don’t we? ",{"data":5318,"content":5319,"nodeType":14},{},[5320],{"data":5321,"marks":5322,"value":5323,"nodeType":18},{},[],"This is not okay.",{"data":5325,"content":5326,"nodeType":14},{},[5327],{"data":5328,"marks":5329,"value":5330,"nodeType":18},{},[],"We need to stop and reflect... become more aware and think about the unconscious messages we might be giving to children and young people. Actions and comments contribute to shaping their thoughts and thoughts determine their experience of the world.",{"data":5332,"content":5333,"nodeType":14},{},[5334],{"data":5335,"marks":5336,"value":5337,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Hang on a minute… isn’t your work all about helping people develop ‘perfect’ handwriting Nicky? ",{"data":5339,"content":5340,"nodeType":14},{},[5341,5345,5350],{"data":5342,"marks":5343,"value":5344,"nodeType":18},{},[],"No, actually it’s not.\n\nMy work is about helping people ",{"data":5346,"marks":5347,"value":5349,"nodeType":18},{},[5348],{"type":133},"feel better",{"data":5351,"marks":5352,"value":5353,"nodeType":18},{},[]," about handwriting, whether that’s their own handwriting or teaching it to others. It’s true that this mostly involves helping them change the look of their script but whether that’s to make it look ‘better’ or ‘worse’ depends on the needs of the individual.",{"data":5355,"content":5356,"nodeType":14},{},[5357],{"data":5358,"marks":5359,"value":5360,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Better Handwritten has 3 clear goals. We want people to:",{"data":5362,"content":5363,"nodeType":467},{},[5364],{"data":5365,"content":5366,"nodeType":471},{},[5367],{"data":5368,"content":5369,"nodeType":14},{},[5370],{"data":5371,"marks":5372,"value":5373,"nodeType":18},{},[],"feel good about their handwriting",{"data":5375,"content":5376,"nodeType":467},{},[5377],{"data":5378,"content":5379,"nodeType":471},{},[5380],{"data":5381,"content":5382,"nodeType":14},{},[5383],{"data":5384,"marks":5385,"value":5386,"nodeType":18},{},[],"feel confident that it's legible (to themselves and others) ",{"data":5388,"content":5389,"nodeType":467},{},[5390],{"data":5391,"content":5392,"nodeType":471},{},[5393],{"data":5394,"content":5395,"nodeType":14},{},[5396],{"data":5397,"marks":5398,"value":5399,"nodeType":18},{},[],"benefit from using a range of handwritten strategies in their everyday lives",{"data":5401,"content":5402,"nodeType":14},{},[5403],{"data":5404,"marks":5405,"value":5406,"nodeType":18},{},[],"You might like to read the blog 'Perfect' where I explore the concept more but for now here’s my perspective:",{"data":5408,"content":5428,"nodeType":62},{"target":5409},{"metadata":5410,"sys":5413,"fields":5420},{"tags":5411,"concepts":5412},[],[],{"space":5414,"id":5416,"type":75,"createdAt":5417,"updatedAt":5417,"environment":5418,"publishedVersion":1316,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":5415},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"2dYQq6acdSpCOoLlThj68h","2021-03-09T19:20:32.502Z",{"sys":5419},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":5421,"file":5422},"You are perfect",{"url":5423,"details":5424,"fileName":5427,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/2dYQq6acdSpCOoLlThj68h/3b0b767118b4ad72862bb73672977b92/You_are_perfect.jpeg",{"size":5425,"image":5426},55884,{"width":3505,"height":5103},"You are perfect.jpeg",[],{"data":5430,"content":5431,"nodeType":14},{},[5432],{"data":5433,"marks":5434,"value":440,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"url":5436},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/6z6PxeFgNhyUXYL43euyMQ/fed690def9f6ed7a49c76fa5ae24d589/Perfection_Perception_perspectives.jpeg","2020-07-27T00:00+00:00",[1995,1996,1997],{"id":5440,"slug":5441,"title":5442,"longTitle":5442,"summary":5443,"mainBody":5444,"heroImage":6135,"publishDate":6137,"articleDate":6137,"tags":6138},"RYtcR3WC8BWUBIl9o6tz8","pen-licences","We Need to Talk About Pen Licences","Opinions... including my own!",{"data":5445,"content":5446,"nodeType":10},{},[5447,5484,5491,5515,5522,5529,5536,5543,5550,5562,5569,5576,5583,5590,5597,5604,5611,5635,5642,5649,5656,5663,5670,5677,5684,5691,5698,5705,5712,5719,5726,5733,5756,5763,5770,5793,5800,5807,5815,5831,5838,5845,5852,5859,5872,5885,5898,5911,5919,5934,5950,5963,5976,5989,6002,6015,6039,6052,6065,6078,6086,6093,6100,6107,6114,6121,6128],{"data":5448,"content":5449,"nodeType":14},{},[5450,5454,5459,5465,5470,5476,5481],{"data":5451,"marks":5452,"value":5453,"nodeType":18},{},[],"‘",{"data":5455,"marks":5456,"value":5458,"nodeType":18},{},[5457],{"type":26},"All writing must be on the line. All handwriting must be the correct size and not too big or too small. All handwriting must be joined up where appropriate. To be awarded a ",{"data":5460,"marks":5461,"value":5464,"nodeType":18},{},[5462,5463],{"type":26},{"type":133},"pen licence",{"data":5466,"marks":5467,"value":5469,"nodeType":18},{},[5468],{"type":26},", the child MUST produce at least a week's worth of work in their literacy book that fulfils all of the ",{"data":5471,"marks":5472,"value":5475,"nodeType":18},{},[5473,5474],{"type":26},{"type":133},"criteria",{"data":5477,"marks":5478,"value":5480,"nodeType":18},{},[5479],{"type":26}," above.",{"data":5482,"marks":5483,"value":145,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"data":5485,"content":5486,"nodeType":14},{},[5487],{"data":5488,"marks":5489,"value":5490,"nodeType":18},{},[],"And don’t forget…",{"data":5492,"content":5514,"nodeType":62},{"target":5493},{"metadata":5494,"sys":5497,"fields":5504},{"tags":5495,"concepts":5496},[],[],{"space":5498,"id":5500,"type":75,"createdAt":5501,"updatedAt":5501,"environment":5502,"publishedVersion":595,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":5499},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"3rkCbUZow4q6BIZWPDSYwM","2021-03-10T12:10:32.918Z",{"sys":5503},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":5505,"file":5506},"Pen Licence withdrawal threat",{"url":5507,"details":5508,"fileName":5513,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3rkCbUZow4q6BIZWPDSYwM/034dc321709807262192cbd74e76b9bd/Pen_licence_withdrawal_threat.png",{"size":5509,"image":5510},29916,{"width":5511,"height":5512},326,50,"Pen licence withdrawal threat.png",[],{"data":5516,"content":5517,"nodeType":14},{},[5518],{"data":5519,"marks":5520,"value":5521,"nodeType":18},{},[],"How do you feel reading this? ",{"data":5523,"content":5524,"nodeType":14},{},[5525],{"data":5526,"marks":5527,"value":5528,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Would you qualify for a licence? Would you get to keep it?",{"data":5530,"content":5531,"nodeType":14},{},[5532],{"data":5533,"marks":5534,"value":5535,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Are these realistic expectations? ",{"data":5537,"content":5538,"nodeType":14},{},[5539],{"data":5540,"marks":5541,"value":5542,"nodeType":18},{},[],"What unconscious messages are being transmitted? ",{"data":5544,"content":5545,"nodeType":14},{},[5546],{"data":5547,"marks":5548,"value":5549,"nodeType":18},{},[],"How do you think children feel about their ability to ‘pass the pen test’? ",{"data":5551,"content":5552,"nodeType":14},{},[5553,5558],{"data":5554,"marks":5555,"value":5557,"nodeType":18},{},[5556],{"type":133},"ALL ",{"data":5559,"marks":5560,"value":5561,"nodeType":18},{},[],"children.",{"data":5563,"content":5564,"nodeType":14},{},[5565],{"data":5566,"marks":5567,"value":5568,"nodeType":18},{},[],"How might teachers feel having to implement this kind of policy?",{"data":5570,"content":5571,"nodeType":14},{},[5572],{"data":5573,"marks":5574,"value":5575,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So many questions... sorry!",{"data":5577,"content":5578,"nodeType":14},{},[5579],{"data":5580,"marks":5581,"value":5582,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Of course children who acquire fine motor skills relatively easily and whose visual perception allows them to navigate lines effectively will be fine. But they would be anyway and that’s by no means the experience for many children. ",{"data":5584,"content":5585,"nodeType":14},{},[5586],{"data":5587,"marks":5588,"value":5589,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I think we need to talk about pen licences.",{"data":5591,"content":5592,"nodeType":14},{},[5593],{"data":5594,"marks":5595,"value":5596,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I’m fascinated. As I read the above examples (and many others scattered across the internet), I felt a surprisingly powerful wave of emotion wash over me and my fingers actually began to tingle! Here’s what came to my mind:",{"data":5598,"content":5599,"nodeType":14},{},[5600],{"data":5601,"marks":5602,"value":5603,"nodeType":18},{},[],"If your handwriting does not meet the criteria…",{"data":5605,"content":5606,"nodeType":14},{},[5607],{"data":5608,"marks":5609,"value":5610,"nodeType":18},{},[],"‘Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass Go! Do not collect £200.’",{"data":5612,"content":5634,"nodeType":62},{"target":5613},{"metadata":5614,"sys":5617,"fields":5624},{"tags":5615,"concepts":5616},[],[],{"space":5618,"id":5620,"type":75,"createdAt":5621,"updatedAt":5621,"environment":5622,"publishedVersion":1484,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":5619},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"3JG93zHJdzQhN0fDXFcwau","2021-03-10T12:19:44.769Z",{"sys":5623},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":5625,"file":5626},"Go to Jail",{"url":5627,"details":5628,"fileName":5633,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3JG93zHJdzQhN0fDXFcwau/0a3b9dda211335e5d2dc9e52634b8306/Go_to_Jail.png",{"size":5629,"image":5630},210982,{"width":5631,"height":5632},522,526,"Go to Jail.png",[],{"data":5636,"content":5637,"nodeType":14},{},[5638],{"data":5639,"marks":5640,"value":5641,"nodeType":18},{},[],"You’ll be fitted with a tag on release; if you re-offend, your pen privilege will be revoked and you will be sent straight back to Pencil-ville Prison (see my word play on Pentonville Prison?) ",{"data":5643,"content":5644,"nodeType":14},{},[5645],{"data":5646,"marks":5647,"value":5648,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It might sound a little dramatic but haha, that’s what surfaced! The frequency transmitted from the policies felt loaded… so heavy and full of judgement. ",{"data":5650,"content":5651,"nodeType":14},{},[5652],{"data":5653,"marks":5654,"value":5655,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Maybe I’ve just heard too many stories about the damaging and long-lasting negative impact on those who were last in class to get their pen licence or indeed never did.",{"data":5657,"content":5658,"nodeType":14},{},[5659],{"data":5660,"marks":5661,"value":5662,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Maybe I’ve felt too much distress and anger during conversations with parents who have seen their child’s self-esteem plummet when they are not deemed worthy of the right to write in pen. When they see their child lose hope, feel ashamed and embarrassed.",{"data":5664,"content":5665,"nodeType":14},{},[5666],{"data":5667,"marks":5668,"value":5669,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Maybe I'm too aware that the teaching of handwriting is often not really understood or delivered effectively so it's impossible for some children to achieve these demands.",{"data":5671,"content":5672,"nodeType":14},{},[5673],{"data":5674,"marks":5675,"value":5676,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Maybe my brain has encoded the concept as something that has an unwitting potential to threaten or hurt and a protective instinct kicks in. ",{"data":5678,"content":5679,"nodeType":14},{},[5680],{"data":5681,"marks":5682,"value":5683,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Who knows?",{"data":5685,"content":5686,"nodeType":14},{},[5687],{"data":5688,"marks":5689,"value":5690,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Whatever the reason, I felt strongly as I read.",{"data":5692,"content":5693,"nodeType":14},{},[5694],{"data":5695,"marks":5696,"value":5697,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I feel strongly. About pen licences. I don’t like them. I don’t think they are necessary and I believe the damage potential far outweighs the benefit of motivation potential.",{"data":5699,"content":5700,"nodeType":14},{},[5701],{"data":5702,"marks":5703,"value":5704,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I know opinion is divided and why... so let’s talk about it. ",{"data":5706,"content":5707,"nodeType":14},{},[5708],{"data":5709,"marks":5710,"value":5711,"nodeType":18},{},[],"If you feel they’re a good thing (or are indifferent) would you be open-minded to considering an alternative opinion? We can always agree to disagree.",{"data":5713,"content":5714,"nodeType":14},{},[5715],{"data":5716,"marks":5717,"value":5718,"nodeType":18},{},[],"The longer I work with people around handwriting, the more I come to understand just how deeply emotions are connected, felt and remain. My client work becomes about so much more than how letters look on a page. In my experience, when pen licences come up they frequently trigger an outpouring of angst or anger.",{"data":5720,"content":5721,"nodeType":14},{},[5722],{"data":5723,"marks":5724,"value":5725,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Before continuing I probably ought to clarify what a pen licence is!",{"data":5727,"content":5728,"nodeType":14},{},[5729],{"data":5730,"marks":5731,"value":5732,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It’s usually a certificate or wallet-sized card (similar to a driving licence) used by some schools - still many schools, judging by a quick search on Google - to incentivise pupils and mark their transition from writing in pencil to pen.",{"data":5734,"content":5755,"nodeType":62},{"target":5735},{"metadata":5736,"sys":5739,"fields":5746},{"tags":5737,"concepts":5738},[],[],{"space":5740,"id":5742,"type":75,"createdAt":5743,"updatedAt":5743,"environment":5744,"publishedVersion":1484,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":5741},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"1xTS68uoHWmtY79drM4qba","2021-03-10T12:25:09.550Z",{"sys":5745},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":5747,"file":5748},"A Pen Licence",{"url":5749,"details":5750,"fileName":5754,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/1xTS68uoHWmtY79drM4qba/e7e045f4a336564a74633237f230f2eb/A_Pen_Licence.jpeg",{"size":5751,"image":5752},15299,{"width":2905,"height":5753},190,"A Pen Licence.jpeg",[],{"data":5757,"content":5758,"nodeType":14},{},[5759],{"data":5760,"marks":5761,"value":5762,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It’s a very public comparative judgement. While the certificate itself may travel to the relative privacy of a fridge, bedroom wall, drawer or bin, the day-to-day writing implement permitted serves as a daily reminder and mark of that judgement.",{"data":5764,"content":5765,"nodeType":14},{},[5766],{"data":5767,"marks":5768,"value":5769,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I have to be honest, when I asked on Twitter how people felt about ‘pen licences’ a week before writing this article, I wasn’t expecting so many to vote:",{"data":5771,"content":5792,"nodeType":62},{"target":5772},{"metadata":5773,"sys":5776,"fields":5783},{"tags":5774,"concepts":5775},[],[],{"space":5777,"id":5779,"type":75,"createdAt":5780,"updatedAt":5780,"environment":5781,"publishedVersion":595,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":5778},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"6boXdY6Kp9G3WhXs3ZnU7l","2021-03-10T12:27:14.820Z",{"sys":5782},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":5784,"file":5785},"Pen Licence Twitter Survey",{"url":5786,"details":5787,"fileName":5791,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/6boXdY6Kp9G3WhXs3ZnU7l/f1a802f6b97e796349aa55b30a65b64e/Pen_licence_Twitter_survey.png",{"size":5788,"image":5789},27915,{"width":4521,"height":5790},210,"Pen licence Twitter survey.png",[],{"data":5794,"content":5795,"nodeType":14},{},[5796],{"data":5797,"marks":5798,"value":5799,"nodeType":18},{},[],"One of my favourite quotes comes from German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: ‘There are no facts, only interpretations’.",{"data":5801,"content":5802,"nodeType":14},{},[5803],{"data":5804,"marks":5805,"value":5806,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So let’s consider the interpretations of good, bad and indifferent.",{"data":5808,"content":5809,"nodeType":14},{},[5810],{"data":5811,"marks":5812,"value":5814,"nodeType":18},{},[5813],{"type":133},"About 400 people (15%) thought pen licences were good.",{"data":5816,"content":5817,"nodeType":14},{},[5818,5822,5827],{"data":5819,"marks":5820,"value":5821,"nodeType":18},{},[],"“",{"data":5823,"marks":5824,"value":5826,"nodeType":18},{},[5825],{"type":26},"My class love them! I introduced them this term and the children have responded so positively. Handwriting has really improved.",{"data":5828,"marks":5829,"value":5830,"nodeType":18},{},[],"”",{"data":5832,"content":5833,"nodeType":14},{},[5834],{"data":5835,"marks":5836,"value":5837,"nodeType":18},{},[],"This is the kind of comment I sometimes hear. It doesn’t surprise me and I get it. Children generally love challenges and the prospect of reward and recognition. A pen licence is a carrot being dangled in front of them as motivation and inspiration.",{"data":5839,"content":5840,"nodeType":14},{},[5841],{"data":5842,"marks":5843,"value":5844,"nodeType":18},{},[],"To this end it will initially activate the Reticular Activating System (RAS). The RAS operates as a filter for what should be processed and prioritised.",{"data":5846,"content":5847,"nodeType":14},{},[5848],{"data":5849,"marks":5850,"value":5851,"nodeType":18},{},[],"To begin with everyone appears motivated. Improvement is apparent as attention is focused. As time goes by though, as some children achieve but others don’t, as attention inevitably moves on to other things (the teacher’s as well as the child’s), the carrot too often remains out of reach. Particularly if teaching and feedback isn’t specific and delivered systematically, consistently and with understanding of all that’s involved in the learning process for handwriting. Cognitive overload related to tasks and time demands can often see children stuck, unable to affect change and with feelings of failure, frustration and disappointment.  ",{"data":5853,"content":5854,"nodeType":14},{},[5855],{"data":5856,"marks":5857,"value":5858,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Still I do understand why some people might see the model as a good one though:",{"data":5860,"content":5861,"nodeType":467},{},[5862],{"data":5863,"content":5864,"nodeType":471},{},[5865],{"data":5866,"content":5867,"nodeType":14},{},[5868],{"data":5869,"marks":5870,"value":5871,"nodeType":18},{},[],"some may have had a positive experience receiving a pen licence (either for themselves or their children)",{"data":5873,"content":5874,"nodeType":467},{},[5875],{"data":5876,"content":5877,"nodeType":471},{},[5878],{"data":5879,"content":5880,"nodeType":14},{},[5881],{"data":5882,"marks":5883,"value":5884,"nodeType":18},{},[],"they see the positives in the incentive intention ",{"data":5886,"content":5887,"nodeType":467},{},[5888],{"data":5889,"content":5890,"nodeType":471},{},[5891],{"data":5892,"content":5893,"nodeType":14},{},[5894],{"data":5895,"marks":5896,"value":5897,"nodeType":18},{},[],"they feel there is clarity about what is expected (is achievement supported effectively though?)",{"data":5899,"content":5900,"nodeType":467},{},[5901],{"data":5902,"content":5903,"nodeType":471},{},[5904],{"data":5905,"content":5906,"nodeType":14},{},[5907],{"data":5908,"marks":5909,"value":5910,"nodeType":18},{},[],"it might seem to provide evidence of high expectations from teachers and school (added bonus - Ofsted will probably like that won’t they?)",{"data":5912,"content":5913,"nodeType":14},{},[5914],{"data":5915,"marks":5916,"value":5918,"nodeType":18},{},[5917],{"type":133},"About 1400 people (52%) felt pen licences were bad. ",{"data":5920,"content":5921,"nodeType":14},{},[5922,5925,5930],{"data":5923,"marks":5924,"value":5821,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"data":5926,"marks":5927,"value":5929,"nodeType":18},{},[5928],{"type":26},"Max was last in his class to get his pen licence. He went from loving school to not wanting to go in and the very thought of writing made him angry. It made me angry. We were told handwriting improvement would just come if he practised. But it didn’t. Handwriting became a four-letter word in our household. I felt we were completely let down.",{"data":5931,"marks":5932,"value":5933,"nodeType":18},{},[],"” - Parent",{"data":5935,"content":5936,"nodeType":14},{},[5937,5941,5946],{"data":5938,"marks":5939,"value":5940,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I can understand why people see the model as bad (",{"data":5942,"marks":5943,"value":5945,"nodeType":18},{},[5944],{"type":133},"and include my own perspectives here",{"data":5947,"marks":5948,"value":5949,"nodeType":18},{},[],"):",{"data":5951,"content":5952,"nodeType":467},{},[5953],{"data":5954,"content":5955,"nodeType":471},{},[5956],{"data":5957,"content":5958,"nodeType":14},{},[5959],{"data":5960,"marks":5961,"value":5962,"nodeType":18},{},[],"it discriminates against pupils who, through no fault or lack of effort on their part, are less able to control a pencil and/or influence their visual perception",{"data":5964,"content":5965,"nodeType":467},{},[5966],{"data":5967,"content":5968,"nodeType":471},{},[5969],{"data":5970,"content":5971,"nodeType":14},{},[5972],{"data":5973,"marks":5974,"value":5975,"nodeType":18},{},[],"teaching may not be effective",{"data":5977,"content":5978,"nodeType":467},{},[5979],{"data":5980,"content":5981,"nodeType":471},{},[5982],{"data":5983,"content":5984,"nodeType":14},{},[5985],{"data":5986,"marks":5987,"value":5988,"nodeType":18},{},[],"time pressure may make handwriting demands unachievable",{"data":5990,"content":5991,"nodeType":467},{},[5992],{"data":5993,"content":5994,"nodeType":471},{},[5995],{"data":5996,"content":5997,"nodeType":14},{},[5998],{"data":5999,"marks":6000,"value":6001,"nodeType":18},{},[],"criteria are unrealistic in relation to the additional demands of writing (cognitive overload)",{"data":6003,"content":6004,"nodeType":467},{},[6005],{"data":6006,"content":6007,"nodeType":471},{},[6008],{"data":6009,"content":6010,"nodeType":14},{},[6011],{"data":6012,"marks":6013,"value":6014,"nodeType":18},{},[],"it encourages perfectionism; this is damaging and I’ll blog about that separately",{"data":6016,"content":6038,"nodeType":62},{"target":6017},{"metadata":6018,"sys":6021,"fields":6028},{"tags":6019,"concepts":6020},[],[],{"space":6022,"id":6024,"type":75,"createdAt":6025,"updatedAt":6025,"environment":6026,"publishedVersion":1316,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":6023},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"4aevrkiZnLKEEMFUTeTDay","2021-03-10T12:38:38.061Z",{"sys":6027},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":6029,"file":6030},"Platinum Pen Licence",{"url":6031,"details":6032,"fileName":6037,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/4aevrkiZnLKEEMFUTeTDay/3cd372cec027e2b11e3b63827ee20a1d/Platinum_Pen_Licence.jpeg",{"size":6033,"image":6034},5830,{"width":6035,"height":6036},556,48,"Platinum Pen Licence.jpeg",[],{"data":6040,"content":6041,"nodeType":467},{},[6042],{"data":6043,"content":6044,"nodeType":471},{},[6045],{"data":6046,"content":6047,"nodeType":14},{},[6048],{"data":6049,"marks":6050,"value":6051,"nodeType":18},{},[],"the threat or actual loss of a pen licence and pen use is shaming",{"data":6053,"content":6054,"nodeType":467},{},[6055],{"data":6056,"content":6057,"nodeType":471},{},[6058],{"data":6059,"content":6060,"nodeType":14},{},[6061],{"data":6062,"marks":6063,"value":6064,"nodeType":18},{},[],"the model misses the point – pens are writing implements; how are children going to learn to use them effectively if they don’t have an opportunity to let their eyes, brain and hand adjust and coordinate to sensory feedback that is different to that from a pencil. You shouldn’t have to ‘earn’ the right or be ‘awarded’ them; they’re tools of the trade of handwriting",{"data":6066,"content":6067,"nodeType":467},{},[6068],{"data":6069,"content":6070,"nodeType":471},{},[6071],{"data":6072,"content":6073,"nodeType":14},{},[6074],{"data":6075,"marks":6076,"value":6077,"nodeType":18},{},[],"some children find it easier to write in pen than pencil",{"data":6079,"content":6080,"nodeType":14},{},[6081],{"data":6082,"marks":6083,"value":6085,"nodeType":18},{},[6084],{"type":133},"About 900 people (33%) were indifferent about pen licences. ",{"data":6087,"content":6088,"nodeType":14},{},[6089],{"data":6090,"marks":6091,"value":6092,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I can understand this. If you’ve never had any particularly positive or negative experiences around the concept the chances are it’s not been on your radar to consider. It was good of you to even vote to be honest. If you’re indifferent I’m guessing it seems like it could be a good idea on the face of it but you’re open to recognising it might not be for everyone? ",{"data":6094,"content":6095,"nodeType":14},{},[6096],{"data":6097,"marks":6098,"value":6099,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Maybe your opinions have shifted a little after reading. ",{"data":6101,"content":6102,"nodeType":14},{},[6103],{"data":6104,"marks":6105,"value":6106,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I’m grateful to everyone for taking the time to read and reflect. ",{"data":6108,"content":6109,"nodeType":14},{},[6110],{"data":6111,"marks":6112,"value":6113,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Please come and talk to me about it. Whether we agree or not, I’d love to hear your experiences and opinions. ",{"data":6115,"content":6116,"nodeType":14},{},[6117],{"data":6118,"marks":6119,"value":6120,"nodeType":18},{},[],"You can find me on Twitter...  @nicky_parr ",{"data":6122,"content":6123,"nodeType":14},{},[6124],{"data":6125,"marks":6126,"value":6127,"nodeType":18},{},[],"or email nicky@betterhandwritten.com",{"data":6129,"content":6130,"nodeType":14},{},[6131],{"data":6132,"marks":6133,"value":6134,"nodeType":18},{},[],"or use the Contact Form at www.betterhandwritten.com",{"url":6136},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/4HwvUkbufRCwhEj14cRSBM/c757cd76227358c9825cc712f36c94bd/Handwriting_pens.png","2020-07-20T00:00+00:00",[1995,1996],{"id":6140,"slug":6141,"title":6142,"longTitle":6142,"summary":6143,"mainBody":6144,"heroImage":6550,"publishDate":6552,"articleDate":6552,"tags":6553},"156yGQgp7OgJZD6lSaKYJ8","parent-pressures","Parent Pressures","It's so hard when you want to help your child but don't know how :(",{"data":6145,"content":6146,"nodeType":10},{},[6147,6162,6169,6176,6200,6223,6230,6252,6259,6266,6273,6280,6287,6294,6301,6308,6315,6322,6329,6353,6360,6367,6374,6382,6398,6405,6416,6424,6431,6434,6441,6463,6474,6481,6505,6514,6532,6538,6544],{"data":6148,"content":6149,"nodeType":14},{},[6150,6153,6158],{"data":6151,"marks":6152,"value":5821,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"data":6154,"marks":6155,"value":6157,"nodeType":18},{},[6156],{"type":26},"We’re trying to remember the real positives. After...oh on Friday…when you said can you talk? I thought, I can’t - I think I’ll just be in tears. And it’s only handwriting. I thought, ugh I can’t even talk to you about handwriting… I’m too emotional about it",{"data":6159,"marks":6160,"value":6161,"nodeType":18},{},[],"...”",{"data":6163,"content":6164,"nodeType":14},{},[6165],{"data":6166,"marks":6167,"value":6168,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I was on a video call with Abbie a few days after I’d started working online with her eight-year-old son. ",{"data":6170,"content":6171,"nodeType":14},{},[6172],{"data":6173,"marks":6174,"value":6175,"nodeType":18},{},[],"The first couple of days had gone really well but on the aforementioned Friday I received this message along with the photo of his practice:",{"data":6177,"content":6199,"nodeType":62},{"target":6178},{"metadata":6179,"sys":6182,"fields":6189},{"tags":6180,"concepts":6181},[],[],{"space":6183,"id":6185,"type":75,"createdAt":6186,"updatedAt":6186,"environment":6187,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":6184},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"3gLS1Q01MQd5nb29lkl6PC","2021-03-10T12:50:49.047Z",{"sys":6188},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":6190,"file":6191},"Parent Pressures message",{"url":6192,"details":6193,"fileName":6198,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3gLS1Q01MQd5nb29lkl6PC/3890d0474db4dee30b17c20c7005e500/Parent_Pressures_message.jpeg",{"size":6194,"image":6195},91306,{"width":6196,"height":6197},557,838,"Parent Pressures message.jpeg",[],{"data":6201,"content":6222,"nodeType":62},{"target":6202},{"metadata":6203,"sys":6206,"fields":6213},{"tags":6204,"concepts":6205},[],[],{"space":6207,"id":6209,"type":75,"createdAt":6210,"updatedAt":6210,"environment":6211,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":6208},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"3Dw0DMdhXNfUrZupYERBz8","2021-03-10T12:51:23.312Z",{"sys":6212},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":6214,"file":6215},"Parent Pressures c practice",{"url":6216,"details":6217,"fileName":6221,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3Dw0DMdhXNfUrZupYERBz8/5c206b85a63b5476afd37f233779472b/Parent_Pressures_c_practice.jpeg",{"size":6218,"image":6219},44006,{"width":4201,"height":6220},400,"Parent Pressures c practice.jpeg",[],{"data":6224,"content":6225,"nodeType":14},{},[6226],{"data":6227,"marks":6228,"value":6229,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Straight away I’d asked if we could talk because I could feel there was a huge amount of emotion behind her message. Our call on the following Monday was a really helpful opportunity for me to listen and explain some things which helped Abbie begin to relax, trust me and trust the process. Things went well after our chat. Handwriting practice was moved to first thing in the morning after breakfast. We agreed it was hard to focus attention when her son had been concentrating online all morning (due to Lockdown) and was hungry.",{"data":6231,"content":6251,"nodeType":62},{"target":6232},{"metadata":6233,"sys":6236,"fields":6243},{"tags":6234,"concepts":6235},[],[],{"space":6237,"id":6239,"type":75,"createdAt":6240,"updatedAt":6240,"environment":6241,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":6238},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"1ZmodntdSfwGq94RbDM5Xs","2021-03-10T13:05:04.957Z",{"sys":6242},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":6244,"file":6245},"Parent Pressures 10 week progress",{"url":6246,"details":6247,"fileName":6250,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/1ZmodntdSfwGq94RbDM5Xs/bf4e4527161276893b5e2fc9da8d2aee/Parent_Pressures_10_week_progress.png",{"size":6248,"image":6249},449839,{"width":1573,"height":4878},"Parent Pressures 10 week progress.png",[],{"data":6253,"content":6254,"nodeType":14},{},[6255],{"data":6256,"marks":6257,"value":6258,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It’s really hard for parents. ",{"data":6260,"content":6261,"nodeType":14},{},[6262],{"data":6263,"marks":6264,"value":6265,"nodeType":18},{},[],"We want so much for our children.",{"data":6267,"content":6268,"nodeType":14},{},[6269],{"data":6270,"marks":6271,"value":6272,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Parents have their own perspective about how important handwriting is or isn’t. That perspective can change; their viewpoint is formed from personal experiences but also becomes affected by additional emotional factors, like their child’s unhappiness, anger, frustration, anxiety or distress… about pen licences… teacher concerns… fear about legibility in exams…about potential negative judgement or bias. ",{"data":6274,"content":6275,"nodeType":14},{},[6276],{"data":6277,"marks":6278,"value":6279,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It’s stressful! ",{"data":6281,"content":6282,"nodeType":14},{},[6283],{"data":6284,"marks":6285,"value":6286,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Parents want to help but often don’t actually know how to. This is sometimes reflected in feeling that they shouldn’t have to, that it’s the school’s responsibility.",{"data":6288,"content":6289,"nodeType":14},{},[6290],{"data":6291,"marks":6292,"value":6293,"nodeType":18},{},[],"When parents contact me I hear things like:",{"data":6295,"content":6296,"nodeType":14},{},[6297],{"data":6298,"marks":6299,"value":6300,"nodeType":18},{},[],"‘I feel the school should have done something sooner.’",{"data":6302,"content":6303,"nodeType":14},{},[6304],{"data":6305,"marks":6306,"value":6307,"nodeType":18},{},[],"‘I’m disappointed that nothing was flagged up.’",{"data":6309,"content":6310,"nodeType":14},{},[6311],{"data":6312,"marks":6313,"value":6314,"nodeType":18},{},[],"‘I actually feel quite let down by them.’",{"data":6316,"content":6317,"nodeType":14},{},[6318],{"data":6319,"marks":6320,"value":6321,"nodeType":18},{},[],"‘I’m concerned that teachers have allowed him to carry on writing like this for so long given that handwriting is taught in class.’",{"data":6323,"content":6324,"nodeType":14},{},[6325],{"data":6326,"marks":6327,"value":6328,"nodeType":18},{},[],"‘He says his teachers have tried but given up.’",{"data":6330,"content":6352,"nodeType":62},{"target":6331},{"metadata":6332,"sys":6335,"fields":6342},{"tags":6333,"concepts":6334},[],[],{"space":6336,"id":6338,"type":75,"createdAt":6339,"updatedAt":6339,"environment":6340,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":6337},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"5mIx3yI6IypQlgj2oYUTz3","2021-03-10T12:52:19.460Z",{"sys":6341},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":6343,"file":6344},"Disappointed",{"url":6345,"details":6346,"fileName":6351,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/5mIx3yI6IypQlgj2oYUTz3/a089fdddf70a78ef8e0ac38c9f5b08b5/Disappointed.png",{"size":6347,"image":6348},4063,{"width":6349,"height":6350},275,183,"Disappointed.png",[],{"data":6354,"content":6355,"nodeType":14},{},[6356],{"data":6357,"marks":6358,"value":6359,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I’m always a bit saddened to hear these remarks. ",{"data":6361,"content":6362,"nodeType":14},{},[6363],{"data":6364,"marks":6365,"value":6366,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I know how hard teachers work and how they want the best for their pupils. ",{"data":6368,"content":6369,"nodeType":14},{},[6370],{"data":6371,"marks":6372,"value":6373,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I know how much parents care and want the best for their children.",{"data":6375,"content":6376,"nodeType":14},{},[6377],{"data":6378,"marks":6379,"value":6381,"nodeType":18},{},[6380],{"type":133},"We need to work together.",{"data":6383,"content":6384,"nodeType":14},{},[6385,6389,6394],{"data":6386,"marks":6387,"value":6388,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Teachers ",{"data":6390,"marks":6391,"value":6393,"nodeType":18},{},[6392],{"type":133},"and ",{"data":6395,"marks":6396,"value":6397,"nodeType":18},{},[],"parents need to know how to help. That’s why I started Better Handwritten… to give guidance and support on highly effective teaching of handwriting.",{"data":6399,"content":6400,"nodeType":14},{},[6401],{"data":6402,"marks":6403,"value":6404,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Before we started working together, Abbie had done her best to help her son herself.",{"data":6406,"content":6407,"nodeType":14},{},[6408,6411],{"data":6409,"marks":6410,"value":5453,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"data":6412,"marks":6413,"value":6415,"nodeType":18},{},[6414],{"type":26},"I tried worksheets over and over again but he didn’t engage in the task and it was a real struggle to keep him focused. I was also getting very frustrated with his writing, which (now I look back) was definitely having a negative impact on him and how he felt about handwriting.",{"data":6417,"content":6418,"nodeType":14},{},[6419],{"data":6420,"marks":6421,"value":6423,"nodeType":18},{},[6422],{"type":26},"I definitely didn't appreciate the bigger picture of handwriting and all the things the brain has to coordinate to write. I felt like we had spent so much time practising and it was having no impact - I was starting to feel like my son was just being lazy and I must be a terrible teacher.’",{"data":6425,"content":6426,"nodeType":14},{},[6427],{"data":6428,"marks":6429,"value":6430,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Working with Abbie gave me an opportunity to help her reflect, understand and relax. I was able to provide a model that was manageable and got results. Thinking back to where we started reminds me just how many parents must be going through emotional stresses and strains trying to help their children.",{"data":6432,"content":6433,"nodeType":172},{},[],{"data":6435,"content":6436,"nodeType":14},{},[6437],{"data":6438,"marks":6439,"value":6440,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I’ve actually just got off a call with Abbie! It’s nearly three months since we started working together and we've been looking back to that first week. I think Abbie’s words express the emotions involved for many parents so well …",{"data":6442,"content":6443,"nodeType":14},{},[6444,6447,6452,6458],{"data":6445,"marks":6446,"value":5821,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"data":6448,"marks":6449,"value":6451,"nodeType":18},{},[6450],{"type":26},"I remember speaking to you in the early days and I just felt SO tearful every time we spoke, because I was finding the whole thing so emotional… I couldn’t help him. Working with you isn’t what I expected it to be. I remember thinking, you’re just here to help him with handwriting but all of a sudden you’re helping ",{"data":6453,"marks":6454,"value":6457,"nodeType":18},{},[6455,6456],{"type":133},{"type":26},"me ",{"data":6459,"marks":6460,"value":6462,"nodeType":18},{},[6461],{"type":26},"with … almost handwriting counselling. ",{"data":6464,"content":6465,"nodeType":14},{},[6466,6471],{"data":6467,"marks":6468,"value":6470,"nodeType":18},{},[6469],{"type":26},"I was so overwhelmed when we were first working together whereas now working on handwriting is such a pleasure. Our whole perception has just changed… how we look at it, how we take it on and how we talk about. Before the whole thing was so negative…for both of us. And it doesn’t feel like that at all any more.",{"data":6472,"marks":6473,"value":5830,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"data":6475,"content":6476,"nodeType":14},{},[6477],{"data":6478,"marks":6479,"value":6480,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It’s good to talk about handwriting. It’s good to learn about it… really understand what’s involved. We need to break down the stress barriers that are denying children AND parents the many benefits and pleasures that writing by hand can bring. Understanding is empowering.",{"data":6482,"content":6504,"nodeType":62},{"target":6483},{"metadata":6484,"sys":6487,"fields":6494},{"tags":6485,"concepts":6486},[],[],{"space":6488,"id":6490,"type":75,"createdAt":6491,"updatedAt":6491,"environment":6492,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":6489},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"5OMMH5fiPaU6z1zvDhxTNF","2021-03-10T13:04:59.669Z",{"sys":6493},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":6495,"file":6496},"Parent message no arguing",{"url":6497,"details":6498,"fileName":6503,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/5OMMH5fiPaU6z1zvDhxTNF/94041087d05c072e6b1452354bb8d03b/Parent_message_no_arguing.png",{"size":6499,"image":6500},49102,{"width":6501,"height":6502},370,198,"Parent message no arguing.png",[],{"data":6506,"content":6507,"nodeType":14},{},[6508],{"data":6509,"marks":6510,"value":6513,"nodeType":18},{},[6511,6512],{"type":133},{"type":26},"A tag from a parent who had bought a Better Handwritten course to use with her son.",{"data":6515,"content":6516,"nodeType":14},{},[6517,6521,6528],{"data":6518,"marks":6519,"value":6520,"nodeType":18},{},[],"For more information on how to support children with handwriting, contact ",{"data":6522,"content":6524,"nodeType":33},{"uri":6523},"mailto:nicky@betterhandwritten.com",[6525],{"data":6526,"marks":6527,"value":440,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"data":6529,"marks":6530,"value":6531,"nodeType":18},{},[],"enquiries@betterhandwritten.com",{"data":6533,"content":6534,"nodeType":14},{},[6535],{"data":6536,"marks":6537,"value":440,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"data":6539,"content":6540,"nodeType":14},{},[6541],{"data":6542,"marks":6543,"value":440,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"data":6545,"content":6546,"nodeType":14},{},[6547],{"data":6548,"marks":6549,"value":440,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"url":6551},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3cvIxPSj10F7jrqrNTefIW/9395fa2e397dd9d4c023fc690c6f2aea/Parent_Pressures_Hero_Image.png","2020-07-13T00:00+00:00",[1996,1995],{"id":6555,"slug":6556,"title":6557,"longTitle":6557,"summary":6558,"mainBody":6559,"heroImage":7070,"publishDate":7072,"articleDate":7072,"tags":7073},"16VGk4s79ATv79MttSGfui","high-expectations","High Expectations","'High expectations'... what does that mean?",{"nodeType":10,"data":6560,"content":6561},{},[6562,6569,6576,6583,6597,6612,6626,6634,6641,6648,6671,6678,6685,6692,6699,6712,6725,6738,6751,6758,6780,6799,6806,6819,6832,6845,6858,6871,6884,6891,6905,6912,6919,6926,6940,6947,6954,6961,6968,6975,6982,6996,7003,7026,7035,7042,7049,7056,7063],{"nodeType":14,"content":6563,"data":6568},[6564],{"nodeType":18,"value":6565,"marks":6566,"data":6567},"Ofsted inspectors love high expectations. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6570,"data":6575},[6571],{"nodeType":18,"value":6572,"marks":6573,"data":6574},"I’ve noticed this. I’ve read through enough reports to get a sense of how they feel about handwriting and presentation.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6577,"data":6582},[6578],{"nodeType":18,"value":6579,"marks":6580,"data":6581},"There are way too many to share of course but I’ve picked a few comments out of the hat:",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6584,"data":6596},[6585,6588,6593],{"nodeType":18,"value":5453,"marks":6586,"data":6587},[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":6589,"marks":6590,"data":6592},"Teachers do not have consistently high expectations of pupils’ writing. As a result, pupils’ spelling and handwriting often are not good enough",[6591],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":5038,"marks":6594,"data":6595},[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6598,"data":6611},[6599,6603,6608],{"nodeType":18,"value":6600,"marks":6601,"data":6602},"‘E",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":6604,"marks":6605,"data":6607},"xpectations of what pupils can achieve have been too low, particularly in handwriting and presentation",[6606],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":5038,"marks":6609,"data":6610},[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6613,"data":6625},[6614,6617,6622],{"nodeType":18,"value":5453,"marks":6615,"data":6616},[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":6618,"marks":6619,"data":6621},"Teachers must challenge pupils to improve their presentation when it falls below expectations.",[6620],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":145,"marks":6623,"data":6624},[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6627,"data":6633},[6628],{"nodeType":18,"value":6629,"marks":6630,"data":6632},"(from 2019 Reports)",[6631],{"type":26},{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6635,"data":6640},[6636],{"nodeType":18,"value":6637,"marks":6638,"data":6639},"I’ve got to be honest, I have mixed feelings about the phrase ‘high expectations’ because too often it’s not clear what that means.  I understand why it’s used (and I believe I have them) but it’s a term that’s so open to interpretation. I think we need to give it some thought and have more conversations about it because in reality, some interpretations do more damage than good. In this Ofsted context, for me there’s a sharpness about it, an intensity… a judgement and criticism of teachers, which feels like pressure to put pupils under pressure…",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6642,"data":6647},[6643],{"nodeType":18,"value":6644,"marks":6645,"data":6646},"“Max had always thoroughly enjoyed school until he hit the second part of Year 3,” Kate told me, “when the only thing his teacher ever commented on was how he had to improve his handwriting. He stopped wanting to go to school even though he loved learning and loved his friends. Feedback to us as parents was simply 'it will come if he practises'… but it didn't. Handwriting became a four-letter word in our house.”",[],{},{},{"nodeType":62,"content":6649,"data":6650},[],{"target":6651},{"metadata":6652,"sys":6655,"fields":6662},{"tags":6653,"concepts":6654},[],[],{"space":6656,"id":6658,"type":75,"createdAt":6659,"updatedAt":6659,"environment":6660,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":6657},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"77qlLe1iq6PC4dDgheP77z","2021-03-10T13:30:47.379Z",{"sys":6661},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":6663,"file":6664},"Swear word in our house",{"url":6665,"details":6666,"fileName":6670,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/77qlLe1iq6PC4dDgheP77z/3abfc5fae64bef160cc7c1aeeeeb7c39/Swear_word_in_our_house.jpeg",{"size":6667,"image":6668},83793,{"width":2028,"height":6669},534,"Swear word in our house.jpeg",{"nodeType":14,"content":6672,"data":6677},[6673],{"nodeType":18,"value":6674,"marks":6675,"data":6676},"You may not be surprised to hear that Max was the last to get his ‘pen-licence’ at the end of Year 5 and (now in Year 6) handwriting “is still a source of struggle.”",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6679,"data":6684},[6680],{"nodeType":18,"value":6681,"marks":6682,"data":6683},"I hear so many stories like this. Aside from the child and their handwriting, the relationship between teacher and parent becomes fragile. That’s not good for anyone.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6686,"data":6691},[6687],{"nodeType":18,"value":6688,"marks":6689,"data":6690},"But wasn’t Max’s teacher simply ‘challenging’ him to improve his presentation and ‘having consistently high expectations’?",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6693,"data":6698},[6694],{"nodeType":18,"value":6695,"marks":6696,"data":6697},"When it comes to handwriting, I don’t believe effective high expectations are about:",[],{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6700,"data":6711},[6701],{"nodeType":471,"content":6702,"data":6710},[6703],{"nodeType":14,"content":6704,"data":6709},[6705],{"nodeType":18,"value":6706,"marks":6707,"data":6708},"being ‘strict’",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6713,"data":6724},[6714],{"nodeType":471,"content":6715,"data":6723},[6716],{"nodeType":14,"content":6717,"data":6722},[6718],{"nodeType":18,"value":6719,"marks":6720,"data":6721},"‘telling’ children to improve",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6726,"data":6737},[6727],{"nodeType":471,"content":6728,"data":6736},[6729],{"nodeType":14,"content":6730,"data":6735},[6731],{"nodeType":18,"value":6732,"marks":6733,"data":6734},"constantly reminding them of what’s wrong and then getting frustrated when they keep making the same mistakes",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6739,"data":6750},[6740],{"nodeType":471,"content":6741,"data":6749},[6742],{"nodeType":14,"content":6743,"data":6748},[6744],{"nodeType":18,"value":6745,"marks":6746,"data":6747},"making them miss playtimes to rewrite things or writing something out in ‘best’ when they’ve just finished a lengthy draft.",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6752,"data":6757},[6753],{"nodeType":18,"value":6754,"marks":6755,"data":6756},"Of course, when there’s a degree of threat involved (having to re-write or miss break) fear levels can make children more alert, and this can sharpen their short term focus, but it doesn’t make for a good relationship with writing. In fact it damages it. It’s not rocket science.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":62,"content":6759,"data":6760},[],{"target":6761},{"metadata":6762,"sys":6765,"fields":6772},{"tags":6763,"concepts":6764},[],[],{"space":6766,"id":6768,"type":75,"createdAt":6769,"updatedAt":6769,"environment":6770,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":6767},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"1Jw0iSZKVQ6vDKJaLnxXQC","2021-03-10T13:31:50.978Z",{"sys":6771},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":6773,"file":6774},"Joining after writing",{"url":6775,"details":6776,"fileName":6779,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/1Jw0iSZKVQ6vDKJaLnxXQC/f7cedcb32b8777852a43499f7f99dc57/Joining_after_writing.jpeg",{"size":6777,"image":6778},112002,{"width":3505,"height":5631},"Joining after writing.jpeg",{"nodeType":14,"content":6781,"data":6798},[6782,6787,6793],{"nodeType":18,"value":6783,"marks":6784,"data":6786},"In this example can you see where the pupil attempted to go back and ‘join’ some words in his writing ",[6785],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":6788,"marks":6789,"data":6792},"after ",[6790,6791],{"type":133},{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":6794,"marks":6795,"data":6797},"finishing, to try and avoid having to write it out again. He was aware of the expectation to join but was unable to sustain joining up at the same time as formulating sentences from his thoughts.",[6796],{"type":26},{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6800,"data":6805},[6801],{"nodeType":18,"value":6802,"marks":6803,"data":6804},"An approach as described above tells me a teacher (or parent) doesn’t really understand (or have time to understand) what’s involved in producing the ‘expected high standard’ of handwriting:",[],{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6807,"data":6818},[6808],{"nodeType":471,"content":6809,"data":6817},[6810],{"nodeType":14,"content":6811,"data":6816},[6812],{"nodeType":18,"value":6813,"marks":6814,"data":6815},"the small step development of fine motor skills ",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6820,"data":6831},[6821],{"nodeType":471,"content":6822,"data":6830},[6823],{"nodeType":14,"content":6824,"data":6829},[6825],{"nodeType":18,"value":6826,"marks":6827,"data":6828},"the need to practise until writing becomes automated",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6833,"data":6844},[6834],{"nodeType":471,"content":6835,"data":6843},[6836],{"nodeType":14,"content":6837,"data":6842},[6838],{"nodeType":18,"value":6839,"marks":6840,"data":6841},"the load on working memory when writing",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6846,"data":6857},[6847],{"nodeType":471,"content":6848,"data":6856},[6849],{"nodeType":14,"content":6850,"data":6855},[6851],{"nodeType":18,"value":6852,"marks":6853,"data":6854},"the impact of anxiety on working memory",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6859,"data":6870},[6860],{"nodeType":471,"content":6861,"data":6869},[6862],{"nodeType":14,"content":6863,"data":6868},[6864],{"nodeType":18,"value":6865,"marks":6866,"data":6867},"the impact of distraction in the environment ",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6872,"data":6883},[6873],{"nodeType":471,"content":6874,"data":6882},[6875],{"nodeType":14,"content":6876,"data":6881},[6877],{"nodeType":18,"value":6878,"marks":6879,"data":6880},"and the emotional context for an individual",[],{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6885,"data":6890},[6886],{"nodeType":18,"value":6887,"marks":6888,"data":6889},"I could write a book on this but instead, just to get you thinking, I’ll share 3 suggestions for developing high expectations regarding handwriting:",[],{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6892,"data":6904},[6893],{"nodeType":471,"content":6894,"data":6903},[6895],{"nodeType":14,"content":6896,"data":6902},[6897],{"nodeType":18,"value":6898,"marks":6899,"data":6901},"Have them for yourself. Develop your subject knowledge around handwriting",[6900],{"type":133},{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6906,"data":6911},[6907],{"nodeType":18,"value":6908,"marks":6909,"data":6910},"How can you expect something of a child when you don’t really understand the issues they’re facing - the developmental, neurological and emotional factors involved?",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6913,"data":6918},[6914],{"nodeType":18,"value":6915,"marks":6916,"data":6917},"What are you modelling and communicating in terms of your own writing, beliefs, interest and the language you use?",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6920,"data":6925},[6921],{"nodeType":18,"value":6922,"marks":6923,"data":6924},"Confidence in your own ability transmits. It can transform you from sharing an air of frustration, disappointment, negative judgement or disinterest to one of calm reassurance, positive support and practical suggestions. You will come to embrace and trust the expression ‘Less is more’!",[],{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6927,"data":6939},[6928],{"nodeType":471,"content":6929,"data":6938},[6930],{"nodeType":14,"content":6931,"data":6937},[6932],{"nodeType":18,"value":6933,"marks":6934,"data":6936},"Prioritise consistent discrete handwriting practice",[6935],{"type":133},{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6941,"data":6946},[6942],{"nodeType":18,"value":6943,"marks":6944,"data":6945},"15 minutes a day:",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6948,"data":6953},[6949],{"nodeType":18,"value":6950,"marks":6951,"data":6952},"5 minutes looking, discussing, thinking",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6955,"data":6960},[6956],{"nodeType":18,"value":6957,"marks":6958,"data":6959},"5 minutes writing",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6962,"data":6967},[6963],{"nodeType":18,"value":6964,"marks":6965,"data":6966},"5 minutes reflecting",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6969,"data":6974},[6970],{"nodeType":18,"value":6971,"marks":6972,"data":6973},"If it’s important to you, important enough to allocate regular time and attention, it will become important to a child. Children crave adult attention and this investment of time and focused attention is a powerful catalyst.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6976,"data":6981},[6977],{"nodeType":18,"value":6978,"marks":6979,"data":6980},"Work to establish a consistent routine so there’s no decision necessary (for you or a child) about whether practice will happen today or not. It just does, like brushing our teeth. That makes it easier for you and the children.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":467,"content":6983,"data":6995},[6984],{"nodeType":471,"content":6985,"data":6994},[6986],{"nodeType":14,"content":6987,"data":6993},[6988],{"nodeType":18,"value":6989,"marks":6990,"data":6992},"Be interested and have conversations",[6991],{"type":133},{},{},{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":6997,"data":7002},[6998],{"nodeType":18,"value":6999,"marks":7000,"data":7001},"Genuinely. About handwriting but also in individuals. Build in elements that let them know you know them.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":62,"content":7004,"data":7005},[],{"target":7006},{"metadata":7007,"sys":7010,"fields":7017},{"tags":7008,"concepts":7009},[],[],{"space":7011,"id":7013,"type":75,"createdAt":7014,"updatedAt":7014,"environment":7015,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":7012},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"7HEkXPRdD4Vd52EAU0b1XT","2021-03-10T13:32:37.744Z",{"sys":7016},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":7018,"file":7019},"Personalise Practice",{"url":7020,"details":7021,"fileName":7025,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/7HEkXPRdD4Vd52EAU0b1XT/71f7b368bb9d2d8ffe2e94ab4ffa75ca/Personalise_Practice.jpeg",{"size":7022,"image":7023},140165,{"width":3505,"height":7024},638,"Personalise Practice.jpeg",{"nodeType":14,"content":7027,"data":7034},[7028],{"nodeType":18,"value":7029,"marks":7030,"data":7033},"In this practice for example, I’ve included the name of a video game (Fortnite) that I know the student likes. I’ve also included places that he’s connected to.",[7031,7032],{"type":26},{"type":133},{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":7036,"data":7041},[7037],{"nodeType":18,"value":7038,"marks":7039,"data":7040},"Be interested rather than judgemental.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":7043,"data":7048},[7044],{"nodeType":18,"value":7045,"marks":7046,"data":7047},"Thinking back to the example of the posthumous joining:",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":7050,"data":7055},[7051],{"nodeType":18,"value":7052,"marks":7053,"data":7054},"“Ahh I can see what’s happened here. You had so much to think about – choosing words and making sentences that there wasn’t enough thinking space for remembering to join up all your handwriting. Isn’t it interesting to see?! Don’t worry for this piece. If we were going to put it on the wall we’d find time to copy it out but I was perfectly able to read it. You explained your thinking really well.”",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":7057,"data":7062},[7058],{"nodeType":18,"value":7059,"marks":7060,"data":7061},"Something along those lines. You get the idea.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":7064,"data":7069},[7065],{"nodeType":18,"value":7066,"marks":7067,"data":7068},"As I said I could go on, but for now I hope you can find a little time to reflect on what high expectations in handwriting mean for you. Please go and enjoy having some conversations about it! ",[],{},{},{"url":7071},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3CJbT6JLcF2Vgq5ZIS1Qbz/558f1688e36f3261f04e96e1a2dbdedd/High_Expectations_hero_Image.png","2020-07-06T00:00+00:00",[1995,1996],{"id":7075,"slug":7076,"title":7077,"longTitle":7077,"summary":7078,"mainBody":7079,"heroImage":7558,"publishDate":7560,"articleDate":7560,"tags":7561},"78pgbA6L4RiShdxarHxHXI","judgement-day","Judgement Day","Handwriting often gets judged... by others or we judge it ourselves.",{"data":7080,"content":7081,"nodeType":10},{},[7082,7089,7096,7103,7106,7113,7120,7127,7134,7141,7148,7155,7162,7169,7176,7183,7190,7193,7200,7207,7214,7221,7228,7235,7242,7249,7256,7263,7270,7277,7284,7291,7298,7305,7312,7335,7357,7380,7403,7426,7449,7471,7494,7500,7507,7514,7521,7528,7535,7542],{"data":7083,"content":7084,"nodeType":14},{},[7085],{"data":7086,"marks":7087,"value":7088,"nodeType":18},{},[],"“Excuse me!” She ran down the corridor after me. \n“I just wanted to ask, if you have time, could you come back and show me your handwriting please? It’s just I’ve never met a handwriting specialist before and I’d really like to see your writing.”",{"data":7090,"content":7091,"nodeType":14},{},[7092],{"data":7093,"marks":7094,"value":7095,"nodeType":18},{},[],"And there it was. Impending judgement. My stomach dropped a little as I processed her words. ",{"data":7097,"content":7098,"nodeType":14},{},[7099],{"data":7100,"marks":7101,"value":7102,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I reminded myself that it was perfectly reasonable for this teacher to be interested (or was she feeling defensive I wonder?) … and also perfectly natural for me to be alert to judgement. It’s a very human thing isn’t it, judging and feeling judged? ",{"data":7104,"content":7105,"nodeType":172},{},[],{"data":7107,"content":7108,"nodeType":14},{},[7109],{"data":7110,"marks":7111,"value":7112,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Job titles are necessary and useful in helping people begin to understand what we do, but I’m always aware that mine brings certain expectations with it. Expectations that mean my handwriting is gonna be judged - obviously!",{"data":7114,"content":7115,"nodeType":14},{},[7116],{"data":7117,"marks":7118,"value":7119,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It’s interesting because my work really isn’t about MY handwriting, it’s about my ability to help other people with theirs… teaching them and helping them develop a script they feel good about, is legible and useful (and helping other teachers do that too). Of course, how my writing looks is part of the evidence base; I understand that. ",{"data":7121,"content":7122,"nodeType":14},{},[7123],{"data":7124,"marks":7125,"value":7126,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It’s good to be conscious because judgement is what so many children and adults feel when it comes to handwriting. ",{"data":7128,"content":7129,"nodeType":14},{},[7130],{"data":7131,"marks":7132,"value":7133,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It can make them not want to write. ",{"data":7135,"content":7136,"nodeType":14},{},[7137],{"data":7138,"marks":7139,"value":7140,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It can make them feel frustrated, angry, embarrassed and self-conscious.",{"data":7142,"content":7143,"nodeType":14},{},[7144],{"data":7145,"marks":7146,"value":7147,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It can raise anxiety levels, taking up precious space in working memory that is needed for so many other things.",{"data":7149,"content":7150,"nodeType":14},{},[7151],{"data":7152,"marks":7153,"value":7154,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Or",{"data":7156,"content":7157,"nodeType":14},{},[7158],{"data":7159,"marks":7160,"value":7161,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It can make them want to write more.",{"data":7163,"content":7164,"nodeType":14},{},[7165],{"data":7166,"marks":7167,"value":7168,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It can make them feel proud and confident.",{"data":7170,"content":7171,"nodeType":14},{},[7172],{"data":7173,"marks":7174,"value":7175,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It can also tip into influencing aspirations for perfection which become impractical or even damaging.",{"data":7177,"content":7178,"nodeType":14},{},[7179],{"data":7180,"marks":7181,"value":7182,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Judgements can make us feel bad OR good and they influence our behaviour.",{"data":7184,"content":7185,"nodeType":14},{},[7186],{"data":7187,"marks":7188,"value":7189,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I’ll share some stories of people who have been affected by judgement of their handwriting in future blogs.",{"data":7191,"content":7192,"nodeType":172},{},[],{"data":7194,"content":7195,"nodeType":14},{},[7196],{"data":7197,"marks":7198,"value":7199,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I replied honestly.",{"data":7201,"content":7202,"nodeType":14},{},[7203],{"data":7204,"marks":7205,"value":7206,"nodeType":18},{},[],"“Haha, people often seem to imagine I’m going to have some amazing calligraphic style. I’m sure they’re either disappointed or unimpressed by how regular it is! It’s neat (when I want it to be), it’s cursive (when I want it to be)… but it’s not calligraphy!”",{"data":7208,"content":7209,"nodeType":14},{},[7210],{"data":7211,"marks":7212,"value":7213,"nodeType":18},{},[],"My general style is the product of continually modelling for others - I often wish it had a bit more flair and personality!",{"data":7215,"content":7216,"nodeType":14},{},[7217],{"data":7218,"marks":7219,"value":7220,"nodeType":18},{},[],"My styles are also the product of how I’m feeling or the task I’m undertaking. ",{"data":7222,"content":7223,"nodeType":14},{},[7224],{"data":7225,"marks":7226,"value":7227,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Styles. Plural. A spectrum.",{"data":7229,"content":7230,"nodeType":14},{},[7231],{"data":7232,"marks":7233,"value":7234,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I guess I’d better show you my writing then. Let’s get it over with!",{"data":7236,"content":7237,"nodeType":14},{},[7238],{"data":7239,"marks":7240,"value":7241,"nodeType":18},{},[],"If you can, tune in to your thoughts, whatever they may be. Notice what you hear yourself thinking…",{"data":7243,"content":7244,"nodeType":14},{},[7245],{"data":7246,"marks":7247,"value":7248,"nodeType":18},{},[],"“Well that’s nothing special,” or",{"data":7250,"content":7251,"nodeType":14},{},[7252],{"data":7253,"marks":7254,"value":7255,"nodeType":18},{},[],"“What a mess!” or",{"data":7257,"content":7258,"nodeType":14},{},[7259],{"data":7260,"marks":7261,"value":7262,"nodeType":18},{},[],"“It’s quite nice,” or",{"data":7264,"content":7265,"nodeType":14},{},[7266],{"data":7267,"marks":7268,"value":7269,"nodeType":18},{},[],"“Mine’s better,” or",{"data":7271,"content":7272,"nodeType":14},{},[7273],{"data":7274,"marks":7275,"value":7276,"nodeType":18},{},[],"“I wish my writing was neater,” or",{"data":7278,"content":7279,"nodeType":14},{},[7280],{"data":7281,"marks":7282,"value":7283,"nodeType":18},{},[],"“Who cares about handwriting anyway?” or ",{"data":7285,"content":7286,"nodeType":14},{},[7287],{"data":7288,"marks":7289,"value":7290,"nodeType":18},{},[],"…something else.",{"data":7292,"content":7293,"nodeType":14},{},[7294],{"data":7295,"marks":7296,"value":7297,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Note how I've been lowering your expectations... a useful strategy when we feel vulnerable to potentially negative judgement.",{"data":7299,"content":7300,"nodeType":14},{},[7301],{"data":7302,"marks":7303,"value":7304,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Ready?",{"data":7306,"content":7307,"nodeType":14},{},[7308],{"data":7309,"marks":7310,"value":7311,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Here we 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writing",{"url":7487,"details":7488,"fileName":7492,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/4mGHhyZoBWoi4doBgM7X6Z/e254f271715113bdd25d6dc2b29bd35c/print_writing.jpeg",{"size":7489,"image":7490},32978,{"width":1573,"height":7491},280,"print writing.jpeg",[],{"data":7495,"content":7496,"nodeType":14},{},[7497],{"data":7498,"marks":7499,"value":440,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"data":7501,"content":7502,"nodeType":14},{},[7503],{"data":7504,"marks":7505,"value":7506,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So there you go. Eight shades of '✍? Nicky Writing'. There are more (maybe not fifty) but you get the idea.",{"data":7508,"content":7509,"nodeType":14},{},[7510],{"data":7511,"marks":7512,"value":7513,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So what do you think of my handwriting? What’s your opinion? Your judgement?",{"data":7515,"content":7516,"nodeType":14},{},[7517],{"data":7518,"marks":7519,"value":7520,"nodeType":18},{},[],"And how do you feel about yours?",{"data":7522,"content":7523,"nodeType":14},{},[7524],{"data":7525,"marks":7526,"value":7527,"nodeType":18},{},[],"PS Did you notice how I started off with my messiest styles then built up to my neater ones? ;)",{"data":7529,"content":7530,"nodeType":14},{},[7531],{"data":7532,"marks":7533,"value":7534,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Come and tell me on Twitter @nicky_parr",{"data":7536,"content":7537,"nodeType":14},{},[7538],{"data":7539,"marks":7540,"value":7541,"nodeType":18},{},[],"or email me: nicky@betterhandwritten.com",{"data":7543,"content":7544,"nodeType":14},{},[7545,7549,7554],{"data":7546,"marks":7547,"value":7548,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Next blog:  I’ll be sharing my thoughts about ",{"data":7550,"marks":7551,"value":7553,"nodeType":18},{},[7552],{"type":133},"teacher expectations ",{"data":7555,"marks":7556,"value":7557,"nodeType":18},{},[],"when it comes to handwriting.",{"url":7559},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/6xC7M0tIzDSbsw82AeqXuN/b79068537d4b7b3712c8877a62301cf1/Judgement_Day_hero_image.jpeg","2020-06-29T00:00+00:00",[1995,1997],{"id":7563,"slug":7564,"title":7565,"longTitle":7565,"summary":7566,"mainBody":7567,"heroImage":8259,"publishDate":8261,"articleDate":8261,"tags":8262},"6xYB6XqYKAueNk70vMT3rO","handwriting-hangups","Handwriting Hangups","A personal story...",{"data":7568,"content":7569,"nodeType":10},{},[7570,7577,7593,7609,7632,7639,7646,7653,7660,7667,7674,7681,7688,7711,7718,7725,7732,7739,7746,7753,7776,7783,7790,7797,7804,7811,7818,7825,7832,7839,7846,7853,7860,7867,7874,7881,7888,7895,7902,7909,7916,7923,7930,7937,7944,7951,7958,7965,7972,7979,7986,7993,8000,8007,8014,8021,8028,8035,8042,8049,8056,8063,8070,8077,8084,8091,8098,8105,8112,8119,8126,8133,8140,8147,8154,8161,8168,8192,8199,8202,8209,8216,8223,8240],{"data":7571,"content":7572,"nodeType":14},{},[7573],{"data":7574,"marks":7575,"value":7576,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Sometimes people are surprised I called the business ‘Better Handwritten’ and not ‘Better Handwriting’.",{"data":7578,"content":7579,"nodeType":14},{},[7580,7584,7589],{"data":7581,"marks":7582,"value":7583,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It might not seem that important but there’s a reason. It’s because our work is about so much more than the outcome of neater handwriting. Clients do get that, but they get so much ",{"data":7585,"marks":7586,"value":7588,"nodeType":18},{},[7587],{"type":26},"more",{"data":7590,"marks":7591,"value":7592,"nodeType":18},{},[]," than that. ",{"data":7594,"content":7595,"nodeType":14},{},[7596,7600,7605],{"data":7597,"marks":7598,"value":7599,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I see them start to relax and enjoy the experience; they begin to write more and discover that some things really are ‘",{"data":7601,"marks":7602,"value":7604,"nodeType":18},{},[7603],{"type":133},"better handwritten",{"data":7606,"marks":7607,"value":7608,"nodeType":18},{},[],"’. It was as if their feelings about handwriting had combined to form an invisible forcefield of resistance, a barrier that denied them access to the incredible tool that writing by hand is - supporting memory, personal connection and self-expression. Together we disable that forcefield so they can begin to enjoy the freedom that writing brings.",{"data":7610,"content":7631,"nodeType":62},{"target":7611},{"metadata":7612,"sys":7615,"fields":7622},{"tags":7613,"concepts":7614},[],[],{"space":7616,"id":7618,"type":75,"createdAt":7619,"updatedAt":7619,"environment":7620,"publishedVersion":1316,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":7617},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"6PbIxAQTg77ulGeB9E4TwZ","2021-03-09T23:57:02.240Z",{"sys":7621},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":7623,"file":7624},"Handwriting Hangups pic 1",{"url":7625,"details":7626,"fileName":7630,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/6PbIxAQTg77ulGeB9E4TwZ/10ac69281d4d42a20ceac4f6b3e5ebc7/Handwriting_hangups_1.jpeg",{"size":7627,"image":7628},50311,{"width":7629,"height":1573},688,"Handwriting hangups 1.jpeg",[],{"data":7633,"content":7634,"nodeType":14},{},[7635],{"data":7636,"marks":7637,"value":7638,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I see confidence, pride and pleasure grow. ",{"data":7640,"content":7641,"nodeType":14},{},[7642],{"data":7643,"marks":7644,"value":7645,"nodeType":18},{},[],"And I often see the deeper ripple effects as they start to reflect on their handwriting story. They begin to pay close attention and unpick how their writing has evolved - how it's woven into their history and is part of them.",{"data":7647,"content":7648,"nodeType":14},{},[7649],{"data":7650,"marks":7651,"value":7652,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I’ll let Trish explain what I mean:",{"data":7654,"content":7655,"nodeType":647},{},[7656],{"data":7657,"marks":7658,"value":7659,"nodeType":18},{},[],"HANDWRITING HANGUPS - Trish's Story",{"data":7661,"content":7662,"nodeType":14},{},[7663],{"data":7664,"marks":7665,"value":7666,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I wanted to share this story with you all after having a call with Nicky and taking time to do my handwriting exercises (still on it).",{"data":7668,"content":7669,"nodeType":14},{},[7670],{"data":7671,"marks":7672,"value":7673,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It's a little bit about my handwriting story (well at least on the surface it is). ",{"data":7675,"content":7676,"nodeType":14},{},[7677],{"data":7678,"marks":7679,"value":7680,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Actually it goes deeper than that - although at the time I didn't realise how deep.",{"data":7682,"content":7683,"nodeType":14},{},[7684],{"data":7685,"marks":7686,"value":7687,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It was the early 1970's and I was a little girl, living in East Belfast at the height of 'The Troubles'. Those of you who don't know what that means may need to Google it.",{"data":7689,"content":7710,"nodeType":62},{"target":7690},{"metadata":7691,"sys":7694,"fields":7701},{"tags":7692,"concepts":7693},[],[],{"space":7695,"id":7697,"type":75,"createdAt":7698,"updatedAt":7698,"environment":7699,"publishedVersion":1484,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":7696},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"2f82NtQnjYThK2e8nrBnS","2021-03-10T00:01:31.421Z",{"sys":7700},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":7702,"file":7703},"Belfast 70s",{"url":7704,"details":7705,"fileName":7709,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/2f82NtQnjYThK2e8nrBnS/e41d67c5eef02814a4c4b10028d0272a/Belfast_70s.png",{"size":7706,"image":7707},580706,{"width":1573,"height":7708},619,"Belfast 70s.png",[],{"data":7712,"content":7713,"nodeType":14},{},[7714],{"data":7715,"marks":7716,"value":7717,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Suffice to say it was a very turbulent and violent time in Northern Ireland. Bombings and other terrorist atrocities were committed on an almost weekly if not daily basis. It's hard to think that this was the UK. ",{"data":7719,"content":7720,"nodeType":14},{},[7721],{"data":7722,"marks":7723,"value":7724,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Things were so bad, and so uncertain that my parents took the decision to send me and the youngest of my 'big' brothers (I have 4), over to the mainland to live in Liverpool with my aunt Margaret. ",{"data":7726,"content":7727,"nodeType":14},{},[7728],{"data":7729,"marks":7730,"value":7731,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It was traumatic in a number of ways (but I'll share those parts another time).",{"data":7733,"content":7734,"nodeType":14},{},[7735],{"data":7736,"marks":7737,"value":7738,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Back to the handwriting.",{"data":7740,"content":7741,"nodeType":14},{},[7742],{"data":7743,"marks":7744,"value":7745,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Me and John, were enrolled in local schools. John at the high school and me at Bedford Road Primary School. ",{"data":7747,"content":7748,"nodeType":14},{},[7749],{"data":7750,"marks":7751,"value":7752,"nodeType":18},{},[],"New 'friends'. New teachers. New school. New home. New 'mum and dad'. New accents. Everything new. ",{"data":7754,"content":7775,"nodeType":62},{"target":7755},{"metadata":7756,"sys":7759,"fields":7766},{"tags":7757,"concepts":7758},[],[],{"space":7760,"id":7762,"type":75,"createdAt":7763,"updatedAt":7763,"environment":7764,"publishedVersion":1484,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":7761},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"4FlcUCcc6BM8cr5HdA6Z83","2021-03-10T00:22:57.693Z",{"sys":7765},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":7767,"file":7768},"Liverpool 70s",{"url":7769,"details":7770,"fileName":7774,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/4FlcUCcc6BM8cr5HdA6Z83/8dd193ff5f3261aae58d09146b9356db/Liverpool_70s.png",{"size":7771,"image":7772},780749,{"width":1573,"height":7773},676,"Liverpool 70s.png",[],{"data":7777,"content":7778,"nodeType":14},{},[7779],{"data":7780,"marks":7781,"value":7782,"nodeType":18},{},[],"No phone calls or internet. We did letters and the occasional phone call to one of our neighbours who had a telephone.",{"data":7784,"content":7785,"nodeType":14},{},[7786],{"data":7787,"marks":7788,"value":7789,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Going into my new school was petrifying. Mrs Radcliffe (my new teacher - I'll never forget her), did her best to settle me in, but I remember being very afraid and overwhelmed. ",{"data":7791,"content":7792,"nodeType":14},{},[7793],{"data":7794,"marks":7795,"value":7796,"nodeType":18},{},[],"My thick Belfast accent was a source of great mirth, and I did my very best to keep quiet and not be heard, although later in life I'd make up for that!",{"data":7798,"content":7799,"nodeType":14},{},[7800],{"data":7801,"marks":7802,"value":7803,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Writing practice consisted of using a pen (where 'at home' I'd always used a pencil). I found it alien and hard to grip. It skipped across the page and left big blobs everywhere. ",{"data":7805,"content":7806,"nodeType":14},{},[7807],{"data":7808,"marks":7809,"value":7810,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I hated it.",{"data":7812,"content":7813,"nodeType":14},{},[7814],{"data":7815,"marks":7816,"value":7817,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Lined jotters (yes that's what we called them in those days), were provided and we would spend time each day writing. ",{"data":7819,"content":7820,"nodeType":14},{},[7821],{"data":7822,"marks":7823,"value":7824,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I can remember diligently writing out what was on the board.",{"data":7826,"content":7827,"nodeType":14},{},[7828],{"data":7829,"marks":7830,"value":7831,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Simple A, B, C's and short sentences which would then be handed in for marking.",{"data":7833,"content":7834,"nodeType":14},{},[7835],{"data":7836,"marks":7837,"value":7838,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Then the shame. ",{"data":7840,"content":7841,"nodeType":14},{},[7842],{"data":7843,"marks":7844,"value":7845,"nodeType":18},{},[],"My handwriting was torn apart for being too small. Scrawly. Untidy. ",{"data":7847,"content":7848,"nodeType":14},{},[7849],{"data":7850,"marks":7851,"value":7852,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I didn't know that the rules were I was to use 2 lines of the page to create my letters. The bottom was for lower case and the top for capital letters. ",{"data":7854,"content":7855,"nodeType":14},{},[7856],{"data":7857,"marks":7858,"value":7859,"nodeType":18},{},[],"As a result of not knowing the rules, my handwriting appeared tiny and crammed into a small space (just how I felt at the time).",{"data":7861,"content":7862,"nodeType":14},{},[7863],{"data":7864,"marks":7865,"value":7866,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I was humiliated. ",{"data":7868,"content":7869,"nodeType":14},{},[7870],{"data":7871,"marks":7872,"value":7873,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I was the class 'dunce.' ",{"data":7875,"content":7876,"nodeType":14},{},[7877],{"data":7878,"marks":7879,"value":7880,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Everyone was talking, laughing and pointing at the new girl with the funny voice who didn't belong and didn't have any friends. ",{"data":7882,"content":7883,"nodeType":14},{},[7884],{"data":7885,"marks":7886,"value":7887,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Even now I can cry at how that little girl didn't know what was really going on in the world or why. When she tried to fit in, she just didn't.",{"data":7889,"content":7890,"nodeType":14},{},[7891],{"data":7892,"marks":7893,"value":7894,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So I learned how to play the rules. ",{"data":7896,"content":7897,"nodeType":14},{},[7898],{"data":7899,"marks":7900,"value":7901,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I used two lines of the page to form the letters. To create the words. ",{"data":7903,"content":7904,"nodeType":14},{},[7905],{"data":7906,"marks":7907,"value":7908,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I learned how to hold the horrible biro that leaked and streaked and made the page look like it was crying - because I was crying inside as I did it.",{"data":7910,"content":7911,"nodeType":14},{},[7912],{"data":7913,"marks":7914,"value":7915,"nodeType":18},{},[],"But I survived. ",{"data":7917,"content":7918,"nodeType":14},{},[7919],{"data":7920,"marks":7921,"value":7922,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I hated it. ",{"data":7924,"content":7925,"nodeType":14},{},[7926],{"data":7927,"marks":7928,"value":7929,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Every. Shitty. Moment.",{"data":7931,"content":7932,"nodeType":14},{},[7933],{"data":7934,"marks":7935,"value":7936,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I stayed quiet. I complied.",{"data":7938,"content":7939,"nodeType":14},{},[7940],{"data":7941,"marks":7942,"value":7943,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So when the time came to go back home, I couldn't wait to get away. ",{"data":7945,"content":7946,"nodeType":14},{},[7947],{"data":7948,"marks":7949,"value":7950,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Somewhere that was equally scary, but that at least I knew my place. ",{"data":7952,"content":7953,"nodeType":14},{},[7954],{"data":7955,"marks":7956,"value":7957,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Where I belonged. ",{"data":7959,"content":7960,"nodeType":14},{},[7961],{"data":7962,"marks":7963,"value":7964,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I went back to my old school. My old friends. My old teachers. My old home.",{"data":7966,"content":7967,"nodeType":14},{},[7968],{"data":7969,"marks":7970,"value":7971,"nodeType":18},{},[],"And a big surprise awaited me.",{"data":7973,"content":7974,"nodeType":14},{},[7975],{"data":7976,"marks":7977,"value":7978,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Something I didn't anticipate (what 8 year old does?) ",{"data":7980,"content":7981,"nodeType":14},{},[7982],{"data":7983,"marks":7984,"value":7985,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Things had changed. ",{"data":7987,"content":7988,"nodeType":14},{},[7989],{"data":7990,"marks":7991,"value":7992,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I wasn't away that long, but things had definitely changed.",{"data":7994,"content":7995,"nodeType":14},{},[7996],{"data":7997,"marks":7998,"value":7999,"nodeType":18},{},[],"My thick Belfast accent had been replaced with something a little softer (although it's hard to believe it now).",{"data":8001,"content":8002,"nodeType":14},{},[8003],{"data":8004,"marks":8005,"value":8006,"nodeType":18},{},[],"My old school friends began to call me the Little English Girl.",{"data":8008,"content":8009,"nodeType":14},{},[8010],{"data":8011,"marks":8012,"value":8013,"nodeType":18},{},[],"They said I was a snob. That I thought I was better than everyone else. ",{"data":8015,"content":8016,"nodeType":14},{},[8017],{"data":8018,"marks":8019,"value":8020,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So once again, I stayed quiet. Tried to blend in. Tried to please everyone, so I would be accepted. Be liked again. ",{"data":8022,"content":8023,"nodeType":14},{},[8024],{"data":8025,"marks":8026,"value":8027,"nodeType":18},{},[],"And the handwriting?",{"data":8029,"content":8030,"nodeType":14},{},[8031],{"data":8032,"marks":8033,"value":8034,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Well, of course I was back to the 'old rules.' ",{"data":8036,"content":8037,"nodeType":14},{},[8038],{"data":8039,"marks":8040,"value":8041,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So now my handwriting was taking up way too much of the pages as I wrote. ",{"data":8043,"content":8044,"nodeType":14},{},[8045],{"data":8046,"marks":8047,"value":8048,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Big. Bold. Two-lines deep. ",{"data":8050,"content":8051,"nodeType":14},{},[8052],{"data":8053,"marks":8054,"value":8055,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It looked 'shouty'. ",{"data":8057,"content":8058,"nodeType":14},{},[8059],{"data":8060,"marks":8061,"value":8062,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It was now ridiculed for a different reason. My teachers and my school mates said it looked like a kid trying to learn.",{"data":8064,"content":8065,"nodeType":14},{},[8066],{"data":8067,"marks":8068,"value":8069,"nodeType":18},{},[],"The pen I brought to school was firmly dumped and I was back to pencils.",{"data":8071,"content":8072,"nodeType":14},{},[8073],{"data":8074,"marks":8075,"value":8076,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Back to the start.",{"data":8078,"content":8079,"nodeType":14},{},[8080],{"data":8081,"marks":8082,"value":8083,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So my handwriting style now? ",{"data":8085,"content":8086,"nodeType":14},{},[8087],{"data":8088,"marks":8089,"value":8090,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I think its untidiness and lack of consistency is a direct reflection of those early days. ",{"data":8092,"content":8093,"nodeType":14},{},[8094],{"data":8095,"marks":8096,"value":8097,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I often use joined up, print and capitals in the same piece of writing. ",{"data":8099,"content":8100,"nodeType":14},{},[8101],{"data":8102,"marks":8103,"value":8104,"nodeType":18},{},[],"At times is it beautifully formed. At others a complete scrawl. Big and bold. Or tiny and unintelligible.",{"data":8106,"content":8107,"nodeType":14},{},[8108],{"data":8109,"marks":8110,"value":8111,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It is fragmented. Just as I was in those early years.",{"data":8113,"content":8114,"nodeType":14},{},[8115],{"data":8116,"marks":8117,"value":8118,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So now?",{"data":8120,"content":8121,"nodeType":14},{},[8122],{"data":8123,"marks":8124,"value":8125,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Well meeting Nicky and actually participating in doing this work has revealed so much more to me than merely improving my handwriting.",{"data":8127,"content":8128,"nodeType":14},{},[8129],{"data":8130,"marks":8131,"value":8132,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It has uncovered part of my personal story and its role in shaping me.",{"data":8134,"content":8135,"nodeType":14},{},[8136],{"data":8137,"marks":8138,"value":8139,"nodeType":18},{},[],"And for that I am very grateful.",{"data":8141,"content":8142,"nodeType":14},{},[8143],{"data":8144,"marks":8145,"value":8146,"nodeType":18},{},[],"My daily handwriting practice is now as much mediative and healing, as it is enjoying discovering who I really am. ",{"data":8148,"content":8149,"nodeType":14},{},[8150],{"data":8151,"marks":8152,"value":8153,"nodeType":18},{},[],"One letter at a time.",{"data":8155,"content":8156,"nodeType":14},{},[8157],{"data":8158,"marks":8159,"value":8160,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Thank you, Nicky.",{"data":8162,"content":8163,"nodeType":14},{},[8164],{"data":8165,"marks":8166,"value":8167,"nodeType":18},{},[],"xxx",{"data":8169,"content":8191,"nodeType":62},{"target":8170},{"metadata":8171,"sys":8174,"fields":8181},{"tags":8172,"concepts":8173},[],[],{"space":8175,"id":8177,"type":75,"createdAt":8178,"updatedAt":8178,"environment":8179,"publishedVersion":1316,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":8176},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"2KzcdNqM6B0Yu1Clsnrr3d","2021-03-08T23:51:34.673Z",{"sys":8180},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":8182,"file":8183},"Trish's Story",{"url":8184,"details":8185,"fileName":8190,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/2KzcdNqM6B0Yu1Clsnrr3d/7a31b62b9901ff19b1b60cdc8237ffb5/Trish-s_message.png",{"size":8186,"image":8187},319930,{"width":8188,"height":8189},852,412,"Trish's message.png",[],{"data":8193,"content":8194,"nodeType":14},{},[8195],{"data":8196,"marks":8197,"value":8198,"nodeType":18},{},[],"It was an absolute pleasure supporting you Trish. Your story stays with me and inspires me to help others uncover theirs.",{"data":8200,"content":8201,"nodeType":172},{},[],{"data":8203,"content":8204,"nodeType":14},{},[8205],{"data":8206,"marks":8207,"value":8208,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So what’s your handwriting story? ",{"data":8210,"content":8211,"nodeType":14},{},[8212],{"data":8213,"marks":8214,"value":8215,"nodeType":18},{},[],"How is your child's handwriting story evolving?",{"data":8217,"content":8218,"nodeType":14},{},[8219],{"data":8220,"marks":8221,"value":8222,"nodeType":18},{},[],"I’d love to hear! ",{"data":8224,"content":8225,"nodeType":14},{},[8226,8230,8236],{"data":8227,"marks":8228,"value":8229,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Email ",{"data":8231,"content":8232,"nodeType":33},{"uri":6523},[8233],{"data":8234,"marks":8235,"value":3075,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"data":8237,"marks":8238,"value":8239,"nodeType":18},{},[]," to share your story or to find out about how we can help you or someone you know feel better, letter by letter :)",{"data":8241,"content":8242,"nodeType":14},{},[8243,8247,8255],{"data":8244,"marks":8245,"value":8246,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Visit ",{"data":8248,"content":8250,"nodeType":33},{"uri":8249},"http://www.betterhandwritten.com/",[8251],{"data":8252,"marks":8253,"value":8254,"nodeType":18},{},[],"www.betterhandwritten.com",{"data":8256,"marks":8257,"value":8258,"nodeType":18},{},[]," for details of online courses and support services.",{"url":8260},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/5Pdq7FgZKBzeseBZyjbtXJ/aec5966458af968094b39f14df4950ee/Trish-s_Message_hero_image.png","2020-06-22T00:00+00:00",[1995,1997],{"id":8264,"slug":8265,"title":1828,"longTitle":1828,"summary":8266,"mainBody":8267,"heroImage":8895,"publishDate":8897,"articleDate":8897,"tags":8898},"1pFmcyrqW4XXxouqykmBXK","can-and-should-pen-hold-be-corrected","Here are my thoughts...",{"nodeType":10,"data":8268,"content":8269},{},[8270,8282,8289,8313,8319,8326,8333,8340,8347,8354,8361,8368,8375,8391,8398,8405,8412,8419,8425,8432,8465,8499,8506,8513,8537,8544,8551,8558,8565,8572,8605,8612,8619,8626,8633,8640,8647,8654,8678,8684,8691,8715,8721,8745,8751,8775,8787,8796,8804,8813,8820,8832,8841,8844,8850,8865,8871,8877,8883,8889],{"nodeType":8271,"data":8272,"content":8273},"heading-5",{},[8274,8279],{"nodeType":18,"value":8275,"marks":8276,"data":8278},"Let’s talk about changing pen hold…",[8277],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":514,"marks":8280,"data":8281},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8283,"content":8284},{},[8285],{"nodeType":18,"value":8286,"marks":8287,"data":8288},"“I have a girl in my class whose pencil hold is wrong,” Amy told me. “I tried to\nchange it by putting a grip on her pencil. I didn’t realise but she was going\nhome and crying! Her mum came in and was really angry with me because her\nhandwriting looked worse, she was starting to refuse to write and didn’t want\nto come to school. The parent told me categorically I was to stop making her daughter\nchange. So I stopped.”",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":8290,"content":8312},{"target":8291},{"metadata":8292,"sys":8295,"fields":8302},{"tags":8293,"concepts":8294},[],[],{"space":8296,"id":8298,"type":75,"createdAt":8299,"updatedAt":8299,"environment":8300,"publishedVersion":595,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":8297},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"13I1mhizNIDpfmRkOEmnDl","2021-03-10T10:28:51.858Z",{"sys":8301},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":8303,"file":8304},"Amy teacher",{"url":8305,"details":8306,"fileName":8311,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/13I1mhizNIDpfmRkOEmnDl/5c2ea80363588769108d89319ff7ad31/Amy_pen_hold_blog.jpg",{"size":8307,"image":8308},34290,{"width":8309,"height":8310},507,339,"Amy pen hold blog.jpg",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":8314,"content":8315},{},[8316],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":8317,"data":8318},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8320,"content":8321},{},[8322],{"nodeType":18,"value":8323,"marks":8324,"data":8325},"No winner here was there? \n\nI felt for Amy; she felt undermined as a teacher – her confidence was knocked. Without\nsupport on how to go about it differently I’m not sure she would ever have attempted\nto correct a pupil’s pen hold again.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8327,"content":8328},{},[8329],{"nodeType":18,"value":8330,"marks":8331,"data":8332},"I felt for the parent. It’s not easy when your child gets upset and goes from enjoying\nschool to not wanting to go. A child’s emotional behaviour can trigger an\nequally emotional and defensive response in a parent.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8334,"content":8335},{},[8336],{"nodeType":18,"value":8337,"marks":8338,"data":8339},"I felt for the child who now had an awareness there was something ‘wrong’ with their\npen hold. It was received as criticism and she was offended because she had\nthought her handwriting was nice and that was all that mattered. \n",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8341,"content":8342},{},[8343],{"nodeType":18,"value":8344,"marks":8345,"data":8346},"So nothing had changed with this pupil’s pen hold but everyone was worse off.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8348,"content":8349},{},[8350],{"nodeType":18,"value":8351,"marks":8352,"data":8353},"Believe it or not, changing pen hold isn’t actually that hard. But, as you can see from\nthis scenario, managing that change is the tricky bit! It’s also the key to\nsuccess.\n\nI’ll share my thoughts and experience on this in Part II of this blog, 'Types of Pen Hold and Managing Change'.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8355,"content":8356},{},[8357],{"nodeType":18,"value":8358,"marks":8359,"data":8360},"So does pen hold really matter anyway? ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8362,"content":8363},{},[8364],{"nodeType":18,"value":8365,"marks":8366,"data":8367},"Was Amy right or wrong to try and change it? ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8369,"content":8370},{},[8371],{"nodeType":18,"value":8372,"marks":8373,"data":8374},"Was the parent right or wrong to refuse? ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8376,"content":8377},{},[8378,8382,8387],{"nodeType":18,"value":8379,"marks":8380,"data":8381},"Isn’t it better to leave well alone?\n\nFor me, the answer is ‘",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8383,"marks":8384,"data":8386},"it depends",[8385],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8388,"marks":8389,"data":8390},"’. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8392,"content":8393},{},[8394],{"nodeType":18,"value":8395,"marks":8396,"data":8397},"I’ll explain.\n\nI have 3 clear goals when I think about a person and their handwriting:",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8399,"content":8400},{},[8401],{"nodeType":18,"value":8402,"marks":8403,"data":8404},"1.    I want them to feel good about it.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8406,"content":8407},{},[8408],{"nodeType":18,"value":8409,"marks":8410,"data":8411},"2.    I want it to be legible (to themselves and to others)",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8413,"content":8414},{},[8415],{"nodeType":18,"value":8416,"marks":8417,"data":8418},"3.    I want it to be useful (which means different handwriting for different purposes)",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8420,"content":8421},{},[8422],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":8423,"data":8424},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8426,"content":8427},{},[8428],{"nodeType":18,"value":8429,"marks":8430,"data":8431},"Pen hold has a key part to play in achieving each of these goals so if an awkward\ngrip impacts on any or all of them, I think the individual should be supported\nto change…\n",[],{},{"nodeType":467,"data":8433,"content":8434},{},[8435,8445,8455],{"nodeType":471,"data":8436,"content":8437},{},[8438],{"nodeType":14,"data":8439,"content":8440},{},[8441],{"nodeType":18,"value":8442,"marks":8443,"data":8444},"even though they are likely to feel emotional resistance to begin with ",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":8446,"content":8447},{},[8448],{"nodeType":14,"data":8449,"content":8450},{},[8451],{"nodeType":18,"value":8452,"marks":8453,"data":8454},"even though it feels physically uncomfortable for a while ",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":8456,"content":8457},{},[8458],{"nodeType":14,"data":8459,"content":8460},{},[8461],{"nodeType":18,"value":8462,"marks":8463,"data":8464},"even though they may revert to their automated hold when working memory is busy with other thoughts\n",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8466,"content":8467},{},[8468,8472,8477,8481,8486,8490,8495],{"nodeType":18,"value":8469,"marks":8470,"data":8471},"This discomfort will begin to evaporate once the brain and hand adjust to the idea\nand different sensory feedback.\n\nJust to be clear, I don’t think anyone should ever be ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8473,"marks":8474,"data":8476},"forced ",[8475],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8478,"marks":8479,"data":8480},"to change; they should be ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8482,"marks":8483,"data":8485},"supported",[8484],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8487,"marks":8488,"data":8489}," to understand the long term benefits and process involved so that they actually make a personal ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8491,"marks":8492,"data":8494},"choice",[8493],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8496,"marks":8497,"data":8498}," to engage.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8500,"content":8501},{},[8502],{"nodeType":18,"value":8503,"marks":8504,"data":8505},"If pen hold in no way affects the 3 goals then I don’t see there’s any reason to\nchange. But let’s use someone’s actual experience to think a bit more about\nwhat the goals mean in context:",[],{},{"nodeType":647,"data":8507,"content":8508},{},[8509],{"nodeType":18,"value":8510,"marks":8511,"data":8512},"Adam’s Story ",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":8514,"content":8536},{"target":8515},{"metadata":8516,"sys":8519,"fields":8526},{"tags":8517,"concepts":8518},[],[],{"space":8520,"id":8522,"type":75,"createdAt":8523,"updatedAt":8523,"environment":8524,"publishedVersion":1316,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":8521},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"4sHxzEigGDmglkss6CZQyn","2021-03-10T10:46:25.087Z",{"sys":8525},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":8527,"file":8528},"Adam's Pen Hold - Before",{"url":8529,"details":8530,"fileName":8535,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/4sHxzEigGDmglkss6CZQyn/f6c720bbf890b63a9e5d9ee44dee592d/Adam-s_Pen_Hold_-_before.png",{"size":8531,"image":8532},252917,{"width":8533,"height":8534},436,348,"Adam's Pen Hold - before.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":8538,"content":8539},{},[8540],{"nodeType":18,"value":8541,"marks":8542,"data":8543},"When I was introduced to Adam he was an NQT and during the Autumn Term had been struggling to teach handwriting to his Year 2 class. He’d had no input on how to teach handwriting during his 3-year degree. He had an awkward pen hold and handwriting that he felt embarrassed about and generally tried to hide. In his new teaching role he felt very exposed and stressed about this. His pupils were not making progress with handwriting and this was picked up through book scrutiny as part of the school’s monitoring process.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8545,"content":8546},{},[8547],{"nodeType":18,"value":8548,"marks":8549,"data":8550},"“When I was in Primary school my teachers told me they’d noticed I was holding my pen\nwrong. They said they weren’t going to do anything about my grip because they\ndidn’t want to make my handwriting worse and had seen that happen with another\nchild. From that point on I thought I was stuck with the way I gripped my pen,\neven though it caused me pain in my hand and I would smudge my writing because\nI would curl my hand round.”(Adam is right-handed)",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8552,"content":8553},{},[8554],{"nodeType":18,"value":8555,"marks":8556,"data":8557},"Now let’s think about the goals:\n",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8559,"content":8560},{},[8561],{"nodeType":18,"value":8562,"marks":8563,"data":8564},"1.    Did Adam feel good about handwriting.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8566,"content":8567},{},[8568],{"nodeType":18,"value":8569,"marks":8570,"data":8571},"NO",[],{},{"nodeType":467,"data":8573,"content":8574},{},[8575,8585,8595],{"nodeType":471,"data":8576,"content":8577},{},[8578],{"nodeType":14,"data":8579,"content":8580},{},[8581],{"nodeType":18,"value":8582,"marks":8583,"data":8584},"he had suffered for years with pain when writing",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":8586,"content":8587},{},[8588],{"nodeType":14,"data":8589,"content":8590},{},[8591],{"nodeType":18,"value":8592,"marks":8593,"data":8594},"he was frustrated that his writing smudged",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":8596,"content":8597},{},[8598],{"nodeType":14,"data":8599,"content":8600},{},[8601],{"nodeType":18,"value":8602,"marks":8603,"data":8604},"he was embarrassed by how his writing looked\n",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8606,"content":8607},{},[8608],{"nodeType":18,"value":8609,"marks":8610,"data":8611},"2.    Was his writing legible\n",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8613,"content":8614},{},[8615],{"nodeType":18,"value":8616,"marks":8617,"data":8618},"At times, with conscious effort and enough time, but not always. Often it was\nsmudged.\n",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8620,"content":8621},{},[8622],{"nodeType":18,"value":8623,"marks":8624,"data":8625},"3.    Was he finding writing by hand a useful tool? ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8627,"content":8628},{},[8629],{"nodeType":18,"value":8630,"marks":8631,"data":8632},"Adam had really struggled with writing throughout school and university; he still avoided\nwriting where possible so certainly wasn’t using it for a range of purposes. He\ncouldn’t model effectively to his class and it was having a negative impact on\nthe start of his teaching career.\n",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8634,"content":8635},{},[8636],{"nodeType":18,"value":8637,"marks":8638,"data":8639},"In Adam’s case I thought it was definitely worth changing his pen hold. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8641,"content":8642},{},[8643],{"nodeType":18,"value":8644,"marks":8645,"data":8646},"So we did! ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8648,"content":8649},{},[8650],{"nodeType":18,"value":8651,"marks":8652,"data":8653},"For years, since that experience at Primary School, Adam had believed it wasn’t possible. He was amazed to find he adapted to his new tripod grip in less than a month.",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":8655,"content":8677},{"target":8656},{"metadata":8657,"sys":8660,"fields":8667},{"tags":8658,"concepts":8659},[],[],{"space":8661,"id":8663,"type":75,"createdAt":8664,"updatedAt":8664,"environment":8665,"publishedVersion":1316,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":8662},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"43HwVh2aY5EzLwZqnic6NG","2021-03-10T11:29:06.647Z",{"sys":8666},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":8668,"file":8669},"Pen Hold Before & After 4",{"url":8670,"details":8671,"fileName":8676,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/43HwVh2aY5EzLwZqnic6NG/c5a17f8b92aeca19022eccf767e4a976/Pen_Hold_Before_and_After_4.png",{"size":8672,"image":8673},501703,{"width":8674,"height":8675},734,452,"Pen Hold Before and After 4.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":8679,"content":8680},{},[8681],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":8682,"data":8683},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8685,"content":8686},{},[8687],{"nodeType":18,"value":8688,"marks":8689,"data":8690},"Here are some other ‘Before & After’ photos of pen holds I’ve supported with change: ",[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":8692,"content":8714},{"target":8693},{"metadata":8694,"sys":8697,"fields":8704},{"tags":8695,"concepts":8696},[],[],{"space":8698,"id":8700,"type":75,"createdAt":8701,"updatedAt":8701,"environment":8702,"publishedVersion":261,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":8699},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"byHVwFjo8Mv5gDYXynSCc","2021-03-10T11:17:32.830Z",{"sys":8703},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":8705,"file":8706},"Pen Hold Before & After 1",{"url":8707,"details":8708,"fileName":8713,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/byHVwFjo8Mv5gDYXynSCc/44041111adbaf12fafe897124aeaf4bc/Pen_Hold_Before___After_1.png",{"size":8709,"image":8710},554913,{"width":8711,"height":8712},984,432,"Pen Hold Before & After 1.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":8716,"content":8717},{},[8718],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":8719,"data":8720},[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":8722,"content":8744},{"target":8723},{"metadata":8724,"sys":8727,"fields":8734},{"tags":8725,"concepts":8726},[],[],{"space":8728,"id":8730,"type":75,"createdAt":8731,"updatedAt":8731,"environment":8732,"publishedVersion":595,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":8729},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"44Nm0BW3NZn3jAvnlef7S9","2021-03-10T11:18:15.321Z",{"sys":8733},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":8735,"file":8736},"Pen Hold Before & After 2",{"url":8737,"details":8738,"fileName":8743,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/44Nm0BW3NZn3jAvnlef7S9/53bb78e8ed062331108b0b60377aa464/Pen_Hold_Before___After_2.png",{"size":8739,"image":8740},802474,{"width":8741,"height":8742},944,642,"Pen Hold Before & After 2.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":8746,"content":8747},{},[8748],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":8749,"data":8750},[],{},{"nodeType":62,"data":8752,"content":8774},{"target":8753},{"metadata":8754,"sys":8757,"fields":8764},{"tags":8755,"concepts":8756},[],[],{"space":8758,"id":8760,"type":75,"createdAt":8761,"updatedAt":8761,"environment":8762,"publishedVersion":1316,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":8759},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"2JazifuAHaxhrEo29tMAcc","2021-03-10T11:18:52.514Z",{"sys":8763},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":8765,"file":8766},"Pen Hold Before & After 3",{"url":8767,"details":8768,"fileName":8773,"contentType":1495},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/2JazifuAHaxhrEo29tMAcc/35e40200969a25edd0a0079b084395c8/Pen_Hold_Before___After_3.png",{"size":8769,"image":8770},743813,{"width":8771,"height":8772},1042,554,"Pen Hold Before & After 3.png",[],{"nodeType":14,"data":8776,"content":8777},{},[8778,8782],{"nodeType":18,"value":8779,"marks":8780,"data":8781},"So, ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8783,"marks":8784,"data":8786},"‘Can and should pen hold be corrected?’",[8785],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":1938,"data":8788,"content":8789},{},[8790],{"nodeType":18,"value":8791,"marks":8792,"data":8795},"Yes it can.",[8793,8794],{"type":26},{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8797,"content":8798},{},[8799],{"nodeType":18,"value":8800,"marks":8801,"data":8803},"and",[8802],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":1938,"data":8805,"content":8806},{},[8807],{"nodeType":18,"value":8808,"marks":8809,"data":8812},"If there are going to be positive long term benefits, yes.",[8810,8811],{"type":26},{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8814,"content":8815},{},[8816],{"nodeType":18,"value":8817,"marks":8818,"data":8819},"In my opinion.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8821,"content":8822},{},[8823,8827],{"nodeType":18,"value":8824,"marks":8825,"data":8826},"In reality I often find that teachers and parents recognise when change is needed\nbut don’t know HOW to facilitate that change.\n\nI’ll talk about this in",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8828,"marks":8829,"data":8831}," Part II when I’ll share my thoughts on: ",[8830],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":647,"data":8833,"content":8834},{},[8835],{"nodeType":18,"value":8836,"marks":8837,"data":8840},"Types of Pen Hold and Managing Change",[8838,8839],{"type":26},{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":172,"data":8842,"content":8843},{},[],{"nodeType":1938,"data":8845,"content":8846},{},[8847],{"nodeType":18,"value":1942,"marks":8848,"data":8849},[],{},{"nodeType":1946,"data":8851,"content":8852},{},[8853,8856,8862],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":8854,"data":8855},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":8857,"content":8858},{"uri":1954},[8859],{"nodeType":18,"value":1957,"marks":8860,"data":8861},[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":8863,"data":8864},[],{},{"nodeType":1964,"data":8866,"content":8867},{},[8868],{"nodeType":18,"value":1968,"marks":8869,"data":8870},[],{},{"nodeType":1964,"data":8872,"content":8873},{},[8874],{"nodeType":18,"value":1975,"marks":8875,"data":8876},[],{},{"nodeType":1964,"data":8878,"content":8879},{},[8880],{"nodeType":18,"value":1982,"marks":8881,"data":8882},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8884,"content":8885},{},[8886],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":8887,"data":8888},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8890,"content":8891},{},[8892],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":8893,"data":8894},[],{},{"url":8896},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/2sWm1lXmeQ8Vfx0m82jF1W/0df993277a29fed73943faa99c9edd01/Changing_pen_hold_hero_image.jpeg","2020-06-08T00:00+00:00",[1995,1996,1997],{"id":8900,"slug":8901,"title":510,"longTitle":510,"summary":8902,"mainBody":8903,"heroImage":9207,"publishDate":9209,"articleDate":9209,"tags":9210},"5JLFnyNfAwvvFT8fKUPDrW","why-do-some-students-struggle-to-copy-from-the-board","Some children struggle to copy accurately from the board, even when they seem capable in other contexts. This post explores how vestibular processing and working memory can affect performance, along with practical ways to observe and support pupils.",{"nodeType":10,"data":8904,"content":8905},{},[8906,8914,8931,8946,8954,8961,8968,8984,8992,9005,9023,9058,9088,9101,9114,9121,9174,9181,9188,9191],{"nodeType":14,"data":8907,"content":8908},{},[8909],{"nodeType":18,"value":8910,"marks":8911,"data":8913},"Some children struggle to copy neatly and accurately from the board — but why?",[8912],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8915,"content":8916},{},[8917,8921,8927],{"nodeType":18,"value":8918,"marks":8919,"data":8920},"It's ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8922,"marks":8923,"data":8926},"not",[8924,8925],{"type":26},{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8928,"marks":8929,"data":8930}," because they're not trying.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8932,"content":8933},{},[8934,8938,8943],{"nodeType":18,"value":8935,"marks":8936,"data":8937},"Aside from fine motor control, there are a number of contributing factors — one of which is the ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8939,"marks":8940,"data":8942},"vestibular system",[8941],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":238,"marks":8944,"data":8945},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8947,"content":8948},{},[8949],{"nodeType":18,"value":8950,"marks":8951,"data":8953},"Things to be aware of:",[8952],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8955,"content":8956},{},[8957],{"nodeType":18,"value":8958,"marks":8959,"data":8960},"The vestibular system gives us our sense of balance, co-ordination and movement. The vestibular receptors are located in the inner ear and are activated every time we move or change our head position. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8962,"content":8963},{},[8964],{"nodeType":18,"value":8965,"marks":8966,"data":8967},"When children copy from the board, their heads move up and down frequently. The vestibular system plays an important role in coordinating eye movement. Some pupils have difficulties with vestibular processing.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8969,"content":8970},{},[8971,8975,8980],{"nodeType":18,"value":8972,"marks":8973,"data":8974},"Children with weaker working memory will need to look up and down more frequently than others. ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8976,"marks":8977,"data":8979},"Working memory",[8978],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":8981,"marks":8982,"data":8983}," is the system we have for holding information in mind for a short time while we use it to solve problems or make decisions. ",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":8985,"content":8986},{},[8987],{"nodeType":18,"value":8988,"marks":8989,"data":8991},"What you might notice and try:",[8990],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":467,"data":8993,"content":8994},{},[8995],{"nodeType":471,"data":8996,"content":8997},{},[8998],{"nodeType":14,"data":8999,"content":9000},{},[9001],{"nodeType":18,"value":9002,"marks":9003,"data":9004},"Identify the children in your class who find it more difficult.",[],{},{"nodeType":467,"data":9006,"content":9007},{},[9008],{"nodeType":471,"data":9009,"content":9010},{},[9011],{"nodeType":14,"data":9012,"content":9013},{},[9014,9019],{"nodeType":18,"value":9015,"marks":9016,"data":9018},"Ask your class ",[9017],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9020,"marks":9021,"data":9022},"how they find copying from the board. ",[],{},{"nodeType":467,"data":9024,"content":9025},{},[9026],{"nodeType":471,"data":9027,"content":9028},{},[9029],{"nodeType":14,"data":9030,"content":9031},{},[9032,9037,9040,9045,9049,9054],{"nodeType":18,"value":9033,"marks":9034,"data":9036},"Listen ",[9035],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":6393,"marks":9038,"data":9039},[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9041,"marks":9042,"data":9044},"note down i",[9043],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9046,"marks":9047,"data":9048},"ndividuals who say they find it challenging and how ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9050,"marks":9051,"data":9053},"they ",[9052],{"type":26},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9055,"marks":9056,"data":9057},"describe the experience.",[],{},{"nodeType":467,"data":9059,"content":9060},{},[9061],{"nodeType":471,"data":9062,"content":9063},{},[9064],{"nodeType":14,"data":9065,"content":9066},{},[9067,9071,9076,9079,9084],{"nodeType":18,"value":9068,"marks":9069,"data":9070},"Give them a paragraph to copy from the board and give yourself space to ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9072,"marks":9073,"data":9075},"be present ",[9074],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":6393,"marks":9077,"data":9078},[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9080,"marks":9081,"data":9083},"observe ",[9082],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9085,"marks":9086,"data":9087},"for yourself. Make notes. ",[],{},{"nodeType":467,"data":9089,"content":9090},{},[9091],{"nodeType":471,"data":9092,"content":9093},{},[9094],{"nodeType":14,"data":9095,"content":9096},{},[9097],{"nodeType":18,"value":9098,"marks":9099,"data":9100},"Experiment with using different colours for sections of text (and background) to help pupils track where they’ve got to. Remember to explain WHY you’ve used colour in this way and ASK them what is helpful and what is not. ",[],{},{"nodeType":467,"data":9102,"content":9103},{},[9104],{"nodeType":471,"data":9105,"content":9106},{},[9107],{"nodeType":14,"data":9108,"content":9109},{},[9110],{"nodeType":18,"value":9111,"marks":9112,"data":9113},"Children who have noticeable difficulty can be provided with a paper version to copy from so there is less head movement required.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9115,"content":9116},{},[9117],{"nodeType":18,"value":9118,"marks":9119,"data":9120},"Over time and with encouragement they can reflect about how much information they are able to hold in working memory for copying. They can also be taught strategies such as:",[],{},{"nodeType":467,"data":9122,"content":9123},{},[9124,9134,9144,9154,9164],{"nodeType":471,"data":9125,"content":9126},{},[9127],{"nodeType":14,"data":9128,"content":9129},{},[9130],{"nodeType":18,"value":9131,"marks":9132,"data":9133},"repeating sections aloud to support remembering",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":9135,"content":9136},{},[9137],{"nodeType":14,"data":9138,"content":9139},{},[9140],{"nodeType":18,"value":9141,"marks":9142,"data":9143},"crossing out information as they go to help keep track",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":9145,"content":9146},{},[9147],{"nodeType":14,"data":9148,"content":9149},{},[9150],{"nodeType":18,"value":9151,"marks":9152,"data":9153},"reading back frequently to spot omissions (including whole line omissions)",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":9155,"content":9156},{},[9157],{"nodeType":14,"data":9158,"content":9159},{},[9160],{"nodeType":18,"value":9161,"marks":9162,"data":9163},"explaining what they’ve copied in their own words to decide if they understand the content ",[],{},{"nodeType":471,"data":9165,"content":9166},{},[9167],{"nodeType":14,"data":9168,"content":9169},{},[9170],{"nodeType":18,"value":9171,"marks":9172,"data":9173},"asking questions if they don’t",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9175,"content":9176},{},[9177],{"nodeType":18,"value":9178,"marks":9179,"data":9180},"Developing self-awareness, understanding and practical strategies help to empower individuals.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9182,"content":9183},{},[9184],{"nodeType":18,"value":9185,"marks":9186,"data":9187},"Difficulties copying from the board are often linked to several underlying systems working together. Understanding these can help us respond more effectively in the classroom.",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":9189,"content":9190},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":9192,"content":9193},{},[9194,9197,9204],{"nodeType":18,"value":552,"marks":9195,"data":9196},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":9198,"content":9199},{"uri":557},[9200],{"nodeType":18,"value":560,"marks":9201,"data":9203},[9202],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":565,"marks":9205,"data":9206},[],{},{"url":9208},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/180xrAHf3TqtWwXehAwFRE/b9781085ade883fd5c7eb82618a376bb/Copying_from_board_hero_image.jpeg","2019-12-05T00:00+00:00",[3962],{"id":9212,"slug":9213,"title":9214,"longTitle":9214,"summary":9215,"mainBody":9216,"heroImage":9417,"publishDate":9419,"articleDate":9419,"tags":9420},"2J1EpLcXkFBo1zM2Hnl09L","becoming-better-where-to-start","Becoming Better – Where To Start","The power of becoming aware.",{"data":9217,"content":9218,"nodeType":10},{},[9219,9227,9234,9241,9248,9255,9262,9269,9276,9283,9291,9298,9322,9329,9351,9358,9374,9381,9405,9411],{"data":9220,"content":9221,"nodeType":14},{},[9222],{"data":9223,"marks":9224,"value":9226,"nodeType":18},{},[9225],{"type":133},"BECOMING BETTER",{"data":9228,"content":9229,"nodeType":14},{},[9230],{"data":9231,"marks":9232,"value":9233,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Listening to Michelle Obama begin to narrate her autobiography ‘Becoming’, I found myself wandering into the world of her childhood. The calm, soothing tone of her voice and the deliciously detailed descriptions made me feel like I’d drifted through a time portal. ",{"data":9235,"content":9236,"nodeType":14},{},[9237],{"data":9238,"marks":9239,"value":9240,"nodeType":18},{},[],"She begins by introducing her family, the first home she remembers and… the story of how she began learning piano at about the age of four. My ears pricked up! Because playing the piano is a fine motor skill like handwriting. A skill that we automate by practising just like a pianist. And I’m always listening out for comparable examples to share to help explain development and improvement to others. ",{"data":9242,"content":9243,"nodeType":14},{},[9244],{"data":9245,"marks":9246,"value":9247,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Once these skills are automated we free up working memory to focus on other creative details that can result in beautifully emotive music or inspiring writing.",{"data":9249,"content":9250,"nodeType":14},{},[9251],{"data":9252,"marks":9253,"value":9254,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Michelle describes that early experience of learning thoroughly and carefully. It’s a fascinating and revealing account of the interactions with Great Aunt Robbie (her teacher), her emotions, motivation, environment and snatched opportunities (aside from the physical skill development).",{"data":9256,"content":9257,"nodeType":14},{},[9258],{"data":9259,"marks":9260,"value":9261,"nodeType":18},{},[],"We often take our movement (motor) skills for granted don’t you think? Important activities that give us independence, help us move to safety and communicate effectively - things like walking, driving, swimming … and writing. Even talking requires mastering control of facial muscles and the tongue.",{"data":9263,"content":9264,"nodeType":14},{},[9265],{"data":9266,"marks":9267,"value":9268,"nodeType":18},{},[],"The small actions we took, practised and repeated which meant we mastered those activities are long forgotten (take ‘mastered’ as meaning ‘became able to do reasonably well without conscious awareness’). ",{"data":9270,"content":9271,"nodeType":14},{},[9272],{"data":9273,"marks":9274,"value":9275,"nodeType":18},{},[],"We are generally too busy and distracted with the demands of today to take time to pause and reflect. UNLESS there is a reason to. Like wanting to develop a new skill, better an existing one or relearning a lost one. Or finding we need or want to teach someone else.",{"data":9277,"content":9278,"nodeType":14},{},[9279],{"data":9280,"marks":9281,"value":9282,"nodeType":18},{},[],"Then it’s time to apply conscious thought and effort. ",{"data":9284,"content":9285,"nodeType":14},{},[9286],{"data":9287,"marks":9288,"value":9290,"nodeType":18},{},[9289],{"type":133},"WHERE TO START",{"data":9292,"content":9293,"nodeType":14},{},[9294],{"data":9295,"marks":9296,"value":9297,"nodeType":18},{},[],"The first stage in developing, improving or changing anything, is to slow down and start to pay attention. Notice what’s happening right now. Make the unconscious conscious. Direct your Reticular Activating System to what YOU have decided is a priority. You are in control of your mind. It’s there to serve you but sometimes it needs direction and boundaries. ",{"data":9299,"content":9321,"nodeType":62},{"target":9300},{"metadata":9301,"sys":9304,"fields":9311},{"tags":9302,"concepts":9303},[],[],{"space":9305,"id":9307,"type":75,"createdAt":9308,"updatedAt":9308,"environment":9309,"publishedVersion":1484,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":9306},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"6gXOMPesF5NCN9K81N51zI","2021-03-09T20:04:37.338Z",{"sys":9310},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":9312,"file":9313},"The RAS",{"url":9314,"details":9315,"fileName":9320,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/6gXOMPesF5NCN9K81N51zI/48528835e86a0a38c6007beba295e31d/RAS.jpeg",{"size":9316,"image":9317},1139088,{"width":9318,"height":9319},4677,3307,"RAS.jpeg",[],{"data":9323,"content":9324,"nodeType":14},{},[9325],{"data":9326,"marks":9327,"value":9328,"nodeType":18},{},[],"If you haven’t heard of the RAS, it’s a network of neurons located in the brain stem. It acts like a nightclub bouncer filtering out the riff-raff; it surveys and scans the mass of information that’s trying to get through the doors of your mind… deciding what gets in, what needs to join the back of the queue, and what needs to go and change out of trainers or get a better fake ID. It prioritises for you without you realising.",{"data":9330,"content":9350,"nodeType":62},{"target":9331},{"metadata":9332,"sys":9335,"fields":9342},{"tags":9333,"concepts":9334},[],[],{"space":9336,"id":9338,"type":75,"createdAt":9339,"updatedAt":9339,"environment":9340,"publishedVersion":1484,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":9337},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"6nmJWxGCF88qADtgO3hT1K","2021-03-09T20:11:11.919Z",{"sys":9341},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":9343,"file":9344},"The Bouncer",{"url":9345,"details":9346,"fileName":9349,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/6nmJWxGCF88qADtgO3hT1K/e9e680f390d4d911070379e63c3d5dd4/Graham_as_bouncer.jpeg",{"size":9347,"image":9348},1184630,{"width":9319,"height":9318},"Graham as bouncer.jpeg",[],{"data":9352,"content":9353,"nodeType":14},{},[9354],{"data":9355,"marks":9356,"value":9357,"nodeType":18},{},[],"The good news is the RAS is your employee, taking care of things when you’re otherwise occupied. You’d be overwhelmed without it as all that information would stampede in and random victims would be crushed or thrown aside and lost. Be grateful for your RAS but remember YOU are the boss and YOU can override it. Final decisions are yours.",{"data":9359,"content":9360,"nodeType":14},{},[9361,9365,9370],{"data":9362,"marks":9363,"value":9364,"nodeType":18},{},[],"So if you want to develop a skill, change a habit or help someone else to, don’t rush then give up because you think it’s not working or you’ve failed. Start by deliberately slowing down and noticing what’s going on. Then you can think about ",{"data":9366,"marks":9367,"value":9369,"nodeType":18},{},[9368],{"type":133},"becoming",{"data":9371,"marks":9372,"value":9373,"nodeType":18},{},[]," better and prioritise step by step actions that will move you in the right direction. ",{"data":9375,"content":9376,"nodeType":14},{},[9377],{"data":9378,"marks":9379,"value":9380,"nodeType":18},{},[],"If you struggle to slow down just listen to Michelle tell her story. It’s mesmerising.",{"data":9382,"content":9404,"nodeType":62},{"target":9383},{"metadata":9384,"sys":9387,"fields":9394},{"tags":9385,"concepts":9386},[],[],{"space":9388,"id":9390,"type":75,"createdAt":9391,"updatedAt":9391,"environment":9392,"publishedVersion":2020,"revision":82,"locale":83},{"sys":9389},{"type":71,"linkType":72,"id":73},"5hSKd0Um3iTjCBTC4vCNqz","2021-03-11T13:21:22.951Z",{"sys":9393},{"id":79,"type":71,"linkType":80},{"title":9395,"file":9396},"Michelle O",{"url":9397,"details":9398,"fileName":9403,"contentType":273},"//images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/5hSKd0Um3iTjCBTC4vCNqz/44ab57d6485a905315babd95efc7415c/Michelle_O.jpg",{"size":9399,"image":9400},768524,{"width":9401,"height":9402},3000,2058,"Michelle O.jpg",[],{"data":9406,"content":9407,"nodeType":14},{},[9408],{"data":9409,"marks":9410,"value":440,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"data":9412,"content":9413,"nodeType":14},{},[9414],{"data":9415,"marks":9416,"value":440,"nodeType":18},{},[],{"url":9418},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/5KFpdDfWnzAbsW7vH2SRjG/5c26f312cbacd6936c6ae886c3471cdb/Michelle_Obama_Becoming.jpg","2019-10-22T00:00+00:00",[1995,1996,1997],{"id":9422,"slug":9423,"title":9424,"longTitle":9424,"summary":9425,"mainBody":9426,"heroImage":9628,"publishDate":9630,"articleDate":9630,"tags":9631},"UBUq7KqEJLrI8pc5ghnlp","the-tactile-system","The Tactile System","What is the tactile system?\n",{"nodeType":10,"data":9427,"content":9428},{},[9429,9436,9443,9450,9457,9464,9488,9496,9521,9528,9546,9554,9561,9568,9575,9591,9598,9605,9622],{"nodeType":14,"content":9430,"data":9435},[9431],{"nodeType":18,"value":9432,"marks":9433,"data":9434},"What is the tactile system?",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9437,"data":9442},[9438],{"nodeType":18,"value":9439,"marks":9440,"data":9441},"Our sense of touch. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9444,"data":9449},[9445],{"nodeType":18,"value":9446,"marks":9447,"data":9448},"It plays an essential role in developing our ability to write by hand.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9451,"data":9456},[9452],{"nodeType":18,"value":9453,"marks":9454,"data":9455},"As you read, you might find it interesting to consider yourself and people you know.  Is touch something reassuring and welcome, or an irritant and intrusion.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9458,"data":9463},[9459],{"nodeType":18,"value":9460,"marks":9461,"data":9462},"The tactile system adapts in response to our perception and experiences, which helps us stay safe and develop the skills we need to thrive.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9465,"data":9487},[9466,9470,9475,9479,9484],{"nodeType":18,"value":9467,"marks":9468,"data":9469},"There are actually two parts : the ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9471,"marks":9472,"data":9474},"discriminative",[9473],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9476,"marks":9477,"data":9478}," and the ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9480,"marks":9481,"data":9483},"protective",[9482],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":238,"marks":9485,"data":9486},[],{},{},{"nodeType":647,"content":9489,"data":9495},[9490],{"nodeType":18,"value":9491,"marks":9492,"data":9494},"The Discriminative System",[9493],{"type":133},{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9497,"data":9520},[9498,9502,9507,9511,9516],{"nodeType":18,"value":9499,"marks":9500,"data":9501},"This lets us know ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9503,"marks":9504,"data":9506},"what ",[9505],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9508,"marks":9509,"data":9510},"we are touching and ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9512,"marks":9513,"data":9515},"where ",[9514],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9517,"marks":9518,"data":9519},"we are touching it. As a result our brains receive important feedback which is key to developing motor skills (including fine motor skills like writing).",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9522,"data":9527},[9523],{"nodeType":18,"value":9524,"marks":9525,"data":9526},"Handwriting is a cognitive skill we develop gradually through experience, following a process. Tactile recognition helps us hold and adjust to the type of pen we are using and learn to apply appropriate pressure. Accurate visual perception is also necessary to help us control the size, shape and positioning of letters.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9529,"data":9545},[9530,9533,9541],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":9531,"data":9532},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"content":9534,"data":9539},[9535],{"nodeType":18,"value":9536,"marks":9537,"data":9538},"Research shows",[],{},{"uri":9540},"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16915877/",{"nodeType":18,"value":9542,"marks":9543,"data":9544}," that direct instruction is the most effective way to improve handwriting. Good teaching feeds into the discriminative system.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":647,"content":9547,"data":9553},[9548],{"nodeType":18,"value":9549,"marks":9550,"data":9552},"The Protective System",[9551],{"type":133},{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9555,"data":9560},[9556],{"nodeType":18,"value":9557,"marks":9558,"data":9559},"This helps keep us safe, allowing us to give attention to developing skills like writing that move us forward.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9562,"data":9567},[9563],{"nodeType":18,"value":9564,"marks":9565,"data":9566},"Think about something as simple as a fly landing on your arm. The sensation triggers a reaction to remove the threat of the fly and the germs it might transfer. Instinctively you make a sudden movement to make the fly go away. You will probably then find yourself ducking and swiping as it refuses to leave you alone! This is the protective system working.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9569,"data":9574},[9570],{"nodeType":18,"value":9571,"marks":9572,"data":9573},"It warns us when we are in contact with something negative or potentially dangerous, triggering a fight, flight, fright or freeze response. The whole mind and body is involved in an unconscious reaction. Responses are either  reflex and defensive or designed to calm and soothe.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9576,"data":9590},[9577,9581,9586],{"nodeType":18,"value":9578,"marks":9579,"data":9580},"Some people are ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9582,"marks":9583,"data":9585},"tactile defensive",[9584],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9587,"marks":9588,"data":9589},". ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9592,"data":9597},[9593],{"nodeType":18,"value":9594,"marks":9595,"data":9596},"Their protective system reacts strongly to touch sensations. Certain fabrics and garment labels may irritate them. They may also dislike certain foods because of the texture. ",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9599,"data":9604},[9600],{"nodeType":18,"value":9601,"marks":9602,"data":9603},"Some will flinch in response to a friendly pat, or go rigid and pull back from what is intended as an affectionate hug. This might come across as rejection or being unemotional, and yet it's actually a symptom of the tactile system doing its job. Understanding, together with careful, gradual exposure can help retrain the brain and reduce negative reactions.",[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9606,"data":9621},[9607,9611,9618],{"nodeType":18,"value":9608,"marks":9609,"data":9610},"For some great activities to do with children that develop tactile processing have a look at ",[],{},{"nodeType":33,"content":9612,"data":9617},[9613],{"nodeType":18,"value":9614,"marks":9615,"data":9616},"https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/sensory-processing-tactile-system/",[],{},{"uri":9614},{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":9619,"data":9620},[],{},{},{"nodeType":14,"content":9623,"data":9627},[9624],{"nodeType":18,"value":440,"marks":9625,"data":9626},[],{},{},{"url":9629},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/6KCOFRzchoJdiOdIqDaKtm/9a229f672289d9095111376e1731a6a8/the_tactile_system_kitten-hand.jpg","2019-09-03T00:00+00:00",[1995,1996,1997],{"id":9633,"slug":9634,"title":1119,"longTitle":1119,"summary":9635,"mainBody":9636,"heroImage":9785,"publishDate":9787,"articleDate":9787,"tags":9788},"6wmJtJ56uywSAGK1P3Ztsi","sensory-processing","Understanding the tactile, proprioceptive and vestibular systems and their role in movement and coordination.",{"nodeType":10,"data":9637,"content":9638},{},[9639,9646,9653,9660,9667,9700,9707,9715,9722,9730,9737,9745,9752,9759,9766,9769],{"nodeType":14,"data":9640,"content":9641},{},[9642],{"nodeType":18,"value":9643,"marks":9644,"data":9645},"Have you ever heard of sensory processing?",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9647,"content":9648},{},[9649],{"nodeType":18,"value":9650,"marks":9651,"data":9652},"I first learned about it when my son (then aged 2) was identified as having developmental dyspraxia. That was over 25 years ago now. Naturally, I was keen to learn more so that I could support him to develop the many skills we too often take for granted.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9654,"content":9655},{},[9656],{"nodeType":18,"value":9657,"marks":9658,"data":9659},"Sensory Processing is all about the way we register and perceive sensory information through different channels.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9661,"content":9662},{},[9663],{"nodeType":18,"value":9664,"marks":9665,"data":9666},"The brain organises the sensations it receives, then responds with movements and behaviours that allow us to learn and interact usefully with people, with tasks and with our environment.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9668,"content":9669},{},[9670,9674,9679,9683,9688,9692,9697],{"nodeType":18,"value":9671,"marks":9672,"data":9673},"Early on, we’re taught the general descriptors for our senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste), but there are three other terms you may be less familiar with: ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9675,"marks":9676,"data":9678},"tactile",[9677],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9680,"marks":9681,"data":9682},", ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9684,"marks":9685,"data":9687},"proprioception",[9686],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9689,"marks":9690,"data":9691}," and ",[],{},{"nodeType":18,"value":9693,"marks":9694,"data":9696},"vestibular",[9695],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":238,"marks":9698,"data":9699},[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9701,"content":9702},{},[9703],{"nodeType":18,"value":9704,"marks":9705,"data":9706},"Here's a simple overview of them:",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9708,"content":9709},{},[9710],{"nodeType":18,"value":9711,"marks":9712,"data":9714},"Tactile",[9713],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9716,"content":9717},{},[9718],{"nodeType":18,"value":9719,"marks":9720,"data":9721},"This is our sense of touch. Sensations come from receptors in the skin all over our bodies. Tactile input is important to us emotionally (think about a hug) but it is also very specific, giving lots of detailed information about the body which allows us to respond with great precision and dexterity. Writing involves many touch sensations.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9723,"content":9724},{},[9725],{"nodeType":18,"value":9726,"marks":9727,"data":9729},"Proprioception",[9728],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9731,"content":9732},{},[9733],{"nodeType":18,"value":9734,"marks":9735,"data":9736},"This refers to the sense of body position. Sensations from muscles and joints give us information about our body parts and how they are moving. This helps us guide our arm and leg movements without constantly having to look at what we are doing. Writing, driving, swimming and touch typing are examples of activities which require good proprioception.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9738,"content":9739},{},[9740],{"nodeType":18,"value":9741,"marks":9742,"data":9744},"Vestibular",[9743],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9746,"content":9747},{},[9748],{"nodeType":18,"value":9749,"marks":9750,"data":9751},"This is our sense of balance, coordination and movement. Receptors are located in the inner ear and activate every time we move or change our head position. It affects coordinating both sides of the body, and the movement of our eyes. This helps us to control our posture and balance, and know where we are in space. When writing, our vestibular sense helps us copy information from another source to our page.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9753,"content":9754},{},[9755],{"nodeType":18,"value":9756,"marks":9757,"data":9758},"These systems work together constantly, supporting the control and coordination needed for handwriting.",[],{},{"nodeType":14,"data":9760,"content":9761},{},[9762],{"nodeType":18,"value":9763,"marks":9764,"data":9765},"Understanding these systems can help us better recognise why handwriting may feel difficult for some children.",[],{},{"nodeType":172,"data":9767,"content":9768},{},[],{"nodeType":14,"data":9770,"content":9771},{},[9772,9775,9782],{"nodeType":18,"value":552,"marks":9773,"data":9774},[],{},{"nodeType":33,"data":9776,"content":9777},{"uri":557},[9778],{"nodeType":18,"value":560,"marks":9779,"data":9781},[9780],{"type":133},{},{"nodeType":18,"value":565,"marks":9783,"data":9784},[],{},{"url":9786},"https://images.ctfassets.net/2zeqkgv5pl1b/3gCoBK4SdZ7nEOOkEMAP6Z/9b3cb5e33d70280b62eea7bbaae270da/sensory-processing-blog.jpg","2019-09-02T00:00+00:00",[573],1782290255429]