Using Cognitive Processing Techniques to
Enhance Cursive Handwriting
Shelley Birkett-Eyles
Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
Director of Hemispheres Think Write and
Hemispheres Movement for Learning Limited.
Irresistible Outcomes
• Children learning at their own pace.
• 96% of children writing with full cursive writing
with correct spatial placement by the end of Key
stage 1.
• Organised and structured approach for all
teachers.
• Children being able to direct their own learning.
Important features
• Easy to implement.
• Clearly defined structure.
• All teachers using the structure, think, act
and teach in the same way.
• Flexible to meet the needs of all children.
• Teaches the rules at the beginning.
Key Cognitive Strategies
Developing the hook
Linking knowledge
Associative learning
Linking Knowledge
Harriet the cow
•
•
•
•
Tall animal
Lives on a farm
Stands on grass
Reaches up to the
clouds
Associative Learning
Movement
Associative Learning
Associative Learning
All letters that start with a tall
straight line:
Built in Repetition
Hemispheres Think Write
Category Train
l , t, h , b ,
k, f
o, a , d , g ,
q , c, s
i , r, n , m
u , p j , y ,
e, v , w , x ,
z
Background
• Started life as clinical intervention.
• Converted in 2012 for school use.
• Over 3 years of study data looking at the impact
and effectiveness of the programme.
• Launched in 2015
• We now have 180 schools in the UK and
abroad.
A few things before we end
• Build the cognitive framework, associate the
rules for cursive letter formation right from the
beginning.
• Don’t be scared to introduce cursive writing in
Reception.
• Offer pupils a fluid and dynamic approach to
writing, so they can develop at their own pace.
How to get started
Please come and see us at stand K90 so we can
help you further.
The first 10 people, from the talk who purchase
the HTW Starter Pack will receive the following
free
• Handwriting Screening Tool
• Handwriting Quality Screening Questionnaire
• Write and Wipe Illustrated Writing Board.
Thank you for coming.
• www.thinkwrite-learning.co.uk
• www.hemispheres.org.uk