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15th September 2022

Teachers’ Perceptions of Needs and Supports for Handwriting Instruction in Kindergarten

In the U.S. school system, handwriting difficulties are a frequent reason for referral to occupational therapy

27th May 2021

Mental Health

Impact of using the Model of Human Occupation: A survey of occupational therapy mental health practitioners’ perceptions

Kielhofner’s Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) describes a dynamic process in which clients engage in various occupations of interest.

27th May 2021

School, skills and more

Handwriting in 2015: A main occupation for primary school–aged children in the classroom?

It has been widely accepted in the past 2 decades that handwriting is a major occupation for children in the classroom environment

Sarah Edlin

Morning Bev! I'm working with a stroke patient who wants to be able to write with her non-dominant hand.

Mrs. Costa

Miranda Virone

Suzanne Warnalis

Willow Grove, PA

Size Matters Handwriting Program

“I’ve been using the Letter Sizes with my students. The difference is incredible.”

Denise Campbell

Riverside, OH

Size Matters Handwriting Program

“I have been introducing your program in two K classrooms this year and myself as well as the teachers are really LOVING it!! It’s fantastic to our students catching on to size concepts and make…

Eileen Bushell

Palatine School District 15, IL

“Next to the week-long course with Jean Ayres, this is the Best Conference I have attended in 35 years as a school OT.”

Mary Bryda Santini

"This is a phenomenal program - one that I have seen great results. If you have a motivated 9th grader - then I’d definitely use size matters.

Lesli Letke

“Great affordable ideas to use in the classroom.”

Nannette Clark

Somersworth, NH

"Dr. Moskowitz really understands the day-to-day demands of working in schools and offers practical, usable suggestions for decreasing the workload and increasing satisfaction."

Michael Zimmerman

Port Jervis, NY

"An excellent seminar. Dr. Moskowitz presented dozens of useful strategies, materials and ideas. Learned a couple things never presented to me in other seminars. Thank you!"

Janet Wetherbee

Merrimack, NH

"'Practical’ is the keyword—thanks, Dr. Moskowitz!"

Kelli O’Sullivan

Saranac Lake, NY

"Bev tailored the information to her audience.

Kimberly Coons

Scotia, NY

"This was one of the best seminars I have attended."

Maryanne Kelley

Attleboro, Massachusetts

I finally got my school to get me Beverly Moskowitz’s size matters program. I’ve been using as an RTI intervention for a 3rd grader I tested. All OT testing was average to above average.

Emily Bisson

Sanford, ME

"The second graders immediately understood the size concept and loved the dice game. It was awesome to see!"

Suzanne Warnalis

Willow Grove, PA

"I’ve been using the Letter Sizes with my students. The difference is incredible!"

Tammy Murray

Worcester, MA

"The teachers can’t believe how quickly the kids caught on."

Traci Calderera

Fort Smith, AR

"Bev rocks!"

Kelly Poje

Otego, NY

"The students amaze me. They are highly motivated to make their letters Star-Worthy every time!"

Danielle Fitzpatrick

Orange Township Board of Education, Orange, NJ

"So today, all recharged from POTA, I decided to try out my new Size Matters handwriting techniques.

Bernadette Wiemer

Orange, MA

"Beverly is a warm, wise, nurturing, effusive and funny presenter. She and her materials were highly organized, practical and meaningful.

Kelli O’Sullivan

Saranac Lake, NY

Bev tailored the information to her audience. She gave simple To Do activities to enhance an OT’s value to the team, simple activities to incorporate in the classroom.

Susan J. King OTR/L

Cornwall, NY

"I took your course in Newburgh this past Monday and have been implementing strategies all week!!! The next day in my handwriting groups I told the kids to "touch" their lines and their printing was…

Michele Pettenati COTA/L

Cattaraugus Allegany BOCES

"Beverly, I just want you to know that I am using the paper, playing the dice game, talking about the size of the letters, and scoring their writing pages!!!! They all love it and I have seen changes…

Patricia Calcaro, OT

Chittenango, NY

"Absolutely size matters! Simple, fun, effective! Fast results and so easy to embed during school day.

Linda Boardsen, OT

Sterling, IL

"Want you to know the Size Matter strategies definitely work. "

Del Alexander, COTA/L

Queen Creek, AZ

"I just have to tell you, I've been using parts of the program for the last week with most of my students in Occupational Therapy Services.

Janet Amadio, OTR/L

Akron Public Schools

"Earlier this year I wrote to you about a kindergarten teacher who didn't believe kindergarten students were developmentally ready/able to print on lined paper.

"Earlier this year I wrote to you about a kindergarten teacher who didn't believe kindergarten students were developmentally ready/able to print on lined paper. I implemented some of your advice and wanted to share with you what happened. That teacher quite readily agreed to let me start teaching a weekly handwriting lesson with her class. Soon she began to notice handwriting was improving and the students were remembering and using the rules even when I wasn't there. She reported a student was erasing a letter in a word that was otherwise spelled correctly. When she questioned why, he replied "Because it's floating". Hooray!!! My lessons happened to come up in conversation with kindergarten teacher #2 who indicated that she'd like to have me give lessons in her class as well. She also reports carry over into classroom assignments and has become quite the fan. Kindergarten teacher #3 stopped me in the hallway to ask what I was doing in the other classes that they were raving about and could I come to her class too! I participate in a professional learning community with these 3 teachers and an instructional coach. I brought the written language production guide and some of the Size Matters research to my group and gave an overview of each. They all asked for copies and the coach was going to share some of it with other grade levels, particularly the written language production guide. Happily they noticed how Size Matters directly addresses the standards. This school will likely only have 2 kindergarten classes next year, but both have already told me how beneficial the lessons have been and that they would like me to start on the first week in the fall. I thought that was the best compliment of all! I love making a difference with a larger group of kids. Teachers and my principal have really noticed my contributions and value what I have to offer. I also appreciate getting to have eyes on all of the kindergarten students to help identify who might need a referral for further evaluation. Thanks so much for all of your help!"

Donna Jo Kennedy

Somerville, NJ

"I just left an IEP meeting where the guardian said she thought the child brought home someone else’s work because his handwriting improved so much."

Beth Wood, OT

Greenwood, SC

"I took your Practical Strategies for Improving the Effectiveness, Efficiency and Impact of Your School-Based OT Services course last spring when you were in Columbia, SC.

Meghan Morse, OT

Owego, NY

"The SMHP is the first program I have implemented that the kids are actually EXCITED to try and practice making letters.

Eileen Bushell, OTR/L

Palatine, IL

"Having so many years in practice, I frequently am disappointed....having learned nothing new. But your seminar was amazing.

Eileen Bushell, OTR/ L

Palatine, IL

"All they have to do is ask a teacher or parent who has been using your concept and they will hear them praise your program! "

Brittany Morel, COTA

Wabash, IN

"I have used the SMHP during last school year and I love it! And most importantly the kids love it! I have had so much success with this program with all of my kids, but one in particular comes to…

Nathania Rachel McNally, OT

Pleasanton, CA

"Thanks Beverly! And thank you for all you do! Your program is brilliant, and I use it all the time!"

Sara Blesch Harpe, OT

Owensboro, KY

"I use the SMHP in Madison County Schools in Georgia. In many cases results are seen within just one or two sessions. Parents like the easy application as well.

Emily Bisson, OTR

Sanford, ME

“The second graders immediately understood the sizes concept and loved the dice game. It was awesome to see!”

Tammy Murray, DOT Med OTR/L

Worcester, MA

“The teachers can’t believe how quickly the kids caught on.”

Suzanne Warnalis, OTR/L

Willow Grove, PA

"I’ve been using the Letter Sizes with my students. The difference is incredible!"

Linda Fisher, 1st grade teacher

Huntingdon Valley, PA

“I’ll never teach another method of handwriting again! The change was immediate.”

Eileen Bushell, OTR/L

Chicago, IL

"Spaghetti and meatballs is a hit!"

Kelly Poje, OTR/L

Otego, NY

"The students amaze me. They are highly motivated to make their letters Star-Worthy every time!"

Kris Marciniak, OT

Safford, AZ

"I have positive feelings about implementing and trying to get some teachers if not some of my contracted districts on board with Size Matters. I am completely impressed with your energy.

Susan J. King OTR/L

Cornwall, NY

"Thanks to SMHP I have an entirely new approach to how I look at teaching handwriting."

Genny Cook, OTR

Aspen, CO

"I’ve just been using a few concepts from SMHP and have already had some really great success with a few students, plus a change in attitude toward even working on handwriting."

Haley Jo Barrick, OTR

Kent, WA

"I only went to the SMHP workshop last week and I’m already getting impressed teachers wanting to know more!!! I cannot tell you how slack-jawed the teachers are.

Greg Santucci, OTR/L

Ocean, NJ

"Instantaneous results!"

Zetryana Rivera

Henderson, NV

"Awesome! I used the basis of the Size Matters Handwriting Program for my son when he started kindergarten. We had already used HWT for learning lines and mat man.

Kerri Marani Cantino

Pembroke, MA

"I attended the conference for school based therapists last March and implemented the Size Matters program (well the parts I could) with a few of the kids I see and I have already seen such…

Mary Bryda Santini

Bayonne, NJ

"This is a phenomenal program - one that I have seen great results. If you have a motivated 9th grader - then I’d definitely use size matters.

Robin Galeota

I just wanted to say what an excellent conference you did yesterday in New Rochelle. I was lucky enough to have been in attendance.

North Rockland Central School District

I just wanted to let you know that I tried the "size 1, 2, 3 letter" strategies with my group this morning and I saw more improvement in one session than I have seen all year! The kids GOT IT.

Rochelle Soriano Flanigan

Flint, Michigan

I have gone to the HWT conference. I honestly had a difficulty getting carryover. So I decided to look into size matters handwriting program. I just completed the SMHP certification.

Eileen Bushell

Palatine, IL

All they have to do is ask a teacher or parent who has been using your concept and they will hear them praise your program!

Eileen Bushell

Palatine, IL

Having so many years in practice, I frequently am disappointed....having learned nothing new. But your seminar was amazing.

Eileen Bushell

Chicago, IL

Spaghetti and meatballs is a hit!

Michele Pettenati

Cattaraugus Allegany BOCES

Absolutely size matters! Simple, fun, effective! Fast results and so easy to embed during school day.

Karen Szatalowicz, MHS, OTR/L

C. A. S. E. Staff Occupational Therapist

I had heard of the Size Matters Handwriting program just prior to the AOTA conference in Chicago this past spring.

Del Alexander, COTA/L

Queen Creek, AZ

Results with my student well surpasses success. Great timing for reminding me to have a comparison of students with and without the intervention. You are the GREATEST.

Rachel Jackson Belanger

I am excited to try some of your RTI interventions prior to students being referred to OT testing. I also am motivated to try handwriting clubs.

Susan King, OTR/L

I took Beverly's Time saving course in January and used her school strategies when I returned from work. My students loved rolling dice and their letter formation improved.

Hutchinson Public Schools

Kansas

After watching the video on Ryan, who was learning about Letter Sizes, Lisha Collins wrote: Love this. I am using this next year for sure.

Shira Weininger

I was able to convince the Yeshiva elementary schools that I work in to switch to triple lined writing paper for younger grades and to use Size Matters concepts.

Sheri Phillips

We love SMHP in our school.

Meghan Morse

Oswego, NY

The SMHP is the first program I have implemented that the kids are actually EXCITED to try and practice making letters....Teachers pick up on the terminology quickly and generally I find they are…

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