Line Placement, Letter Size and Spacing

Line placement (alignment), letter size and spacing...are there any tricks to address working on these aspects of handwriting?  I do get asked this from time to time, so I will pass on some of the strategies that I use in individual sessions to paraprofessionals and teachers.

Of course, there are various types of papers that are helpful to assist with alignment by providing a visual guide (cue):

I use the yellow highlighted paper quite often, as it gives a nice visual cue for line placement and letter size (Bright Lines paper by Ellen Kinsinger, OTR).  The other paper in the picture has a blue line for the "sky" or the top line, and a green line for the "grass" or bottom line (Smart Start paper by Frog Street Press, Inc).

To work on letter size, I like to use graph paper-  I start with the larger size, and then decrease the size as we work on refining the skill.  You can also use graph paper to work on spacing between words when printing sentences (leave an open square between the words).  It is also helpful for lining up math problems.

For older kids, I like to work on decreasing letter size, spacing and writing within margins using RediSpace transitional notebook paper by Mead:

This is a strategy that I use on a chalkboard to work on pre writing/early writing skills:

It emphasizes top-down orientation (always start your letters at the top!), starting at a point and stopping at a point and staying within an area while making basic lines and a shape.  Working on a vertical plane is developmentally easier, and the resistance from the chalk board provides sensory feedback.

Here is an example of how a preschool teacher is making a visual cue on a student's work so that he starts to write his name within a given area:

Handwriting Without Tears also has it's own lined paper that alleviates the "3 lined paper" concept, and addressesses various other techniques and strategies for these same aspects of handwriting that you might want to check out here:  http://www.hwtears.com/hwt