Introduction: Handwriting in the earliest grades is linked to basic reading and spelling achievement. It is a basic tool used in taking notes, taking tests, doing classroom work, completing homework, and learning in language arts classes and almost every content area. Attention to the connections among handwriting, reading, and spelling skills can help to reinforce early achievement across these areas. You will use the following scenario to complete the task: A recent curriculum review that included parent focus groups from your school identified a concern for the lack of emphasis being placed on handwriting skills in the school. For this task you will review the current literature (from the links below and from your own research) on best practices for teaching handwriting. Review the handwriting learning resources in the course of study to complete this task. Task: A. Prepare a multimedia presentation (e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote) (suggested length of 58 slides) to help your colleagues understand how to teach handwriting more effectively at the primary and upper elementary grade levels. Your presentation should include the following: 1. Handwriting components for primary and upper elementary handwriting instruction 2. Age-appropriate handwriting activities to teach and practice handwriting 3. Three resources for colleagues about handwriting components and strategies Note: Check the quality of the resources to make sure they are ones that you would use multiple times in a classroom. List them on a separate slide. B. Develop a set of guidelines (using your experience with the handwriting correspondence course) to use in selecting a handwriting program. Note: Please submit these guidelines in the format of a table. There should be two columns, one titled Guideline and the other titled Rationale. C. Design an original lesson plan (using the attached WGU Lesson Plan Format) that introduces a specific aspect of handwriting. Note: Use the handwriting correspondence course for ideas. An example of a lesson would be to introduce the four basic strokes to be used in teaching manuscript handwriting. D. When you use sources, include all in-text citations and references in APA format. Note: When bulleted points are present in the task prompt, the level of detail or support called for in the rubric refers to those bulleted points. Note: For definitions of terms commonly used in the rubric, see the Rubric Terms web link included in the Evaluation Procedures section. Note: When using sources to support ideas and elements in a paper or project, the submission MUST include APA formatted in-text citations with a corresponding reference list for any direct quotes or paraphrasing. It is not necessary to list sources that were consulted if they have not been quoted or paraphrased in the text of the paper or project. Note: No more than a combined total of 30% of a submission can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from sources, even if cited correctly. For tips on using APA style, please refer to the APA Handout web link included in the General Instructions section.

Introduction:



Handwriting in the earliest grades is linked to basic reading and spelling achievement. It is a basic tool used in taking notes, taking tests, doing classroom work, completing homework, and learning in language arts classes and almost every content area. Attention to the connections among handwriting, reading, and spelling skills can help to reinforce early achievement across these areas.



You will use the following scenario to complete the task:



A recent curriculum review that included parent focus groups from your school identified a concern for the lack of emphasis being placed on handwriting skills in the school. For this task you will review the current literature (from the links below and from your own research) on best practices for teaching handwriting.



Review the handwriting learning resources in the course of study to complete this task.



Task:



A. Prepare a multimedia presentation (e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote) (suggested length of 5 - 8 slides) to help your colleagues understand how to teach handwriting more effectively at the primary and upper elementary grade levels. Your presentation should include the following:

1. Handwriting components for primary and upper elementary handwriting instruction

2. Age-appropriate handwriting activities to teach and practice handwriting

3. Three resources for colleagues about handwriting components and strategies



Note: Check the quality of the resources to make sure they are ones that you would use multiple times in a classroom. List them on a separate slide.



B. Develop a set of guidelines (using your experience with the handwriting correspondence course) to use in selecting a handwriting program.



Note: Please submit these guidelines in the format of a table. There should be two columns, one titled Guideline and the other titled Rationale.



C. Design an original lesson plan (using the attached WGU Lesson Plan Format) that introduces a specific aspect of handwriting.



Note: Use the handwriting correspondence course for ideas. An example of a lesson would be to introduce the four basic strokes to be used in teaching manuscript handwriting.



D. When you use sources, include all in-text citations and references in APA format.


Note: When bulleted points are present in the task prompt, the level of detail or support called for in the rubric refers to those bulleted points.



Note: For definitions of terms commonly used in the rubric, see the Rubric Terms web link included in the Evaluation Procedures section.


Note: When using sources to support ideas and elements in a paper or project, the submission MUST include APA formatted in-text citations with a corresponding reference list for any direct quotes or paraphrasing. It is not necessary to list sources that were consulted if they have not been quoted or paraphrased in the text of the paper or project.



Note: No more than a combined total of 30% of a submission can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from sources, even if cited correctly. For tips on using APA style, please refer to the APA Handout web link included in the General Instructions section.