The one helping here must do a little homework on their own first to make sure the colored in boxes will actually create a picture. The student can also be instructed (verbally or with written cues) to draw shapes, lines, letters, etc. in certain boxes or at the intersection of certain lines (e.g. put a yellow circle in box A-1, or draw a tree at line F-7 or similar). This helps to follow written instructions, draw a specific shape, and locate the correct space on the graph paper. Be creative and make it fun!įinally, it would be an injustice to graph paper if I didn’t mention the use it can play in creating letter boxes for a box and dot handwriting task. Your student may already be familiar with this through OT sessions. Graph lines can be used to outline the space in which a letter sits, using one single box for lower case letters. Upper case letters and lower case tall letters: (t, d, f, h, k, l, b) will need to include the box ON TOP to make it a one wide by a 2 tall defined space. Lower case letters that are descending below the line, or tail letters (q, y, p, g, j) must include the box BELOW, making it also a one wide by 2 space, but the box on bottom goes below the line on which the letters are written. Making up a “key” of words, or a game, have the student place the letters in the proper defined word space that has letter boxes outlined or maybe even just the word outlined.

This may be a fun way to practice spelling words. If nothing else, you can always use graph paper to practice cutting on the lines, creating a colored picture, making paper air planes, or crumpling into a ball to play a game.

I’m sure your student can think of many non-traditional things to do with it on his/her own! Graph paper is one style of cutting paper with a graded resistance we talk about in our scissor skills crash course. If you don’t have graph paper on hand, below are resources I have found which may be helpful. The Handwriting Book is a comprehensive resource created by experienced pediatric OTs and PTs. The Handwriting Book covers everything you need to know about handwriting, guided by development and focused on function. This digital resource is is the ultimate resource for tips, strategies, suggestions, and information to support handwriting development in kids. The Handwriting Book breaks down the functional skill of handwriting into developmental areas.

These include developmental progression of pre-writing strokes, fine motor skills, gross motor development, sensory considerations, and visual perceptual skills. Strategies to address letter and number formation and reversals.Each section includes strategies and tips to improve these underlying areas.

Graph paper maker with numbers