Growing Strong Writers: A New Chapter for Root + Rise

I have a confession to make: I've become a little obsessed with handwriting.

Not in a *perfect penmanship, every letter must look beautiful* kind of way. More in a *why are so many kids struggling with this, and what can we actually do about it?* kind of way.

If you know me, you know that when I get excited about something, I tend to go all in. Handwriting has officially become that something. My poor wife has probably heard more about pencil grips, letter formation, and hand arches than she ever expected to at the dinner table.

And unfortunately for her, I'm just getting started.

As a school-based occupational therapist, I spend a lot of time thinking about the skills kids need to participate in their classrooms. Handwriting is one of those things that looks pretty simple from the outside. Pick up a pencil, make some letters, write a sentence. Easy enough, right?

Wrong.

There's actually a LOT happening behind the scenes. Posture, shoulder stability, wrist positioning, finger movements, visual attention, motor planning... and that's before we even get to remembering what a letter looks like, how to form it, and what sound it makes.

It's a lot to ask of little hands and developing brains!

And while I'm a huge advocate for assistive technology and accommodations, I also think we need to be having more conversations about handwriting instruction. For young children, handwriting is still a big part of how they participate in school. When the physical act of writing takes so much effort, it's hard to focus on what you're actually trying to say.

Imagine trying to write a story while thinking about where your fingers go, which direction your pencil moves, whether your letters are on the line, and why your hand is already tired.

I'd probably want to throw my pencil, too.

The goal isn't perfect handwriting. It's helping kids develop the skills to write comfortably and efficiently enough that they can focus on their ideas instead of the mechanics of getting them onto paper.

And here's where my OT brain gets excited.

I think there's a huge opportunity for occupational therapists and educators to work more closely together on handwriting instruction. Teachers bring their expertise in literacy and how children learn, while OTs bring an understanding of motor development, fine motor skills, and the physical demands of writing.

What if we brought those perspectives together *before* kids started really struggling? What if we used consistent language for letter formation, incorporated fine motor development into classroom routines, and made handwriting instruction a little more intentional?

And no, I'm not suggesting teachers add another 45-minute lesson to their already packed schedules. Nobody needs that.

I'm talking about small changes that make sense in real classrooms. A few minutes of explicit instruction, opportunities to practice, and strategies that fit into what teachers are already doing.

Of course, not every child who struggles with handwriting needs the same support. Some need more instruction or practice, some benefit from different tools, and others need individualized OT support. That's part of why I think this collaboration is so important.

Which brings me to my latest idea...

Because apparently being a school-based OT, running a private practice, and raising two young children wasn't keeping me quite busy enough, I've decided to add one more thing to my plate.

So, I'm excited (terrified? No, excited. But also definitely terrified.) to introduce something that's been floating around in my head and keeping me awake at night for longer than I care to admit: **the Growing Strong Writers Initiative!**

Growing Strong Writers is an occupational therapy-led approach to handwriting education and school consultation that I'm independently developing through my private practice, Root + Rise Vermont.

It's being designed specifically for independent and private schools that may not have regular access to an occupational therapist. My hope is to offer professional development, classroom resources, and ongoing consultation that help educators better understand handwriting development and feel more confident supporting their students.

I want this to be practical. Something that fits into a teacher's day rather than adding another thing to an already overflowing plate. Because the last thing anyone needs is another complicated program to implement.

Growing Strong Writers is still a work in progress, and I have plenty to figure out before it's ready to launch. But every conversation I have with an educator gives me another idea, which is both exciting and slightly problematic for my to-do list.

So, if you've made it this far, thanks for entertaining my latest passion project! I'm excited to see where it goes and can't wait to share more.

**Growing Strong Writers is coming in 2027 through Root + Rise Vermont!**

And to my friends and colleagues who have already endured my endless handwriting conversations... I appreciate you. Unfortunately, I don't see that stopping anytime soon. 😂