The Log Handwriting Program improved children's writing legibility: a pretest-posttest study.
OBJECTIVE
We determined the feasibility and outcomes of the Log Handwriting Program (Raynal, 1990), an 8-week training program based on task-specific practice of handwriting.


METHODS
We used a pretest-posttest design involving 16 first- and second-grade Australian students. Handwriting training sessions occurred in schools for 45 min per week over 8 weeks, in groups of 2 or 3. Weekly homework was provided. The primary outcome measure was the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment (range = 0 to 34; Reisman, 1999). Legibility, form, alignment, size, spacing, and speed were measured.


RESULTS
All six assessment subscales showed statistically significant differences. Legibility improved by a mean of 4.1 points (95% confidence interval = 2.5 to 5.7); form, 5.3 points; alignment, 7.8 points; size, 7.9 points; and space, 5.3 points. Speed decreased by 3.9 points.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary evidence indicates that an 8-week Log Handwriting Program is feasible and improved handwriting in primary school children.
Mackay
Nadine
N
Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. mackay.nadine@hotmail.com
McCluskey
Annie
A
Mayes
Rachel
R
D002648:Child; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills; D009517:New South Wales; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012574:Schools