Nurturing Hands, Inspiring Minds, Fostering Fun

Irene Hannam

 

Beyond the Observation

Beyond the Observation: Beyond the Observation: The Crucial Role of a Comprehensive Initial Occupational Therapy Evaluation in Elementary School By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L Occupational therapists (OTs) in school-based settings are essential members of the educational team, supporting students’ ability to participate and succeed in daily classroom routines. Among the most common concerns prompting referral […]
  • May 4, 2026
Crayons on paper
 

Primitive Reflexes in the Preschool Classroom (Ages 3–5)

Primitive Reflexes in the Preschool Classroom (Ages 3–5) By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L Primitive reflexes are some of the earliest movements babies use to survive and grow. They help with feeding, rolling, and early interaction with the world. By about one year of age, most reflexes fade as the brain matures. But sometimes they stick […]
  • November 3, 2025
 

Primitive Reflexes in Preschool Classrooms

Primitive Reflexes in Preschool Classrooms: Structured Supports for Students with Learning and Regulation Needs By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L Why Talk About Primitive Reflexes in Special Education? Primitive reflexes are the automatic movements babies are born with—like grasping, rooting, or rolling. These reflexes should fade by around one year of age as the brain matures. […]
  • November 2, 2025
 

Why Keyboarding Instruction Is Essential for Student Success

By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L In today’s classrooms, students are expected to produce large amounts of written work, often in digital form. State tests, classroom assignments, and even national assessments like NAEP now rely on typed responses. Yet many schools have scaled back or eliminated explicit keyboarding instruction, assuming that students will “pick it up” […]
  • November 2, 2025
kid
 

The Power of Guided Drawings in the Classroom

Guided (or “directed”) drawing is a quick, teacher-led routine where students build a picture one simple step at a time. As they follow each prompt, they practice the big essentials—shape, size, where things go on the page, and the order of strokes—without the pressure of “being good at art.” For OTs, it’s a Tier-1 powerhouse. In […]
  • October 20, 2025
 

Using a Metronome to Improve Handwriting: A Research-Based Guide

Using a Metronome to Improve Handwriting: A Research-Based Guide for OTs  Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L Why it matters for handwriting: A metronome provides a rhythmic, external timing cue that students synchronize pen/pencil strokes to. In interactive formats, real-time feedback helps reduce timing error (“internal clock” variability). Better timing links to smoother utensil trajectories, steadier in-air […]
  • October 13, 2025
 

Enhancing OT School Treatment Sessions with Metronome Use

Enhancing OT School Treatment Sessions with Metronome Use Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L Why rhythm helps in school OT: A metronome provides a steady auditory cue that students synchronize their movements to. In OT, that cue can sharpen motor timing, attention, and coordination—the foundations for classroom tasks like handwriting, note-taking, transitions, and PE skills. Evidence from […]
  • October 13, 2025
 

Visual-Motor Skills: A Research-Based Overview

Visual-Motor Skills: A Research-Based Overview for School-Based OT Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L What Are Visual-Motor Skills? Visual–motor integration (VMI) is the ability to coordinate visual perception with fine-motor movement—seeing a shape, letter, or pattern and accurately reproducing it with a pencil, scissors, or a manipulative. VMI underpins handwriting, drawing, cutting, and efficient device access (mouse/trackpad/keyboard) […]
  • October 6, 2025
 

Brain Breaks in the Classroom: Simple Movement Strategies for K–5

By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L Teachers know students need to move—but not all movement is created equal. Some activities are quick resets for attention, others are energizers, and some are therapeutic tools that help the nervous system mature. Understanding the difference between a brain break, a movement break, and a primitive reflex activity helps teachers […]
  • September 22, 2025
 

Seeing the Whole Picture

Seeing the Whole Picture: Oculomotor Development, Occupational Therapy, and Primitive Reflex Integration By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L Why Oculomotor Development Matters in Occupational Therapy: Oculomotor control—including pursuits (smooth tracking), saccades (quick eye shifts), convergence (eye teaming), and accommodation (focus changes)—is foundational for functional school tasks like reading, writing, classroom copying, and visual scanning. Deficits manifest […]
  • September 16, 2025
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