Nurturing Hands, Inspiring Minds, Fostering Fun

Irene Hannam

Standing Star-Pose
 

10-Minute Preschool Movement Routines: Building Postural Control, Coordination, and Body Awareness

10-Minute Preschool Movement Routines: Building Postural Control, Coordination, and Body Awareness Simple, purposeful movement activities for children ages 3–4 that teachers can use to practice foundational motor skills in just ten minutes. By Irene Hannam, MS, OTR/L | Write Expectations™ Introduction: Ten Minutes of Meaningful Movement Preschoolers learn by moving! They crawl, climb, push, pull, […]
  • October 26, 2026
Elementary student completing classroom writing while managing directions, ideas, spelling, handwriting, and self-monitoring demands.
 

Executive Function and Handwriting: The Hidden Connection

Executive Function and Handwriting: The Hidden Connection By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L A student knows how to form every letter. When asked to write the alphabet, she performs well. When copying a short sentence in a quiet setting, her handwriting is readable. Then she is asked to answer a question during science. Her spacing becomes […]
  • August 11, 2026
What Fine Motor Skills Before Kindergarten
 

What Fine Motor Skills Does a Child Really Need Before Kindergarten?

What Fine Motor Skills Does a Child Really Need Before Kindergarten? By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L A child is getting ready to begin kindergarten. A well-meaning parent brings out alphabet worksheets and begins practicing letters. The child tries for a few minutes but quickly becomes frustrated. The pencil shifts in the hand. The child presses […]
  • July 4, 2026
 

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

Supporting Motor Development in Preschool: Movement Activities and Classroom Adaptations Originally published November 2, 2025. Substantially revised October 2026 to reflect updated research and evidence-informed preschool occupational therapy practices. Practical, research-informed strategies to build postural control, bilateral coordination, body awareness, and motor planning in children ages 3–5. By Irene Hannam, MS, OTR/L | Write Expectations™ […]
  • 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
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