Ohio Language Art Content Standards and How It Applies to Occupational Therapy Age Appropriate Skills for Handwriting

Writing Processes, Applications, and Conventions KG Write left to right, top to bottom. Write simple stories using letters, words or pictures. Compose informal writings (e.g., notes, labels, cards, signs) for different purposes. Print upper and lowercase letters with the correct spaces between the letters. Leave spaces between words when writing. Reread own writing. Use resources (e.g., word banks) to build vocabulary. Read and write numerals for 0 through 9.

1st Grade Proofread writing to improve grammar, spelling and punctuation. Write simple stories with a beginning, middle and end that include details and descriptive words. Print neatly, spacing letters, words and sentences. Create written work that can be read by both the writer and others. Correctly use punctuation at the end of a sentence. Read and write numerals to 100.

** Spell unfamiliar words by using strategies such as sounding out the letters. 2nd Grade Organize writing with a beginning, middle and ending. Proofread writing to improve grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization. Write letters of invitation that include all parts of a letter: date, proper salutation, body, closing and signature. Write messages, journals, notes and poems. Print neatly, spacing letters, words and sentences correctly. Spell regularly used words correctly. Use periods, question marks and exclamation points correctly. Use correct capitalization (e.g., proper nouns, first word in a sentence, months and days).

3rd Grade Develop a clear main idea for writing. Create paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences. Reread and judge own writing to make sure it is clear.

Produce informal writings such as messages, journals or notes. Write legibly in cursive and put the correct number of spaces between letters, words and sentences. Use end punctuation marks correctly. Use commas in a series of words

4th Grade Use simple, compound and complex sentences. Use commas, end marks, apostrophes and quotation marks correctly. Produce informal writings such as messages, journals or notes

5th Grade Vary simple, compound and complex sentences. Proofread writing and edit it for grammar and spelling Produce informal writings such as messages, journals or notes. Use commas, end marks, apostrophes and quotation marks correctly.

6th Grade Prepare publications for writing that follow a format appropriate to the purpose (e.g., for display or sharing with others). Use techniques such as electronic resources and graphics to enhance the final product (e.g., storyboard, collage, poster, photographs, illustrations, charts, graphs, diagrams). Use semicolons (;), colons (:), hyphens (-), dashes () and brackets ( [ ] ).

7th Grade Use commas, end marks, apostrophes, quotation marks, semicolons, colons, hyphens, dashes and brackets correctly. Produce informal writings (e.g., journals, notes, poems). Proofread and edit writing to improve grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization, and correct fragment and run-on sentences.

8th Grade Use correct spelling, punctuation and capitalization.