Fine Motor Webinar

As a primary French Immersion Teacher, I more interested in the webinar on Fine Motor Skills verses the Math Webinar.  I see such a varying degree of skills entering primary that  if I could discover some OT recommended tricks and Apps, that would be great. I'm not looking forward to 29  4 and 5 year olds in just 6 weeks. Last year I attended a Handwriting Without Tears presentation and learned about pencil grip and their program. I recommend that lower elementary teachers check it out. I was also saddened that the workbooks and songs are available in English and Spanish. I spent some time over the summer translating some parts of the workbook into French for my students. I started my September focusing on fine motor coordination. I think many of my students benefited form the 15 minute lessons over the course of the month. In May, I could see the varying degree of control when students visited for orientation.

I was aware that fine motor skills are precise coordinated movements using joints and muscles of the body to manipulate pencils, crayons etc., I thought it had more to do with the arms down to the finger tips, I didn't realize before this webinar was how much of the rest of the body is involved. I was recently working on my task analysis and thought that this was yet another one we could. It could prove to be much more complicated than blowing your nose. Fine motor skills do not just involve using the muscles in your hand and arm; it involves shoulder muscles and having good trunk control, from the inside out. As I was watching I was thinking of Spencer and her fine motor development.

OT Referrals do go through our SPT, and as a member of this team I do hear of the referrals being made. Interestingly enough, there doesn't seem to be high hopes of ever seeing an OT visit our building. I wonder how many are in our board and how many schools are under each umbrella. i know our Health Nurse visits only a few times a year, on an as needed basis. 

 Here are a few I can see using in my classroom(if I had a class iPad):

Dexteria ($4.99 - Universal app)

Designed in consultation with OTs, this App provides therapeutic hand exercises for students, including dexterity, finger sequencing and individual finger isolation, and control. Tap it, pinch it, write it. I was pleased to note that it supported the Handwriting Without Tears program.  Using a stylus makes it more motivating.

Juno's Piano ($0.99 - iPad only)

A virtual piano app, it allows students to practice finger control through music. Easy to use. Bilateral hand development. Teaches child to play control finger isolation. Could be cheaper than starting Emma @ The Maritime Conservatory of Music this fall

ShapeBuilder ($0.99 - Universal app)

This app includes 146 different puzzles, where children must drag the pieces into the correct position. Gain strength, visual motor, control, learning letters, fruits and many other themes.The placement is quite precise, requiring steady placement and thus promoting fine motor development.

Cars 2 AppMates (Free, although you are required to purchase of physical toys to use with app available @ Amazon, iPad only)

Students will love this!This is a highly engaging App linked to Disney's "Cars" characters. The App does the user to  purchased special cars toys separately in order to play. These miniature "Cars" cars are placed on the iPad screen and are used to play on the screen. The fine motor link is the physical manipulation and grasp of the cars themselves, especially through the three-finger grasp.