I found this activity to be the fastest way to improve student’s handwriting. The student’s usually find it pretty funny.
After I give this lesson I do a directive drawing lesson, such as the Grinch. I have the students write three sentences about the picture or they copy from the board and practice staying in the lines because we want happy letters. 2nd grade and up I like wide ruled paper without the middle line. If a student is having difficulty I write a starter letter or word and tell the student to make his letters no bigger than mine.
I have used this activity that I got from the Stone Institute of Psychiatry during my Level II fieldwork. I modified it but I can get a lot of information such as: sitting posture, attention, following verbal or written directions, sequencing, pencil grip, coloring skills, task initiation/completion, writing quality, scissor skills etc.
DrawOT 