Lesson footage
Tackling transcription using sentence dictation (opens in a new tab)
Research Schools Network · UK
Year 1 children practise transcription through sentence dictation.
FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk
Literacy
Handwriting and transcription
Why fluent handwriting and automatic spelling free a writer's attention for composing, and how to build them, including keyboarding. I've gathered webinars, videos and reading on handwriting, sentence dictation and keyboarding, and on supporting students with dysgraphia.
Practices in this area:Letter formationHandwriting fluencyDictationKeyboardingSupport for dysgraphia
Watch 2
Lesson footage
Developing fluent transcription skills (opens in a new tab)
Research Schools Network · UK
Building accurate letter formation as the base for fluent handwriting.
FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk
Learn 8
Explainer
What is dysgraphia in kids? (opens in a new tab)
Understood · 2:28 · USA
A two-minute explainer from Understood on what dysgraphia is in children. A simple starting point for staff and families.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Webinar
Dyslexia and dysgraphia webinar (opens in a new tab)
Lyn Stone · About 1 hour · Australia
A webinar from Australian linguist Lyn Stone, made for parents who want to know more about dyslexia and dysgraphia. Clear enough for teachers too, and one to pass on to families.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Webinar
Robyn Bartram: The handwriting expert (opens in a new tab)
Learning Difficulties Australia, with Robyn Bartram · About 1 hour · Australia
Robyn Bartram presents on handwriting for Learning Difficulties Australia. One for junior teams reviewing how handwriting is taught and supported.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Webinar
Steve Graham: An overview of effective K to 12 writing instruction, from handwriting to writing genres (opens in a new tab)
The Reading League Vermont, with Steve Graham · About 1 hour · USA
Writing researcher Steve Graham gives The Reading League Vermont an overview of effective writing teaching, from handwriting through to genres.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Webinar
Evidence-based handwriting instruction and assessment webinar (opens in a new tab)
Iowa Reading Research Center · About 1 hour · USA
An Iowa Reading Research Center webinar on teaching and assessing handwriting using evidence. Helpful for schools without an agreed way to check handwriting fluency.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Interview
Why is teaching handwriting so difficult and what can we do about it? (opens in a new tab)
Thinking Deeply about Primary Education · About 50 minutes · UK
An episode of the UK podcast Thinking Deeply about Primary Education on why handwriting is hard to teach well and what teachers can do about it. This is the video recording of the episode.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Talk
Developmental coordination disorder: Professor Amanda Kirby (opens in a new tab)
Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, with Amanda Kirby · About 35 minutes · UK
Professor Amanda Kirby speaks for the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health about developmental coordination disorder, which often shows up at school in handwriting and organisation. Made for clinicians, so heavier going than the short video in this strand.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Explainer
Is handwriting actually important for writing? (opens in a new tab)
Reading Universe, with Joan Sedita · About 2 minutes · USA
Joan Sedita explains in two minutes why effortful handwriting takes energy away from composing, and why handwriting letters while learning their sounds helps young students.
FreeOpens at readinguniverse.org
Listen 1
Handwriting
In conversation about handwriting (opens in a new tab)
NSW Department of Education · with Shannan Salvestro and Vanessa Hewitt
Two members of the NSW Department of Education's literacy team discuss why handwriting matters so much and how to teach it effectively. About 23 minutes, with a transcript.
FreeOpens at education.nsw.gov.au
Read 6
What is dysgraphia? (opens in a new tab)
Understood · Guides and explainers · USA
Understood's article describes dysgraphia as a writing challenge that affects skills such as handwriting, typing and spelling, and explains how it can affect learning.
FreeOpens at understood.org
Want to Improve Children's Writing? Don't Neglect Their Handwriting (opens in a new tab)
Steve Graham, American Educator · Article · USA
Steve Graham explains why handwriting places the earliest limits on young writers, and how teaching it well improves the amount and quality of what children write, not only its legibility.
FreeOpens at aft.org
Our research shows children produce better pieces of writing by hand. But they need keyboard skills too (opens in a new tab)
Anabela Malpique, Deborah Pino Pasternak and Susan Ledger, The Conversation · Article · 2024 · Australia
Researchers report that Year 2 students in Perth wrote longer, better stories by hand than on a laptop, and explain why handwriting and typing both need to be taught.
FreeOpens at theconversation.com
Handwriting and letter formation: Skill explainer (opens in a new tab)
Marion McBride, Reading Universe · Guide · USA
A two-part guide to why handwriting is taught and how to teach letter formation explicitly, with the words to say while modelling each lower-case letter.
FreeOpens at readinguniverse.org
Handwriting is thinking (opens in a new tab)
Jamie Clark (DistillED) · Newsletter article · 2026 · Australia
Looks at the evidence on handwriting versus typing and argues the slowness of handwriting can aid learning, with guidance on deciding which to use.
FreeOpens at newsletter.jamieleeclark.com
Research highlights: Handwriting, literacy and the limits of the evidence (opens in a new tab)
James Lyra, First OT · Research summary · 3 pages · 2026 · Australia
A three-page summary by occupational therapist James Lyra of why handwriting matters for reading and writing, what works in teaching it, and where the evidence runs out. A great one to share with a team.
FreeOpens at firstot.com.au
Research 4
Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers (opens in a new tab)
What Works Clearinghouse · Practice guide · USA
A What Works Clearinghouse practice guide with four recommendations for improving primary students' writing, each with steps for putting it in place and answers to common obstacles.
FreeOpens at ies.ed.gov
Research Brief 1: The benefits and links between handwriting instruction and literacy and learning (opens in a new tab)
James Lyra, First OT · Research brief · 7 pages · Australia
How automatic letter formation frees up working memory for composing, and what the research says about the links between handwriting, spelling and reading.
FreeOpens at firstot.com.au
Research Brief 2: Evidence-based handwriting practices for teachers and occupational therapists (opens in a new tab)
James Lyra, First OT · Research brief · 4 pages · Australia
Practical recommendations from the research, including regular explicit practice, linking letter formation to sounds in phonics lessons, and why isolated fine-motor exercises on their own do not improve handwriting.
FreeOpens at firstot.com.au
Research Brief 3: Where the research is limited, evidence gaps and clinical reasoning (opens in a new tab)
James Lyra, First OT · Research brief · 9 pages · Australia
An honest look at what the research does not yet tell us, such as which lined paper, font or formation scripts to use, and how to reason through those decisions.
FreeOpens at firstot.com.au