From Scribbles to Script

Graphomotor Skills’ Impact on Spelling in Early Primary School

Bibliographic Data

ID15713019
AuthorsMichelle N Maurer (0000-0003-4014-8619, University of Oslo, corresponding author), Lidia Truxius (0000-0002-0014-8422, Pädagogische Hochschule Bern), Judith Sägesser Wyss (0009-0002-6732-7916, Pädagogische Hochschule Bern), Michael Eckhart (Pädagogische Hochschule Bern)
Year2023
Volume10
Issue12
Pages1886-1886
Publication date2023-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChildren (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2227-9067 • E-ISSN: 2227-9067
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/children10121886
PMID38136088
OpenAlexW4389221266
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited11

The acquisition of handwriting skills is a crucial goal in early primary school. Yet our comprehension of handwriting development, encompassing graphomotor skills and spelling, remains fragmented. The identification of predictors for handwriting skills is essential for providing early support. This longitudinal study aimed to explore the predictive roles of gender, working memory, and motivation to handwrite for graphomotor skills six months later and spelling skills one year later. Paper-and-pencil tasks (graphomotor skills, spelling), a tablet task (working memory), and a questionnaire (teachers' ratings of children's handwriting motivation) were employed. This study included 363 first-grade children (49.8% girls) aged 6-9 years. Results from a structural equation model, controlling for age and socioeconomic background, revealed that girls exhibited superior performance in graphomotor skills, while boys tended to spell more accurately. Furthermore, working memory predicted graphomotor skills but not spelling. Additionally, motivation to handwrite predicted both first-grade graphomotor skills and second-grade spelling. This study extends contemporary evidence, demonstrating that graphomotor skills predict spelling while considering gender and motivation. The findings underscore the pivotal role of graphomotor skills in spelling acquisition and suggest their contribution to spelling difficulties

Developmental psychology · Linguistics · Mathematics education · Spelling · Education and Technology Integration · Philosophy · Psychology · Reading and Literacy Development · Writing and Handwriting Education

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