Review the proper way to hold a pen or pencil. Teach students to grasp the utensil by the tips of the thumb and forefinger and rest it on the side of the middle finger. Allow them to grasp the utensil with the tips of the thumb, forefinger and middle finger, allowing it to rest on the side of the ring finger, if that is more comfortable for them.
Practice moving the pen or pencil about in the air while properly and comfortably grasping it. Have students move the utensil up and down and from left to right.
Instruct the students to practice drawing squiggly lines and loops across a piece of lined paper. Have them move the writing utensil in a left-to-right progression.
Provide the student with stencils to trace. Have the students feel how graphic images, such as letters and numbers, should be formed.
Offer the student handwriting worksheets. Print out free handwriting worksheets or create your own by writing numbers, letters and words using dotted lines along a piece of lined paper. Instruct the student to trace the graphic symbols using a pen or pencil.
Encourage the students to write as often as possible. Offer daily writing assignments that allow them to utilize handwriting and hone the skill.