Online Interactive Handwriting Program Makes Its Debut

Timocco in Collaboration with CEW Launches an Online Interactive Handwriting Program

Timocco's CEO, Eran Arden, announced a collaboration with Connect Experience Write and is launching an online interactive handwriting program to debut at the upcoming AOTA conference in Chicago. Timocco provides a motion-detecting gaming environment that helps support the development of motor, cognitive, and communication skills in children with disabilities, as well as neurotypical children. CEW-Online, developed together with occupational therapists Michele Parkins and Carrie Davis, teaches letter formation developmentally, first through larger, gross motor movement then through smaller, fine motor movement and pencil-to-paper writing. Each letter is accompanied by musical tones that provide children with an additional cue that helps them to understand the movements that are used to create letters.  The program begins with whole body songs that help children to learn the spatial concepts needed for writing (top, bottom, left, right). To bring these spatial concepts to life, children can either sing and dance to a video or play a game to catchy, upbeat music created by Grammy-nominated children’s singer/ songwriter Brady Rymer.

“Timocco’s motion-gaming platform is a wonderful match for Connect Experience Write (CEW)®. Movement is at the core of our program and when children are playing CEW-Online, they are using more of their bodies to create letters than if they were only writing on a device or writing on paper. Children also benefit from additional sensory cues to support learning,  and when using CEW-Online their movements are paired with both the visual feedback from the computer screen as they move, as well as the musical tones that provide feedback on the spatial orientation of the letter’s parts."

CEW-Online begins on a computer screen and incorporates movement, music and sound. Once a child masters the movements required to successfully write a particular letter, the teacher or therapist continues the skill building through a printed worksheet. Letters are introduced using a developmental sequence, with easiest letters introduced first. The program also offers the flexibility to write spelling words or a child's name. Cathy Kelly, a Preschool Intervention Specialist with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, shared her experience. "I have a student in my class whose first name begins with the letter "S"  and no matter what I tried she continued to print the"S" backwards", Cathy said. "We have been using CEW with her and working on the "S"  and today when she wrote her name the "S" was correct and the rest of her letter formation is also better.” 
 
Timocco and CEW-Online's progress tracking module enables teachers and therapists to view results work while using the program. Reports can be printed and images of complete writing templates can be uploaded. CEW-Online is also a great way to ensure home carryover, as parents can easily use this program with their children. CEW-Online makes it is easy to keep track of progress and celebrate the child's continued success. 

To learn more about CEW-Online, visit www.cewhandwriting.com

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