Lesson COG 48
Task: Write cursive letters.
Prerequisites: COG 47
Concept: This task is an extension of the student's ability to write his or her own name in a cursive style (see the prerequisite). Beyond just letter writing, the fine-motor ability to form letters can become a useful skill for future tasks involving fine-motor skills. As with the prerequisite task, memory enhancement can also be a useful by-product because the terminal objective does not use any visual cues.
Behavioral Objective: When requested to "please write the letters of the alphabet in cursive," the student will write each letter of the alphabet, without visual cues, such that each is 90% legible for 20 trials.
Materials: Flash cards with examples of each cursive letter, paper, and markers of various sizes.
Task Analysis:
1. Review with the student the concept of writing his or her own name in a cursive style (sec prerequisite COG 47).
2. Place the flash cards of each cursive letter above a piece of paper. Focus on the letters of the student's name and have him or her copy those letters below the samples given.
3. Continue Step 2, adding letters not previously done and providing physical guidance as needed for all remaining letters.
4. Continue Step 3, reducing physical guidance until only verbal requests for specific letters are needed.
5. Continue Step 4, removing only the flash card samples that are contained in the student's name.
6. Continue Step 5, gradually removing the remaining flash card samples until none are left. Using the verbal prompt of "please write the letters of the alphabet in cursive," continue until the objective is met.