Problems with graphomotorics at the beginning and the end of primary education

Abstract

The study monitors two phenomena of graphomotor problems among children at the beginning and the end of primary education. The study has a character of piloting. A series of seven graphomotor tasks were submited to preschoolers (n = 51) and in the ninth grade (n = 22). For each task, tremor and number of hand move interruptions were considered as indicators of graphomotor difficulties. The results showed that the tremor was detected at 33.3% to 78.4% of preschoolers and at 18.2% to 59.1% of ninth grade pupils. In both groups, the tremor was the least prevalent in the ‘teeth’ task and the most frequent in the ‘double upper-lower loop’ task. The prevalence of tremor in the solution of graphomotor problems decreases with age, the difference is statistically insignificant. Contrary to the expectations, more interruptions were found at nineth grade pupils. Based on the study results, we recommend to note in the instruction that the templates are ‘straight lines’.
 Keywords: Graphomotor skills, graphomotor difficulties, tremor, number of interrupsions, preschool children, adolescents, pilot study.
 

A Content Analysis Study for Instructional Technology Themed TUBITAK Projects

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