Poster Session
AOTA Conference
Salt Lake City, April 2018
The HAMS™ Handwriting Accuracy Monitoring System is a comprehensive system that contains six components which work
seamlessly together to help you achieve amazing improvements in the accuracy of students’ handwriting no matter which writing
program/style is used. The HAMS™ provides accuracy percentages in the areas of capitalization, spacing, alignment, and formation
allowing consistent monitoring of progress toward handwriting goals. This is an interim data collection tool – not intended to
replace normed handwriting assessments.
The HAMS™ is designed to quickly assess and retrieve usable data from any handwriting sample consisting of at least two sentences. It
differs from a traditional assessment in its ability to be used for progress monitoring on a regular basis. Single words and/or sentences are
also able to be scored for capitalization, spacing, alignment, and formation - but an overall accuracy score would not be calculated for
samples not containing at least two (2) sentences.
The components of the HAMS™ Handwriting Accuracy Monitoring System include the following:
HAMS™ Rubric
Legi-Rule (2 are included with purchase)
Legi-Label (self-printed as needed from master copy in the user manual)
HAMS™ Handwriting Calculator™* link for online use
HAMS™ Rubric Recording Form
Legi-Cue™ Reminder Labels (self-printed as needed from master copy in the user manual)
The HAMS™ utilizes the Legi-Rule™ to bring consistency and ease to the scoring of alignment - with guidelines specific to papers with
different line heights.
The system incorporates the use of the Legi-Label™, a scoring sticker that is applied to the sample. Once the count for total possible
numbers and errors are entered onto the label, percentage correct for each section along with the Overall Accuracy score is calculated
using the HAMS™ Handwriting Calculator. Totals obtained from the calculator screen are then transferred to the Legi-Label™ or directly
to the HAMS™ Rubric Recording Form.
The HAMS™ Handwriting Calculator also allows one to obtain rate of a writing sample without time-consuming manual calculation.
Enter time in minutes and seconds then enter number of letters and/or actual words written to instantly obtain writing rate. Typing
speed can be measured with the use of the calculator as well. The AMS™ Handwriting Calculator is availble online using login provided with purchase.
The HAMS™ Rubric Recording Form is a convenient way to monitor progress and guide instruction. At a glance one can have objective
data on every writing sample and can use the information to note trends like never before possible. For example, one can easily identify
trends present when comparing the difference between copied versus self-generated work, the alignment percentage achieved on a
variety of paper types, or the spacing of a sample when copying from the board versus copying from a book.
Legi-Cue™ Reminder Labels are an important link to teacher and student support within the classroom. They are adhesive stickers that
have been designed to provide visual support to address14 common needs. The labels are conveniently printed onto standard address
labels then used to reinforce concepts on a daily basis.
Students of all ages can, and should, be taught to assist with the scoring of their work. Children as young as first grade can become quite
accurate at recognizing errors and this involvement, in turn, improves their performance by increasing their knowledge of the
components necessary for legible handwriting.
The HAMS™ Handwriting Accuracy Monitoring System - a comprehensive approach to improving handwriting - it’s simple.
Log
In provided
with purchase