I recently was doing an evaluation, and the student was just snipping at the paper as fast and furiously as she could. When I tried to help her position the paper or the scissors better, she just pushed me away and kept snipping. She gave no attempt to follow the lines that she was supposed to be cutting. I decided to try to slow her down by making it harder for her to snip.
I took what was left of her project and pasted it onto a file folder, and emphasized the project lines with black marker. She was still trying to snip, but the folder material slowed her down enough for me to be able to help her with her positioning, and I was able to get her to show me the lines that she was going to be cutting. We had some success with cutting on, or near, the lines, and she had a project to show from it, rather than just paper shreds.
To slow down and emphasize cutting on lines, use thick folder paper. It could also be useful to strengthen the muscles used to cut with.
Materials:
- scissors
- file folders or similar tag board
- marker
Skills:
- scissor cutting
- fine motor
- bimanual
- visual perception
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One of the cutting ideas that I love to use (heard at a conference) when I have students who are first learning to cut is to tape paper to the table and sit on the floor with the student. Granted, you can only cut up, however the positioning practically forces the student to hold the paper with one hand and cut with the other while keeping the elbow in.
Great idea. Thanks
I found a great trick! Wrap an elastic band (over and over again) under one of the handles and as close to the cutting edge as possible. This provides resistance and extra feedback.
Hi Barbara’ could you explain your trick with more details? thank you
Using “Fun Foam”, spongy type craft paper is a nice paper that slows kids down but does not require as much force or strength to close scissors for cutting. Heavier than paper but not as hard as index, folder, or card stock.
I also like to have kids that use cereal boxes to practice cutting with and also cutting through playdoh 🙂 nice tips in this article!