Alternative Pencils for Literacy
Helping Every Child Become a Writer
45 Minute On-Demand Professional Development Course Created by a school-based COTA with 28+ years of classroom experience
Practical Strategies You Can Use Tomorrow
45 Minute Self-Paced Course
Lifetime Replay Access
Downloadable Resources Included
Watch Anytime, Anywhere
Alternative Pencils for Literacy
Is This Course Right for You?
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Classroom Teachers
- Special Education Teachers
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Reading Specialists
- Interventionists
- Homeschool Families
If you've ever had a student with wonderful ideas but difficulty getting those ideas onto paper, this course is for you.
Course Overview
- Remove barriers to writing while continuing handwriting instruction
- Use low-tech and high-tech alternative pencils
- Increase participation for struggling writers
- Support autistic students, AAC users, and neurodivergent learners
- Teach students to choose the writing tool that best matches the task
- Write neurodiversity-affirming IEP goals focused on generating text
- Use ideas you can implement tomorrow
- 45 minute on-demand course
- Alternative Pencil Infographics
- Neurodiversity-Affirming IEP Goals
- Printable Planning Guide
- Classroom Setup Ideas
- Real student examples
- Lifetime access
- Why Writing Is More Than a Pencil
- Low-Tech Alternative Pencils
- Magnet Letters, Address Labels & Dot Stickers
- Book Creator & Word Wizard
- Label Makers as Alternative Pencils
- Choosing the Right Tool
- Occupational Therapy in the Classroom
The Real Student Behind This Course
One of the most meaningful moments of my career happened during an occupational therapy session with a non-speaking autistic kindergarten student.
Using nothing more than alphabet letters, he recreated an entire sentence he had read from a sign hanging in our school hallway.
His spelling was perfect.
His spacing was perfect.
Only two words were out of order.
That moment reminded everyone working with him—including his classroom team and our principal—that the pencil wasn’t the problem.
He simply needed another way to show us what he already knew.
That experience, along with many others over my 28 years in public schools, inspired this course.
"Our goal isn't just to teach students how to use a pencil. Our goal is to help every child become a writer."
Ready to get started?
Meet Your Instructor
Hi! I’m Cindy, COTA/L, founder of CreativeCOTA LLC.
For over 28 years, I’ve worked as a school-based Occupational Therapy Assistant, collaborating with teachers, speech-language pathologists, and special educators through a push-in service model.
Everything in this course comes from real classrooms, real therapy sessions, and real students.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the course?
Approximately 45 minutes.
Is it live?
No. Watch anytime at your own pace.
How long will I have access?
Lifetime access.
Do I receive downloads?
Yes! You’ll receive planning guides, infographics, and neurodiversity-affirming IEP goals.
Does this replace handwriting instruction?
No. Alternative pencils expand access to literacy while continuing to support handwriting development.
Ready to Help More Students Become Writers?
- Lifetime Access
- Downloadable Resources
- Bonus Follow-Up Emails
- Practical Strategies You Can Use Tomorrow
