We teach skills by using task analysis to break skills down into their small subskills so that children can learn a small part of a skill with confidence and enjoyment before moving on to learn another part of the skill. For example: handwriting legibility is a skill which is made up of a number of subskills including matching sound to written symbol, letter formation, word spacing, letter alignment, letter sizing and letter shape. For children who are experiencing a difficulty with learning we work on one subskill at a time - each subskill with its own set of strategies. Task analysis is important so that children do not get overwhelmed by difficult skills. Task analysis can be applied to lots of different skills - tying shoelaces, catching a ball, concentration, even making friends.
