Helpful Hints for Cutting

    • Hold scissors and paper with a thumbs up position.
      • thumb goes in the little hole
      • helper hand holds the paper 

     

    • Right handed children should cut in a counterclockwise motion. 

     

    •  Left handed children should cut in a clockwise motion. 

     

    • Encourage children to rotate paper while cutting rather than holding shoulders and elbows in the air. 

     

    • Encourage children to cut on the line.  You can pretend that the scissors have a mouth and they are eating the line.  You can also pretend that the scissors are a car and they are driving on the road. 

     

    • Encourage children not to close their scissors all the way when cutting.  If they are left partially open, the line is smoother. 

     

    • Encourage children to cut past the end of the line.  This promotes a sharp corner and helps with knowing when to rotate the paper. 

     

    • Encourage students to stay organized.  Have them place the scraps on the left side and the good pieces on the right.  Making a placement or taping two squares on a tabletop may also be helpful for paper placement.