Helpful Hints for Cutting
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- 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.