ONLINE COURSE:
Creative Evidence-Based Pre-Writing Strategies
Building Foundational Skills for Writing Through Movement, Motivation, and a Stage-Based Body-Up Approach That Inspires Children’s Internal Drive, Social Collaboration, and Confident Written Expression
This course is offered for AOTA CEUs.
Course Level: Intermediate
There are no prerequisites for this course.
AOTA Area: Foundational Knowledge
Why do so many children struggle with writing?
It’s not because they don’t have ideas.
It’s because the process feels overwhelming before they even begin.
They freeze at the blank page, compare their work to others, and quickly lose confidence.
Teachers see disengagement
Parents see frustration, avoidance, and even meltdowns
Research confirms it.
Without structured prewriting strategies, students produce shorter, lower-quality writing
and experience more anxiety.
It doesn't have to be this way..
With evidence-based prewriting strategies, students can unlock ideas, build confidence, and experience writing as a meaningful, achievable, and even enjoyable process.
Course Description
Why Pre-Writing Is the Most Overlooked — Yet Most Powerful Part of Learning to Write
Pre-writing is often narrowly defined as creating a simple mind map or drafting something roughly before a final version. This course challenges that limited view by redefining writing as a comprehensive process made up of many stages—each equally important to the child’s development, motivation, and eventual success. Writing is not just the final product on a page or screen. It is built step by step, drawing on neurological development, emotions, motivation, and social interaction.
A Body-Up Approach: How Movement and Collaboration Spark Writing Success
This course introduces a stage-based body-up approach that emphasizes movement, collaboration, and children’s natural curiosity. Participants will explore how to support children’s motivation, excitement, and internal drive to write, even when they may be reluctant at first. By building strategies that foster volition, confidence, and desire, this approach helps children discover that writing is meaningful and achievable.
Strong Writers Are Built on Strong Foundations: Sensory, Motor, Cognitive, and Social.
Highlights how sensory, motor, cognitive, and social foundations are essential not only to readiness but also to the willingness to write. It integrates big-body brainstorming, social collaboration, and discussion-based strategies to make writing an active, engaging, and shared process.
What’s Included in the Course
Creative Evidence-Based Pre-Writing Strategies
Unlimited access of 3 self-paced pre-recorded videos total of
2 hours, 2 minutes
10 downloadable activity
instruction worksheets,
2 printable posters & cards
1 Practical stage-based workbook
Certificate of Completion & AOTA CEUs
from an AOTA Approved Provider
(applicable for professional edition only)
Pricing
Parent/Educator Edition
$87
Perfect for parents, homeschool educators, and classroom teachers who want practical, evidence-based tools to help children succeed in writing.
Full access to the course
Practical stage-based workbook for children and adults
Immediate, lifetime access to course materials
Certificate of Completion (non-CEU)
Professional Edition
$187
Designed for occupational therapists, special educators, and other professionals who need advanced training and formal CEU credit.
Full access to the course
Practical stage-based workbook for both professional use and direct application with children
Immediate, lifetime access to course materials
Certificate of Completion
Approved for AOTA CEUs
This course is for...
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Parents
Educators (general education, special education, early childhood, and homeschooling)
Other professionals supporting children’s writing development
Key Features
Evidence-based strategies grounded in child development and occupational therapy practice.
Stage-based model of writing development with seven clear steps.
Practical workbook for both professionals and children, with structured activities for every stage.
Focus on motivation, emotions, volition, and neurological development as key drivers of writing success.
Hands-on strategies integrating movement, collaboration, and discussion.
Applicable in school, clinic, home, and group learning settings.
Approved for AOTA CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
The Seven Stages of Creative
Pre-writing Strategies
Course Objectives
Identify and classify examples of student writing into the seven stages of writing development
Describe how to implement at least two body-up, big-body brainstorming strategies in a written reflection or case application.
Select and apply a minimum of three evidence-based strategies that integrate sensory, motor, cognitive, and social foundations for writing, demonstrated through a case study analysis.
Design a written stage-based intervention plan for a provided case scenario that includes at least two strategies to promote readiness and willingness to write.
Evaluate a child’s motivation, emotions, and volition in response to a case vignette, and recommend at least two strategies that strengthen intrinsic motivation for writing.
Create an individualized, developmentally appropriate intervention plan that integrates technology toolsacross three or more stages of writing readiness, submitted as a written plan or digital file.
Help children move from “I can’t write” to “I love writing.”
This evidence-based approach is ready for you to use right away.
Enroll today and start seeing results with your students tomorrow.
Instructor
Bridgette Nicholson
Occupational Therapist / Assistive Technology Consultant / Certified Autism Spectrum Clinical Specialist (ASCS)
ADHD-Certified Educator (ADHD-CE)
- Occupational Therapist with 38 years of experience
- Assistive Technology Consultant
- Certified Autism Spectrum Specialist
- Founder of New Leader Academy School in Streamwood
- National presenter and consultant on child development, executive functioning, and assistive technology
- AOTA Approved Provider
Financial Disclosure:
Bridgette Nicholson is the owner of BridgetteNicholson.com and will receive financial compensation for presenting this course. She has no other relevant financial relationships with any product, instrument, device, service, or material discussed in this course.
Non-Financial Disclosure:
Bridgette Nicholson has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose
ADA:
Please contact us at [email protected] for special needs requests
Instructor
Bridgette Nicholson
Occupational Therapist
Assistive Technology Consultant
Certified Autism Spectrum Clinical Specialist (ASCS)
ADHD-Certified Educator (ADHD-CE)
Email: [email protected]
Website: bridgettenicholson.com
Occupational Therapist with 38 years of experience
Assistive Technology Consultant
Certified Autism Spectrum Specialist
Founder of New Leader Academy School in Streamwood
National presenter and consultant on child development, executive functioning, and assistive technology
Bridgette Nicholson is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. PD activity approval ID# 0000014535. This Distance Learning – Independent activity is offered at __CEUs (Intermediate level, Foundational Knowledge category). The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
Financial Disclosure:
Bridgette Nicholson is the owner of BridgetteNicholson.com and will receive financial compensation for presenting this course. She has no other relevant financial relationships with any product, instrument, device, service, or material discussed in this course.
Non-Financial Disclosure:
Bridgette Nicholson has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose
ADA:
Please contact us at [email protected] for special needs requests
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have access?
Your access is indefinite—it never expires. You can log in anytime at BridgetteNicholson.com to revisit lessons, videos, and PDFs.
What’s included with my enrollment?
Online modules with videos, written summaries, and slideshows
Downloadable information and activity instructions
Practical stage-based workbook you can use with students provided as part of the course
Do I earn CEUs/Continuing Education credits with this course?
Yes. This course is offered by an AOTA Approved Provider of continuing education. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate that includes CEU details for professional reporting.
How many CEUs is this course worth?
AOTA defines 1.0 CEU as 10 hours of instruction. This course provides [insert exact hours/CEU equivalent], which will appear on your certificate of completion.
How do I earn CEU credit for this course?
To receive CEU credit, you must:
Complete all online modules.
Pass the post-course knowledge check (typically 80% or higher).
After meeting these requirements, your certificate will be sent to your email.
What are the benefits of taking up this course?
Redefine pre-writing as a comprehensive, stage-based process.
Learn how to integrate body-up, movement-based strategies to build writing skills.
Support children’s internal motivation and desire to write.
Strengthen readiness and willingness by addressing neurological, sensory, motor, cognitive, and social foundations.
Gain access to a practical workbook that guides children through each stage of writing.
Earn AOTA CEUs while learning strategies that are evidence-based and easy to implement.
What if I’m not an occupational therapist — can I still benefit?
Absolutely! While the course is designed for OTs and OTAs, educators, parents, and other professionals will find the strategies practical, evidence-based, and easy to apply with children.
What is your cancellation / refund policy for the course?
We want you to be satisfied with your course purchase. If you are not happy with the course for any reason, you may request a full refund within 7 days of your purchase if less than 25% of the course has been completed. Provider reserves the right to cancel access in the event of technical or compliance issues, with full refund.
To request a refund, please send an email to [email protected] with your purchase details. Once your refund is processed, your access to the course will be revoked. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us thru email or our website chat widget. Review our terms and conditions here.
