Handwriting

[waverly]

auntie gave me the idea for Handwriting without tears, and we've been working on it all year. DS is in 2nd grade, and it looks like the 3rd grade one is aimed at cursive, which I don't want to start yet (and don't know when the school starts it).


Any handwriting and additionally writing/ writing process resources for us to use once we are done with the book, and to stop the summer slide?  

[freezorburn]

We are struggling with this too, but I'm torn on how much to push. DS is in first grade, and it seems like if there is one subject area he could use improvement on, it's writing. His handwriting is in the middle of the pack based on what I've seen of samples of his classmates' work. But he apparently struggles when getting started on writing assignments. His teacher is going to try to adjust the scope of how she gives assignments to see if that will help. As far as writing content ... I wonder if it's just a lot to push at his age. I don't remember doing much writing early on in grade school, other than spelling quizzes in second grade and after. When I was 8 I got a pen pal and that's probably when I developed my own motivation to write letters and keep journals.

We have a cursive workbook that we probably picked up from a local toy store. We've been working through it as time allows. We don't expect it to be taught in school but DS has been curious since he sees lots of adults writing this way. Why not?

When DS was with his dad and grandparents for a month over last summer, they had him keep a journal. It was super-simple. They taped in tickets from their activities that day, maybe noted the weather or a favorite moment. Plenty of pages left, and he didn't continue writing in it when he got home, so I suggested to DS's dad that it just be his summer journal.

There are a couple of kids' writing journals/creative activity books that I've picked up along the way, that DS may just not be ready for. I'll find links this weekend and post them.

[waverly]

Thanks- that would be great.

I was trying to get the school to step it up in first grade with OT which was denied or they could have done something curriculum based with the teacher. But first grade teacher didn’t want to do anything. Fast forward to second grade and surprise surprise it’s a problem. The second grade teacher is actually trying a whole lot harder which is nice. So I guess my only input is to try to stay on top of it to keep him close to grade level. It’s only going to be more writing in 3rd.

I do think our writing at our schools is about what I did as a kid. It doesn’t seem super excessive. Everything here is maybe pushed down a year. So writing what I might have done in 3rd is probably what they are doing in second.

[pipsqueak]

Are you wanting to work on penmanship or writing as a process of stringing words together to make sentences and paragraphs.

If only penmanship, then one idea is to have your son copy sections from his favorite stories on to blank paper.

I would say you could look up other handwriting curriculums - there are many to choose from - but I'd be concerned about consistency of letter formation across different curriculums.

Another idea to keep working on hand strength and pencil control skills would be to work on mazes and drawing. This idea has the benefit of appearing more like fun than work for your son over school breaks.

Check in with his current teacher, she may have some ideas for working on the skills over summer too.

[waverly]

We are working on both. Apparently when he was learning how to write he never learned how to properly form the letters. So I've had to teach him all of that again. I am not sure what happened originally because it was his pre-school and regular school. I think they just never taught him, is my guess.

He also has always hated writing because it was hard and he was lacking strength in pretty much all his body, but also including his hands so he really couldn't write very well. Because of this resistance he tries to be lazy and not put the work into regular writing assignments. For example, he is supposed to write 5 sentences but he only writes one sentence. He can write more, but doesn't want to, and we (the teacher and I) have to be right on top of him to get him to write more.

We might end up back at private OT. But I was holding off because we did OT and PT for 10 months last year, and back burnered a lot of my medical problems. So then this year I finally go to those and did PT and dentist for my medical issues. So going back to OT hasn't been super high on the list because I have to leave work early and pull him from school 20 minutes early etc.  And his strength is a lot better.  

We are doing another IEP meeting before he moves to his new school for 3rd grade, so I did ask the OT and teacher for suggestions for the summer as well.  But in 1st grade both were super unhelpful.  Like I said this year the 2nd grade teacher is better. 

ETA- she doesn't think they teach cursive in their district, so I have more time to work on printing.  I wonder if cursive would ultimately serve him better in terms of writing speed, but I feel like maybe he should master one before moving on to another one, so he doesn't confuse how to make the letters from one to the other.  Since he is still learning how to make the letters.  

[freezorburn]

Here are the two that I mentioned --- they have a variety of books for different age/skill levels. I'm hoping DS will take an interest in one of these in the next year or so.

www.myubam.com/p/5065/my-first-story-writing-book-ir

www.myubam.com/p/6861/make-your-own-comics-ir

[waverly]

freezorburn , thanks, buying them now!


Oh and she checked and they do teach cursive, so I will likely get that book, but I will wait until fall for that so we can practice printing and writing before that time comes. But this way he doesn't fall behind on cursive like he did on printing.  I will say his motor skills are so much better.  He can hop around the house on one foot like the entire floor.  He couldn't hop more than 3 times before we started therapy.  Sports, gym and fit club also helped a ton.  

[waverly]

Update- hell has officially frozen over because with all of DS’s 3 year IEP testing they decided to finally test for OT.

I am sure at the end of the eval she will find a way to say that he is not eligible, but it surprised me that they weren’t doing the oh I’ll watch him write 2 sentences and cut 2 things and say he is fine thing that they did at the beginning of all the school years. We might be headed back to private OT since I suspect that they will still rule him ineligible for public, but at least we had a break for a year.

[pipsqueak]

Maybe Hell will stay frozen over and your son will get the appropriate help at school.

[waverly]

Not a pull out, but a pull in I guess. The teacher after months of pushing got the OT to visit her classroom, I think weekly for a month for certain kids who are struggling. I love how she went around the system to get help even if it is not in the IEP. She is the best!

Still don't know anything formal because that meeting to discuss testing results is not until May.

[origami]

Feb 26, 2019 12:55:26 GMT -5 waverly said:

Update- hell has officially frozen over because with all of DS’s 3 year IEP testing they decided to finally test for OT.

I am sure at the end of the eval she will find a way to say that he is not eligible, but it surprised me that they weren’t doing the oh I’ll watch him write 2 sentences and cut 2 things and say he is fine thing that they did at the beginning of all the school years. We might be headed back to private OT since I suspect that they will still rule him ineligible for public, but at least we had a break for a year.

LOL that is exactly how our OT “evals” went. Hope you have better luck!

[waverly]

origami, I know! It is kind of a pain too since I would prefer to just do OT now, but they won't go over the results until the meeting in May. Summer is not a great time for OT because I would have to pick him up from camp right in the middle of swimming which is a huge PITA. So it would mean waiting until August to start private OT again.