writing in year one

[loosinas]

my five year old (march born) is really struggling with his writing. im trying not to compare but i cant help feeling hes starting to lag behind. his letters are really badly formed, big and often un recognisable. he is really reluctant to practice his letters and hes shattered most evenings still so im reluctant to push him.... YET i really dont want him falling further behind :( ohhhhh.. what do i do.... how do i tell if its really a cause for concern or something that will improve with time ?

[2BoysTooLoud]

Don't compare him to girls -that's my advice!
In my experience some 5 year old girls are writing essays where the majority of boys would rather stick pins in their eyes. My ds [6] still will not write for 'fun' and his writing is not pretty but is legible. The teacher says not to worry as content ok and she would rather that than just 'volume'.
Also in the long term she says will not matter and even in SATs only few marks linked to handwriting.

[CMOTdibbler]

If you want to get him to practice, theres games on the Leapster (letters on the loose is ds's fave) that require them to make letters accurately and control the stylus

[norksinmywaistband]

My DS also march born, has shown no interest, until this week.
Before this even getting him to write his name was a major task.
He has now asked for notepads and proper pens for christmas and has started presenting me with little notes he has written.
He does have a elder sister who is reading/writing obsessed, but it seems that something has just clicked with him.:)
I am sure the same will happen with your DS - boys just have different priorities, DD practiced maths with glittery beads, DS with football kicks :)

[redskyatnight]

Based on my experience with my DS (who sounds like he was similar to yours at start of Y1), leave it to school to sort out and don't fight the issue at home- far too stressful and only likely to put him off more!

[Rachaeltall]

Hi,

I would start by talking to his teacher, do you have parents evening coming up? What information did you receive in the report at the end of foundation stage, as they should have given you some information about his foundation stage profile and where he was achieving against the scale points? Most important I think is not to panic. My DD is good at writing, using descriptive words, punctuation etc. but still if she rushes and isn't concentrating she sometimes get letters the wrong way round, especially d & b.

Hope this helps xx

[mrsruffallo]

My year 1 boy (May born) wrote a sentence recently. It read; ' I luv mi mum. '
It's the first legible thing I've read fromhim.
Give them time, they'll get there.

[mrsruffallo]

norks- I completeley relate to your post. My daughter (yr 4) is always reading and writing and has done everything academically wise miles beforemy ds. Until this week DS hasn't seemed interested. He presented the 'I luv mi mum' this morning, followed by ' I lick mi cat' ( I hope he meant like) and we don't own a cat, I think it was easier to spell than guinea pig.

[IndigoBell]

I would be promoting his fine and gross motor skills because that will help with his letter formation.

So anything that involves using his fingers in the pincer movement, like cutting, playing with play dough, ripping up paper, beads, using tweezers etc.

Plus anything that improves his shoulder strength like wheelbarrow rides, wall press ups etc.

When his motor skills have improved he will find it easier to write.

You could also do Write From the Start - or leave it another 6 months if you feel like it.

Write from the start will improve his visual perception.

[loosinas]

thanks everyone for your input.. which leapster CMOTdibbler?

[loosinas]

bump
anyone have a link for the leapster in question ?

[Hulababy]

Do you have an iPhone, iPad or iTouch? There are some nice phonics based apps which practise correct letter formation too.

[CMOTdibbler]

Loosinas, this is the DS has. It is very robust and easy for them to use on their own which I think is a bonus. He thinks it is a DS

[mrz]

His letter formation won't improve with electronic games and apps only by learning correct formation and practise ... sorry save your money

[purpleturtletoise]

DS2 managed the whole of reception without showing any interest at all in writing (he was too busy orchestrating games of Dr Who in the playground ). At some point since he started Y1, he has begun to read and is now very keen to write. His letter formation is not good. His spelling is very cute.

I would not be worried about 'falling behind' unless this is something his teacher has expressed concern about - and IME it's so much easier to encourage them once they're showing an interest that it is to motivate them before they're ready.

[Elibean]

dd1 (girl, note!) had pretty dreadful writing in Y1. She loved to read, loathed writing, and wrote the shortest sentences possible at all times.

In Y2, it improved a little bit...in Y3, after just a few weeks, she is writing easily, legibly, with good spelling. If I asked her how come now, she'd just say 'I was ready.' She can sometimes be very wise.

[Hulababy]

mrz - the app is quite good actually - and about 69p. We use them in school at times with some of our reluctant writers. You can use a pen with it too and it shows you the correct letter formation. We use it alongside other techniques such as writing in sand, finger writing, whiteboard work, chalk, etc. Can be quite a good motivator initially for early writers, esp - as said - the reluctant ones.

[CMOTdibbler]

mrsz, the game ds likes does make them correctly form letter shapes - its much more engaging than just practicing, and ds likes doing it rather than fightoing about it

[mrz]

Hulababy I'm sure it is good but I'm not convinced it will actually improve letter formation just as I don't believe handwriting books from WHS improve handwriting ... motivational perhaps

[Hulababy]

I think it helps even if purely on a motivational thing. It gets some of our very reluctant boys writing - something they just won't do at all on paper. So we have a go on the app, then we have a go on a whiteboard or whatever. But as said before we don't use it in isolation - it is just one tool we use. And it has over the last year or so proved a useful tool with some children. I like it as an extra tool - if it gets one or two of my little boys to hold a pen and have a go, it has to be vaguely a good thing in my book.

[mrz]

Motivation isn't something I find a problem but correct formation is I'm afraid

[Elibean]

Any tips on motivation would be hugely appreciated!

[Hulababy]

Sadly where I work at the moment there are a small number of young children that do need a boost with regards to motivation when it comes to writing. So, anything that will help .... then I am willing to try.

[mrz]

Invisible ink is really popular with both boys and girls
A great one is writing on bread with a mixture of milk and food colouring then toasting
Jedi writing
Buzz Light Year writing

[mrz]

abcdoes.typepad.com/abc-does-a-blog/2011/09/spooky-mark-making-and-glow-in-the-dark-jars.html

[RiffRaffeta]

I love the bread idea mrz.

Just to buck the thread trend, my DS ( y3) loves writing and is good at it, has been since Reception.

DD( Aug born Y1 ) could not be less interested.