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What age would you say this writing was?

98 replies

blessedbethechocolate · 17/11/2021 21:27

Just wondering really.

What age would you say this writing was?
OP posts:
Iamnotthe1 · 18/11/2021 07:09

"If I make sure he does can (blank) have a shower tomorrow morning. Also how do you say hi in sign language"

It's readable but difficult. For teachers that see him regularly, like his primary ones did or in more frequent secondary subjects like English/Maths, the teacher would likely be able to decipher it due to familiarity.

Unfortunately, it will be more difficult for someone with less or no contact to be able to read what he is trying to communicate. For examiners, whilst they will try, some PPs are right when they say that there isn't time (or in some cases, the ability) to fully decipher everything and so the marking of his exams may not always be accurate. I'd be expecting him to make use of transcription at least (adult reviewing whether something is legible at the end of the exam and asking him to read out anything that isn't so that he/she can record it alongside his response).

The question is whether this difficulty stems from a physical or mental source (or both). If it's physical then there are things that could help (pen grips, writing slants, etc.) Benefits could be instant but the overall impact may be low. If mental, there's the possibility that neater handwriting could be trained through repeated practise and effective regular feedback. However, this would be a long process as you're essentially "rewiring" the way you write.

We have children who use a range of assistive technology from simply typing instead of writing to those who use speech to text systems to dictate their work. It really isn't as rare as people may think. If you think he needs this, speak to school and so if they can help address his fears around standing out negatively.

blessedbethechocolate · 18/11/2021 07:15

Just for context this is school work and it's pretty much the same. Maybe a bit clearer in places.

I am going to contact the school again to see what they say as like people have said on here I struggle to read it (often have no idea what it says) so god knows how others will. According to his English teacher if he types work it's really good it's just his handwriting that lets him down.

Oh and to answer another question he's right handed but holds his pen in a fist.

What age would you say this writing was?
OP posts:
PeterPomegranate · 18/11/2021 07:17

I don’t understand posting these threads without putting the age in the OP. ‘Is this writing what you would expect for a 13 year old’. Why make us guess?

It’s like:

‘Guess my age? Oh go on! I won’t be offended!’

‘50??? Waaaaaahhh! I’m only 48’

blessedbethechocolate · 18/11/2021 07:21

@PeterPomegranate

I don’t understand posting these threads without putting the age in the OP. ‘Is this writing what you would expect for a 13 year old’. Why make us guess?

It’s like:

‘Guess my age? Oh go on! I won’t be offended!’

‘50??? Waaaaaahhh! I’m only 48’

Where exactly was I offended? I just wanted to see what people said. If I had said the age at the start I would probably have all the "my three year old writes calligraphy" comments.
OP posts:
CrapDrawer · 18/11/2021 07:40

Hi OP,

I could decipher the first note and read some of the last picture of work you posted. It’s interesting that you say he holds his pen in a fist. I suppose Its in such a way that he can’t see what he’s writing as he writes. What did primary school say about his pencil/pen grip? They should have put some fine motor and handwriting interventions in place in early years/ Y1 really. Has he ever tried using pencil grips like these and practising handwriting daily? Could you speak to his English teacher and seek some advice and support?

MrsHamlet · 18/11/2021 07:40

I'd be expecting him to make use of transcription at least (adult reviewing whether something is legible at the end of the exam and asking him to read out anything that isn't so that he/she can record it alongside his response).
I'm 99% sure that transcription is no longer an option for exams

Aprilx · 18/11/2021 07:40

@blessedbethechocolate

Thanks everyone you will cheer my son up who has a real complex about his handwriting. He's 13 and says no one can understand it and often doesn't get his work marked because of it.
I don’t know why it would cheer anyone up.

The writing is illegible and I think he needs to work on it if he wants teachers to read it.

CrapDrawer · 18/11/2021 07:43

Does he have any other issues with motor skills? Holding a knife and fork? Has he been able to do sewing/ Lego? Does he find it easy to pick up coins?

Also wondering about gross motor skills as these can affect pencil grip development. Do his arms and shoulders get tired when he writes, especially if tried to write using correct pencil grip?

Sidehustle99 · 18/11/2021 07:43

Has he considered a career in medicine?

Flippancy aside, I can read most of his writing. I think he's doing fine. Is he not able to use a PC for work if his tutor needs to mark it and they struggle with his writing style?

SushiGo · 18/11/2021 07:47

@CrapDrawer

Hi OP,

I could decipher the first note and read some of the last picture of work you posted. It’s interesting that you say he holds his pen in a fist. I suppose Its in such a way that he can’t see what he’s writing as he writes. What did primary school say about his pencil/pen grip? They should have put some fine motor and handwriting interventions in place in early years/ Y1 really. Has he ever tried using pencil grips like these and practising handwriting daily? Could you speak to his English teacher and seek some advice and support?

I can only guess the answer based on my neurodiverse kids, but in our case primary tried so many well intended interventions all of which did nothing to improve things significantly enough to make a difference, but did make them anxious about the fact they write 'wrong'.

I'd be interested in research, but my gut feeling is that holding their pencil incorrectly is intrinsically linked to being neurodiverse, it isn't just habit. For example, one of mine has really strong sensory issues and grips the pencil way too tight. Practice and different grips can't change that.

Learning to type was the only actual solution - and as an adult, this is what most people will be doing anyway, so it's a practical and pragmatic choice.

BogRollBOGOF · 18/11/2021 07:48

Has he ever been assessed for common co-morbidities such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or hypermobility (that's just DS1's list: he has access to a computer) ASD is a challenge in itself as it so often makes people resistant to changing and trying new strategies.

Cursive is great for the majority with decent fine motor control, and so often a bloody nuisence for the neuro-diverse or other specific difficulties that make spacing tricky as it congests the writing and adds extra strokes in.

Past primary age, you don't tend to see much radical improvement in writing style.
I'm pretty good at deciphering difficult writing and would save it until later in the pile where I'm not too tired, but am well attuned to the range of responses likely.

cookiemonster2468 · 18/11/2021 07:53

refuses to print as he believes he will get into trouble if he does

Surely there's a very easy way to clear that up. Talk to his teachers and get them to make an allowance and explain to him that it is fine to print.

Christmas202 · 18/11/2021 09:05
Grin
deste · 18/11/2021 09:14

I had a student in one of my classes who was extremely intelligent and I couldn't understand why he didn't get into university. His exam results were really poor and when I saw his handwriting I realised why. His writing was almost illegible so anyone saying it won't affect his future is wrong.
Can you imagine an exhausted teacher marking work at the end of the day and having to decipher bad handwriting.

charabanctrip · 18/11/2021 09:43

My adhd ds had absolutely atrocious writing and I had to teach him how to print once he got to secondary school. He'd been taught joined up all through primary and they didn't allow printing, so we had to wait until secondary before he could change.

He eventually adopted a partially joined up style and his writing was finally legible.

My advice would be to get your ds off joined up writing. Try to find a comfortable pen and work on the best grip for him - it doesn't matter if it's unconventional as long as he can write comfortably and it's legible.

Illequiped · 18/11/2021 09:50

Good luck with the school OP. I honestly found it easier for my eldest to adopt a change in technique or habit etc when it came from a person of authority like a teacher, especially if they were the people that the 'rule' pertained to.

As for '...his handwriting is illegible, why is he cheered up' you know, sometimes it's nice to know you're not the only person in the world who struggles with something and that people can get on in life despite the issue.

eatthepineapple · 18/11/2021 09:56

I'm an RE teacher so found it much easier to read that work than the first note as I recognised what he was on about a bit more, and am used to seeing hard to read writing. That being said I would say he would potentially be eligible to use a laptop in his exams. It looks like he knows what he's talking about but I could more get the general gist of what he was saying rather than reading each individual word, which might become a problem at gcse.

Lots of students use laptops nowadays, if not for class work then for exams (but it is a good idea to practice as typing speed is often not as good as you would expect). Tbh the others are usually jealous! But I do get him not wanting to "stand out" and it can be a pain if they have to go and get it from a special place or something. Speak to the school perhaps?

BleuJay · 18/11/2021 10:26

I’ve not seen a child’s writing like that before, it looks more like an elderly persons handwriting.

Have they been influenced by a grandparent helping to teach them to write?

Iamnotthe1 · 18/11/2021 17:49

@MrsHamlet

I'd be expecting him to make use of transcription at least (adult reviewing whether something is legible at the end of the exam and asking him to read out anything that isn't so that he/she can record it alongside his response). I'm 99% sure that transcription is no longer an option for exams
Ah. I'm afraid I'm drawing on SAT experience to inform my post: it's available at that level but completely see how it wouldn't be for GCSE.
MrsHamlet · 18/11/2021 18:59

Lots of students use laptops nowadays, if not for class work then for exams (but it is a good idea to practice as typing speed is often not as good as you would expect).
You can't have typing as an access arrangement unless it's normal way of working

ImustLearn2Cook · 18/11/2021 23:55

@blessedbethechocolate You mentioned earlier that your son holds his pencil in a fist. This will be the problem. Following is a link to a YouTube video that really helped my dd hold her pencil properly in a tripod grip. I think the older lady must be a teacher, she is very good. Hope it helps Smile

m.youtube.com/watch?v=w5DLE4dwrL4&list=PLYbATkGb1Ti3fY4VVef7BNIGoVm5_JXBT&index=1

CambsAlways · 21/11/2022 13:58

Sixties

upfucked · 21/11/2022 15:50

ZOMBIE 🧟‍♀️ thread

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