to think my son's handwriting (at 11) is really quite bad?

[PenNPaper]

I'm not knocking my son, im just genuinely wondering if it's bad. Some teachers claim that it could be neater, but they are still able to read it. Im actually struggling to!

Just wondering if this is actually quite average for his age? I'd have assumed a little neater.

It's legible but it doesn't look very fluent - how fast can he write?

It's twice as legible as my 22 year-old's ever was/is.

Actually based on your last post it is probably his speed he needs to improve on, without losing legibility. People say handwriting isn't important, and I agree that beautiful neat handwriting is overrated and not necessary - but it is important to be able to write fast and legibly in order to do well at school, and will continue to be until all students, not just some, are allowed to use laptops or whatever replaces them for typing or writing or note taking or writing exam answers

Due to the risk of cheating I expect exams will continue to be hand written for the majority of students for a while - though I confess to being out of touch on what is the current norm in universities... I know that for my A levels and degrees the ability to speed write legibly (not beautifully but legibly) was essential back in the mists of time, and would assume that remains the case?

I went through that, his primary wanted cursive as this would increase the speed but tbh he ended up concentrating to much on the letters than the contents. It was his English teacher in year7 after a month who tried him on a laptop as he could hear creative ideas but read dull boring words on the paper.

It's legible but it looks - laboured, a little shaky. I agree with others that he's possibly being forced to write in a style that doesn't suit - this bloody obsession with cursive hand that primary schools insist on. He'd pass his Literacy SAT with it I'm sure.

It's fine!

I'm an English teacher and I'd much rather see writing like your son's than the loop the loop stylised handwriting that some pupils adopt. It's impossible to read - especially when pupils are rushed under exam conditions.

As a handwriting expert I would say it was legible but clearly writing isn't easily flowing and possibly he might be finding that writing for long durations hurts his hand?

If this is true, it could be down to the manner he holds his pen and forms letters- watch him write closely and check the way he holds his pen.

If he is reluctant to join up, maybe have a look at only joining up letters that end in the bottom right hand corner (nmetuiadhlc)

My 10-year-old ds. What I find strange is that he has always written like this, despite not doing handwriting practice (as he does now, in a new school).

Even though he has fairly neat handwriting, his English can be pretty terrible and he is quite behind where he should be. Can't have it all I guess.

My ds is also 11. There's a reason he has a laptop!

If your DS is struggling with speed he can practice writing easy sentences with high frequency words. Eg my name is X and I go to X school. Also just handwriting books where he practices joining letter until it comes more with ease.
His handwriting looks fine though - at least it's legible!

Far more legible than either of my DDs' writing. They are 13 and 15 and at secondary - what matters there is whether the people marking exam scripts will be able to read it. Yes, having some form of fluent cursive is useful, but the current SATs obsession with handwriting is a backward step.

It's legible if a little babyish for his age imho.
Sally your ds's writing is poor for his age I think.
Again imho.
As another said ( she of the double first) ultimately it won't matter.
But trying to make out what somebody is trying to say in their writing during an exam may put the examiner in a bad humour and do the writer no favours for themselves.

I think joined up writing can be more difficult to read and don't understand why schools get so hung up about it.

Although oddly enough I am currently sitting some exams, and after a lifetime of using word-processing for work, I am struggling with writing quickly enough and legibly enough by hand - so might have answered my own question there!

Some people never have good handwriting most doctors for example - it is perfectly legible so I would say don't worry about it

I've got an 11yo too. Long history of handwriting struggles through primary school (he has AS), but has improved a lot and doesn't seem to be having any problems in Y7 (asked his English teacher if she had any concerns about his writing at parents' evening, she looked at me like I was mad!) This pic is taken from a timed writing assessment, so written under pressured conditions, and I don't think it looks much different from your boy's tbh. Yes, of course others (esp some girls) are going have 'better' writing. I very much doubt my DS is ever going to win any 'best handwriting' awards but his words are legible and well formed and let's face it as long as the content of what's being written is to the expected standard, and can be read easily by the assessor, it's all good

Just re read my post and thought should point out this was a fiction based piece of writing-DS doesn't actually drink beer

I think it looks okay. However, it's quite wobbly; this suggests that he isn't particularly comfortable writing in this way! It's probably because he doesn't want to be joining up his writing, but I think he's doing a fab job!

When have you ever been able to read a doctor's handwriting?? It looks fine to me.

Golly this is all very interesting. I have an 11 year old with what I now know to be very neat handwriting and I was judging my poor 8 year old on her! My 8 year old is probably typical looking at OPs son's writing....it's not as good as his but I can imagine it will be when she is 11....thanks OP! I'm glad you posted this as it has set my mind at rest!

You can buy special pens and even seats to help with writing (although doesn't look bad to me). ask his tutor or English teacher and see what they say.

We've just found out my nearly 9 year old is hypermobile .... Very bendy thumbs and fingers .... This is why his handwriting is so bad. He now has a hand splint, special pens and a writing slope and things have improved dramatically !!!

Sorry night feeds so not explaining myself well. Things that go on pens to help with grip. Or things to go on table so the page is at an angle rather than flat. I worked in primary a few years ago and we did a course on it. There was even a special seat which allowed the child comfort. I'm trying to remember but was many moons ago.

It's readable so who cares beyond that!? Many adults have worse, please don't worry.

Speeding it up would be useful for him though.

It's a lot better than my 13 year old's writing but what would concern me is that it doesn't look at all fluent - can he write fast if he needs to?

I teach primary- in a typical class of 30 year 6s I imagine if ranked your DS's handwriting would come in about 22nd. It would be something I'd be working on and you'd know it.