Help! DS(7) HATES Writing

[mussyhillmum]

I am hoping some kind mnetter will be able to give me some advice as to how I can encourage my Year 3 DS(7) to enjoy writing. Despite being in the top literacy set, his teacher struggles to get him to do anything but the briefest pieces of extended writing. She says he is performing well below his ability. He point blank refuses to write anything at home.

I have asked him whether he is struggling with ideas or whether he has plenty of ideas but is struggling with the writing. He says he has plenty of ideas but finds the writing process slow and the finished product is never as good as the idea in his head.

I have tried to encourage writing at home with diaries, scrapbooks,etc. and the promise of a DSI. After an initial entry or two, he refuses to write any more.

His teacher is giving me conflicting advice. On the one hand, she advises to not push the writing if he is not happy to do it. On the other hand, she has told me that he will really struggle if he does not get used to doing extended pieces of written work.

So, the question is - do I do nothing and hope he eventually will come to like extended writing; or do I "make" him write. If the latter, how do I do this and retain my sanity and the door hinges!

Don't make him. He'll get there. He is a completely normal 7 yr old boy.

Is it actual handwriting you want to get him used to or composition of sentences? Cos if it's the latter you could try him on the computer, on Word or whatever. If it's handwriting, perhaps a scrapbook?

Sounds completely normal, my DSD (7, yr 3) is the same.

Sorry, just seen that you've tried a scrapbook

Completely normal. My DS will be 9 this summer and is only now really getting into writing. I think with boys the tendons or something in the hands don't sctually completely develop until they are around 7 and it actually can be quite painful and tiring for them to write as they have to really grip the pencil.

My DS has been having Occupational therapy type sessions in school to help and the OT says it is very common.

Yes it's a boy thing. And unfortunately it ultimately affects other subjects like history & geography. Even science at secondary school level is becoming more "wordy" than straightforward answering a question. [sigh]

I have found a few websites by googling which I am going to try out on my ds and will report back...

Is it because he has to do that 'starting on the line' type of writing? DD really struggled with this. Like your DS, her teachers said she was performing below her ability and that the ideas were great in her head, but once they were on paper, not so hot.

Once she started secondary school and the style of writing became less important, she was flying. She had her own style of writing, which is perfectly legible and much easier for her to get her words down, because she doesn't have to waste time making sure she's writing in a certain style.

As a Special Needs Teacher, I have worked with countless boys who are reluctant writers. I use something I call 'Story Scraps' which I have found to be particularly helpful for those who have ideas but can't get them down on paper. Part of the problem is that if they make a mistake, or decide to change something in the storyline, they have to start all over again. If you go to www.rulerreading.com, click on blog and then on the September 2008 entries, you'll see how Story Scraps works, but briefly, it involves using little bits of scrap paper (the scruffiness is important - it makes the writing less fomal and therefore less formidable) to jot down ideas/characters and then Pritt-sticking them to an A4 sheet in sequence.

Sorry can't add more now, need to collect DH!

Thank you so much for your swift replies! It is very heartening to hear that DS's reluctance to write is "normal" 7 year old behaviour. I feel much less panicked now.

TheCoolerRuler - The "Story Scraps" idea sounds great! I will definately have a look at the website. I think DS will really like the fact that you can move bits of the story around rather than, as you say, having to start all over again.

Not just a boy thing - sounds just like dd (just 8).

Actually, I think that had she been a boy she might have got some help sooner, and not just been kept in for endless playtimes throughout yr 1 on the grounds that she could obviously do it but just wasn't trying

BTW she is now (yr 3) considered much improved by the school, but still struggles to produce more than 1 or at most 2 sentences at a time.