Helping my son's writting

[Longdale]

Ever since my son started school they have moaned about his writting.
He's left handed and tends to smudge his writting with his hand as he goes along. The teacher goes mad at him for "writting scruffy" but it's not as if he does it on purpose.

Anyway a few weeks ago I recieved a letter from the school saying that he needs to control his temper and he still needs extra help in the classroom with his writting and that I should encourage "neat" writting.

I know for a fact that the "temper" thing is down to him being shouted at when he writes anything. He's a brilliant reader (finished the school reading books at the age of 8) and his maths is above average yet they still put him on the bottom table just because of his writting and this means he will go in the lower class next year...all because his writting isnt neat.

It's really getting on my nerves. How do I help him write neater? I'm really worried that this is going to effect his chances of getting into our chosen secondry school (voluntary aided).

Any ideas appreciated. He's nearly 9 by the way.

Ok if his writing is still a problem (for him or them?) then what are THEY doing about it? Doesn't sound to me like they are doing anything to try & solve the problem just pointing out in a very non-constructive way.(IMVHO!)

Could you go into school & ask for a meeting with his teacher to discuss what you can ALL (parent -teacher partnership & all that) do to help him, as general encouragement isn't helping & you feel his temper is due to frustration when he's criticised? Does your DS have any suggestions?

there seem to be two threads

I have replied here

You need to get him some graph paper, and get him doing some old fashioned handwriting exercises. My writing at school was horrific, and this really helped me get the measure of my letters.

Also, I would make an appointment to see the teacher, and ask her to refrain from criticism unless it is constructive.