Gap between verbal and written ability

[IndigoBell]

Is it still normal to have a huge gap between your written and verbal work at age 10 (entering Y6)?

And any tips for closing the gap?

www.elklan.co.uk/shop/language-builders.htm

mrz - Thanks.

Looking back, is that the kind of thing that might have helped your DS?

(I know my DS's writing problems aren't as extreme as your DSs)

Or is there anything else you wished you had done for your DS?

I wish I had ignored the paediatrician who said he had seen worse when my son never slept (at all!) ... and the EP he saw in primary who said I was an over protective mum (my husband died when my son started school and his difficulties were blamed on grief) and said not to worry because he had a phenomenal reading age... and I wish I'd fought the secondary school whose solution to his problems was to send him off to teach himself (for two years).

I think you might have to accept that some kids for a variety of reasons have difficulty writing and embrace assistive technology. You should get a report allowing your son to use assistive technology in school and then work on typing skills. Ten thumbs is a great touch typing program and isn't very expensive. There are also many word prediction software programs which are expensive but can speed up the typing process for kids. As he gets older, he will need to be able to write essays for answers in school and if he has to struggle with the physical task of handwriting it will detract from his ability to be expressive in his writing. Best of luck!

Shebeen - even if he types (which he can do) the work he produces is still not good enough. It's still far below what he can do when dictating.

I'm still trying to work out how to close the gap between what he can do when dictating, and what he can do when typing or writing.

And no one yet has had any suggestions........

I accept that when he's older he'll be better off using a computer. But I won't accept that at this age it's in his best interests to give up on writing.

Luckily school are fine for him to write. But he does have an OT report saying he can use a computer.

I found using the computer didn't help other than he produced readable jibberish in larger quantities

www.lancsngfl.ac.uk/nationalstrategy/literacy/getfile.php?src=1507/Talk+Homework1.pdf&s=4e5b925b82ca0eb4397d1ae97da9a2e5