How do I get my 11 year old to write?

[seasickgal]

I'm looking for suggestions.This has been an issue all the way through school. He is a keen reader and is bright, good at maths but struggles to write anything down .I am worried he is making no progress. The school says there are no signs of dyslexia. He is getting distressed and struggles tp complete his homework.He says he doesn't know what to write and often his assignments are only a few lines long and returned incomplete.Thanks.

please excuse me for not reading all the replies and therefore not knowing if this has already been suggested.

We had/have similar issues with 10 yr old DS and took some advise from the teaching staff and the internet and we set him 5 minutes of handwriting every morning during the summer holidays, with a selection of pens with different grips and different nibs.
His handwriting has improved beyond recognition .
He is still writing slowly and that is something else we have to work on but his letter formation was what we were told to focus on.

I don't think DS will ever write if he can get away without writing but at least now he is confident that he can write, legibly and with confidence.

I hope you can sort something out for your DS seasickgal.

Not at all kayah I do 1-1 sessions before and after school and at lunchtime for free.

but for a child who can't think what to write I wouldn't choose 1-1 ...I would want talk partners in a small group

well - it worked for my kids, this tutor has waiting lists and is in great demand

I am not able to convince you that his methods work

Actually kayah I'm not disputing his methods work what I'm disputing is, given what the OP said in her post, the need for any tutor at this stage.

Thanks for all the advice. I am planning to go and see his teacher soon. The school have struggled each year with getting him to complete work and write more than 2-3 sentences. I think it feels unfair to him when I try to get him to write at home. His handwriting is ok and the school have suggested we don't focus on this in case this is inhibiting him.His father is probably dyslexic so doesn't write much, and I probably spend too much time on here!

sorry seasickgal - I misunderstood the problem here.
I hope you can get some help at school.

let's hope school can help

but by the look of it they failed for the past few years...

New teacher new year new beginning perhaps

Does he have problems spelling or is it as he says he can'r come up with something to write? Could he tell you a sentence to write?

I worked 1:1 + class with similar boys in y5/6 as an SEN TA. One would sit 30 mins in class staring at blank paper, often kept in at break by class teacher to force him to write, which didn't work.

As mrz says, he was bursting with ideas talking in a group, esp about Star Wars (as Wordsmith, loved that). We made one-word notes to remind ourselves what he wanted to say. Then we formed the sentence verbally, developing it to enjoy imaginative language and develop grammar. Then he wrote the sentence down as we said it together. He developed, but needed prompts through y5/6 in class, a few quick notes and then he was away. Sometimes he still had off-days, but the key was to tap into his enjoyment of something, as Wordsmith says, so he could apply the skills to the compulsory stuff, which he had to do consciously with coping strategies, as kayah's tutor taught her DCs to do.

Interestingly, later, he thrived in exam conditions. The block lasted all through primary without help. It needed 1:1 initially, whereas other boys got over it in group work with supervision.

1. are teaching skills or time actually available in school?
2. do our DCs respond to us, granny or friend who can do it mckenzie-style at home?
3. if it's not working for my DCs, I find a tutor they like for support and skills.

As kayah says, it's a huge relief to them to have the issue addressed fast with practical help before they lose confidence. As a keen reader and all-round bright lad, he sounds ready for a quick-fix.

You are out in the sticks - but there may be retired teachers, other parents with these skills who would welcome extra cash.

It's like pulling teeth getting something down on paper.He says he gets distracted by others in the class, and there are admittedly lots of kids with 'issues' , and the class is composed of mostly boys.The teachers have been overloaded I think.I was always wary of him being singled out for 'special-ed' in case of bullying, which has been an issue in the past.
But you are right, something needs to change this year. If the school can't manage it I may have to find someone else.

These days, I put the child's needs first. Stitch in time saves nine, if he's developmentally ready.

If he's distracted in class, had hassle in the past, and there isn't an effective plan in school again this year, he might love the opportunity for regular individual attention to his writer's block, particularly since he is so comfortable in other areas. He might also need to recognise he needs to take some responsibility for this too and address the problem, maybe see writing as a useful skill.

Hats off to mrz, who is so committed to offer individual attention outside normal hours, but in all fairness we have to accept what the child needs is not always available at school. Sometimes it is, particularly when parent and teacher and TAs share a common plan and support each other.

Mine are secondary school now, and looking back, any hassle at primary was time wasted. I appreciate the blessed, overworked, underthanked teachers at school and fill the gaps elsewhere, esp to pass exams.

Assuming, as kayah says, parents would not hesitate to eg pay for extracurricular skills - footie, guitar, judo? If it's not happening at school, I'd be shopping around for help.

Wish the little chap the very best of progress, and you some peace of mind!

Some of my children have work stations for writing to cut down on distractions - they sit alone (by choice) enclosed on three sides so their focus is on their book not on all the other distractions in a classroom. Some children went from writing 2 messy sentences to a full side of A4 well presented (Y2). For some children seating arrangements are vital. My classroom is semi open plan so I know that some children can't sit where they can watch people walking by and others would watch the screen saver on my laptop if I left it on. I close the curtains when I want children to focus so they can't see the nursery and reception children outdoors.

Try him with one or two sentences from sentence lab the idea is the programme generates one two or three random words which he must include in a sentence before the test tube bubbles over ... he gets a point for starting with a capital letter another for using the word/s and a third for correct punctuation. Instead of points you could give him rewards - an extra minute on his game console for each correct part. |Each sentence equals 3 extra minutes (substitute whatever would motivate him)

This is a difficult one to explain but if you want to have a crack at this again at home in a stressfree, full attention, regular lesson time - observe and think about what's been counterproductive so far and change that in response to your diagnosis. Imagine what it's like to be him in this situation. Why is he not writing, what's he thinking? Ask him. Have another look at his motor skills and grip, ask him which implements are comfortable. Think about his eyesight just in case eg nose on the page. Consider what he is developmentally ready to achieve, firm but fair and fun. Let him feel responsibility for the fix.

In loving atmosphere, child admits 'problem', expresses desire to improve, suggests what solutions he wants, with your prompting and guidance. You both formulate a simple plan of campaign with achievable targets, which can be stretched to accommodate future aspirations and dreams (writing my own 'book' for granny to read, becoming a pilot).

It's fun at home to be daring about this in a non-school way, especially if that tension is one of the problems - eg notnow's funky pens - and to let the child feel bold but in no doubt what the goal is. Some boys prefer a disciplined environment, with 'infringements' like using a laptop being exciting enough. It's about diagnosing his personality really and finding effective strategies, which are revised as he changes.

It has to be a partnership to address the problem, you/DH and your son, if he'll let you (one of mine would not and had a tutor, the other is happy to work with me). DH or aspirational male needs to model target behaviour if possible. Your focus is likely to bring him on, may need bribing initially.

Good luck.

See how mrz achieves 1:1 type focus in a busy environment. Our reluctant boys particularly respond to enforced (positive) focus too with clear targets. They also need to know why they are doing it and, preferably, want to (although this is not essential, heh heh).

The other thought I had was that considering he's 11 now, a brainy teenager with the right personality, maybe wanting teaching practice for uni application, would appreciate the cash and might make a good tutor. It would have to be one that suited his personality, eg aspirational older boy or no-nonsense girl.

It is also likely that secondary school may be better at addressing his problem.

Me again. Secondary schools have teachers and teaching assistants who want to tutor outside school hours. You'd be surprised. Some quite senior. This is because they need more £ to eg pay mortgage, saving for deposit, newly separated from DP, pay off student loan. Some TAs are minimum wage on short contracts, most could do with the extra cash. This is where I'm currently looking for a GCSE maths tutor, but you approach diplomatically through eg special needs dept, someone working in school, or a teacher friend.

another book to try, just got this for dd, who's almost 10.