Help for a lefty !

[Rowgtfc72]

Dd is five, just finishing reception class and working at year 1 level for maths and English. However, even though she has the ability with English her writing is appalling. It slopes diagonally across the page, corner to corner (however many lines we draw!) and most of the letters are illegible. If you ask her to write letters singularly they're perfect. I'm thinking this is because she is left handed. Any tips on how to help her as in Yr 1 she will do much more written work and don't want her to get disheartened or struggle. She does have a proper lefty pencil but it makes no difference.

How has she acieved level 1 in reception if her writing is so poor?

Has she had lines to write on in school?
Has she been taught to form letters correctly?
Does she slope the paper when she writes?
Being a leftie could be part of the reason but right handers often do the same

No lines at school but I think as they do so little formal writing in reception what they have seen is at an acceptable level for them. They had a student teacher in and he said what he had seen of her writing was good but there wasnt a lot of it. Yes she learnt to form letters correctly. Shes not so keen on sitting still though so it takes effort. She doesnt slope the paper but how she writes just looks so awkward (hand curled round and attacking the paper almost) . I am a mean mum however and make her write lots at home and have noticed that she will never get away with this in Yr 1. I suppose its just back to basics with single letters and lots of summer holiday practice.Thanks for replying.

Try twisting the page clockwise around 45deg. That helped my DD quite a bit. It was around year 3 before I could consistently read her writing but she still got good marks for her work as its the content that's marked rather than the handwriting.

Agree with others who said about sloping the paper. Also things like is she sitting in a chair that support her at a proper height table. She shouldn't need to curve her hand round.

If her writing is legible enough to be working at Y1 standard I doubt there is a real problem tbh, lots of children are still working on their handwriting at this stage (and beyond).

There is some advice on here www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk/writing.html
we were struggling as two RH patents to help DS but we got some LH writing practice books and they have helped (a lot is very simple stuff like turning the page)
DS (4) is only just starting to write but is already very neat (almost better than DH who has a terrible dr's scrawl), I think the LH grip pen and the guides have helped.

Angling the paper and using lined paper should help

Thanks for that snow redsky and wonky. Never thought to turn paper round rather than child ! DD sits like the girl on the video before her paper is turned round.Will try that later.

Top tip for parents of older lefty DC's - WHSmiths do a left-handed ruler where the numbers go 'back-to-front- on the ruler, one is where 30 would be, and 30 is where 1 would be.

It has proven invaluable to my 8yo Y3 lefty in Maths, as before, he couldn't see how far he had measured because his left hand was holding the ruler down! His measuring topics in Maths, he is now getting much better marks for!

DD is left handed. she's just finished year 1 with really quite neat handwriting (when she can be bothered!). She started the year with awful writing.

I know the school - got her a pencil grip and sloped the paper. They also gave her extra time with her TA who is left handed so sees things from her point of view IYSWIM. They have left handed scissors too

Also in year one they start to emphasis leaving a finger space between words For right handers this is easy - put down finger of left hand to make space and carry on writing. For left handers its a complete nightmare (try it - put finger on right hand down, cross your hands, carry on writing). The school drew round her hand with a finger sticking out, cut it out, laminated it and let her use her "spare hand". they did one for home too. It worked brilliantly. They don't need the physical reminder for long but while they do this really helps left handers.

Slope the paper to the right. Get her a pencil grip - I like using these, never mind my lefty DS!

Thanks Ontheedge for the handy 'spare hand top - ds runs all his words together and I hadntt thought of a solution for it! :)

tip!!!!