Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

Original poster

Handwriting help!

13 replies

Sherbert37 · 08/11/2006 11:51

At last DS2 (age 9) has a teacher who is taking his difficulties with handwriting seriously. He has very long fingers and a strange pencil grip. He covers his work when he writes. I have been advised to purchase and follow a handwriting course at home with him which I am more than happy to do. Has anyone had any experience of this or any recommendations?

OP posts:

Quootiepie · 08/11/2006 11:53

my dad used to buy something from WHSmith for my handwriting... does he have handwriting lessons in school?

Quootiepie · 08/11/2006 11:55

sorry, wasnt very clear - it was a book where you followed letters done with - - - - - - and copied out underneath etc.

scotlou · 08/11/2006 12:03

I would ask the teacher for recommendations so taht at lest any scheme you choose is compatible with the one used by teh school.

Original poster

Sherbert37 · 08/11/2006 12:07

Thanks for your replies. The one they recommend is Lois Addy's 'Write Start' programme on Amazon. Can't really see what it is like but will buy it anyway as a start. He has been doing extra handwriting at home and it has improved but it is quite boring for him. Luckily he sees now that he needs to work at this. I can't see how he will cope at high school unless things improve dramatically.

OP posts:

JanH · 08/11/2006 12:26

Probably a silly Q but have you or school tried a triangular pencil to help his grip?

Quootiepie · 08/11/2006 12:27

Oh yes, our school had triangle things that slipped over pens and pencils to help grip...

LIZS · 08/11/2006 12:41

ds' OT recommended these . Also an inclined surface and adjustable seat are useful to ensuring the correct posture so that they aren't putting too much stress on their joints and getting tired. ds had small group handwriting lessons at school last year and improved amazingly. They did letters in groups -one o'clock, bump etc - but don't know if that is a particular scheme.

Original poster

Sherbert37 · 08/11/2006 13:47

He is already using triangular pencils and they are going to get him an inclined board to rest work on that he has to copy. At home we prop books against a wall but I hadn't really thought we should be doing this in school. No handwriting lessons as such, just me in my 'spare' time. Just wish it could be more fun.

OP posts:

Littlefish · 08/11/2006 14:02

I agree with Lizs - those pencil grips were always recommended by our school OT.

Bumblelion · 08/11/2006 14:13

My son (also aged 9) has exactly the same problem. At his PAR day on Monday, his reading age was 13 yrs 9 months + (couldn't test him any higher) and his spelling age was 12 yrs 7 months. On the web site recommended by LIZS there are also handhugger pens - my son uses one of these in school - they are triangular shaped. My son still has handwriting lessons in school.

Another option (although fairly expensive to start with but as you add to it, it becomes cheaper as the initial cost is in buying all the equipment) is Handwriting without Tears. Website
here

This was recommended to me for my DD (just turned 5, mainstream reception but special needs in fine and gross motor skills).

The initial cost for the whole box was £93 but it is fantastic. I am also using it for my son (althuogh it is a bit basic for him but you can add to the basic set for age appropriate skills).

Kittypickle · 08/11/2006 14:15

Try him out with a Yoropen, they are in Smiths and because the writing bit sticks out a bit it might be easier to see. Hard to explain but google for one. DD has just been given a triangular Berol rollerball type pen and says she finds it much easier to write with that than with a pencil and is beginning to make a bit of progress on joined up writing I think. Agree with Lizs about the board. The other thing I am doing is letting her have a play with the Disney Timon and Pumbaa (or something like that) typing program as I figure there's a good chance that in time she will be able to ditch writing some of the time in class and have one of those word processor type things.

LIZS · 08/11/2006 15:16

You might find some things to help here

Original poster

Sherbert37 · 08/11/2006 15:21

So grateful for all your ideas. I have worried about this for years (I have two older dcs and know what is acceptable asfar as handwriting goes, but no one would say his was below par). He has a super teacher this year and has got a lot more confidence with his writing. He is in the top five in the class for maths and fine at reading, so this has been really frustrating for him. Wonder if he is too old for a Leappad?

OP posts:

Flip