How to best help improve ds's writing

[whiteworld]

DS is 10. He's left handed and his writing ranges from neat when he really takes his time to very messy. He can't write on the line, his writnig ranges all over the place. Caps are the same size as lower-case letters or he forgets them. The tails on ys and gs are tiny, but rs and ss are really big. He forms a lot of his letters wrongly - from the bottom up.

It's all over the place. I've tried to help him over the years and he can write ok if he's really concentrating on it, but if he also has to think about SPaG and content, he loses the plot. He also can't spot errors in his own work. Can anyone recommend any resources to help him? Thank you!

www.tts-group.co.uk/yoropen-ergonomic-left-handed-pen/SD08138.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAm5viBRD4ARIsADGUT25deblwMtq-uoIs8Y74snGb0HbhIzur2L7HIaVmoMlHDDDN2elUeAcaAibKEALw_wcB

Something like this would mean that his hand is not in the way of what he can see. For the mistakes he makes, have visual aids - an alphabet strip above his paper or reminders for the letters he gets wrong. Try to ask him to come up with ways to help remember the way letters go ie to stop reversal of 'b' and 'd' - draw a bed where the letters are the bed posts. I tried to upload an image but it didn't work. Google 'visual aid b and d bed'.

Is he dyslexic?

Also consider typing as an alternative - handwriting isn't as important as it used to be. The most important thing is that he gets his ideas down otherwise he'll become disengaged. There are loads of free typing websites - Doorway online Text typing 2 is my favourite.

Make using a laptop his 'normal way of working'.

My DS used a laptop in all external exams with no diagnosis.

I know a great handwriting tutor in you are in the Manchester area. Pm me if you would like details.

In terms of things to help - get him doing things that need dexterity and co-ordination, model making, plastercine/dough/breadmaking even, lego, fiddly stuff. Also thing about hand eye coordination so racket sports or even golf to help improve that coordination. Try different pen styles - staedler do really good moulded shape pencils and pens for lefties and righties that are aimed at improving the hold of the pencil and therefore control

And lots of practice with shapes or wiggly lines as well as actual letters etc

Thanks, all. He has esxcellent hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills. He's fab at sports. But fine motor skills? He's never been that interested in colouring, etc, and gives up if he finds something too tricky. He's good et lego, though... Will look at special pens too. he has those suports you put on pencils - I find hem really comfortable but he doesn't like them. Maybe because he thinks they make him 'different'?

I'm not sure about dyslexia. He can spot typos, etc. in others' work, just not his own. He used to get letters the wrong way round when he was 5 - not now.

Handwring is still really important at school. And presentation - his is awful. He crams things into corners, has no idea about space or how things will look/how much room to leave for text.

I’ve been using an app called cursive writing for my sons, it looks childish but you can add your own words to practice in line with reading level. Other than that - magiclink seems good - but expensive.

We have used the learning mats from Educational Learning Mats they really helped my daughter, especially with handwriting! Maybe check it out? www.educationallearningmats.co.uk/handwriting_mats
We found that the fact they are so colourful really helped her concentrate :)

Has he been assessed by an occupational therapy. We did this and found my ds2 who is now 12 was missing a muscle in his hand so couldn’t grip the pencil well. He also has weak muscle tone in his upper body. 7 months of therapy really helped. He is now at secondary school and uses a laptop for extended writing

That's interesting, Lara. No, we haven't.

Am checking out handwriting apps now.

A programme called Handwriting Without Tears.

Also, look into convergence insufficiency. It is vision related and cannot be picked up with an eye test. Only a behavioural optometrist can diagnose it.

Have googled convergence insufficiency and that doesn't sound like ds at all. he has 20:20 vision, no headaches, no double vision, high reading age, no problems reading.

Handwriting without tears would be good!!

My ds had very poor hand writing in ks1. I asked here on MN, and teachers, especially Mrz recommended some works(basically play) he can do to improve strengthening muscles, especially upper body.
By yr5, he is no longer considered having problems.

6 year old DS has similar issues and has been put in support groups and they're "keeping an eye" to see whether dyslexia testing may be needed further down the line.
They seem to do lots of activities to improve fine motor skills.
I take it you've had his eyes checked? It was one of the first things school reccomended.

Yes, his eyes are fine. He was in handwriting intervention groups when he started school. He can write legiobly when he tries and really takes his time. But he just forgets everything he's been told about caps, spelling, punctuation... when he's trying to write faster/normally.

@whiteworld I know it sounds weird, but my son also had 20:20 vision. In fact that is acuity, not vision. My son was also a brilliant reader and speller. But unlike your son he was bad at sports, poor balance, etc. So perhaps unlikely. One of the telling signs is finding 3D movies uncomfortable. For my son, the vision cases problems with maths, crowded handwriting, inability to see difference in letter sizes etc. It effects everyone in different ways.

Oooh, interesting. OK. He doesn't like 3D movies and gets travel sick...

Does he practise everyday? Even for a really short time, or just one sentence?

That's what our school did, asked him to record reading diary with comment everyday, even just a short comment, since yr1.

Wriet from the start
Speed up
Writing slopes might also be worth a look.

Though with punctuation - that improved as I reminded all mine every day we did Apple and Pears for spelling - there's lots of dictation of sentences.

Ds had interventions at his first school – things we were doing at home cutting, modelling with fine motor control. Never seem to make much difference – and teacher all said oh well he’s in the support group he’ll get better.

Moved school they had nothing like that to offer but they did have smaller classes – and that teacher was one that got him to improve working at it every day. Even general lay out and spacing has massively imporved and seems to be sticking now he's at secondary.

@whiteworld there is a fab Facebook page called Vision Therapy Parents Unite where you can post some of your DS work and get a professionals advuce. Even if not vision, they will give advice on resources etc. They may also guide you in other directions.

OK, thanks. Have joined it.

Irvine, ds is in Year 6 and writes loads every day at school.

If so, then the cause maybe a bit more complicated and may need specialist assessment for that?

My ds is in yr6 too, but we have known the problem from earlier on and worked on it for years, and he always had problem until yr4, but no more since yr5.