Yr 2 writing

[Karma1981]

My son is 7 and in year 2, he is finding writing challenging.
This is his writing, would you be worried about this?

Yes in that it seems behind but they do increase writing a lot. Writing is a lot easier using lines.
Practise writing out spelling words?

That is spelling out words, my older children were writing really well at this age but they did love to write.
His writing is pretty much unreadable, just wanted to know if it was something to worry about or hopefully he will catch up.

I would be very worried. Not that there's something wrong with his ability, every child develops at different rates and his attainment at 7 isn't indicative of his long term academic ability (my brother had remedial help throughout primary, but was advanced for his age by year 8!) but more that he's being forced to run before he can walk by our stupid education system. It's absurd that he's expected to write multiple words when he hasn't learnt to form any of the letters correctly, as it's just going to make it so much harder for him to relearn. I would focus of supporting him with his letter formation (is he confident with their recognition?). Maybe pick 2 letters a week and spend 10 minutes a day on practicing them in as fun a way as possible. Sit there with him and make sure he's writing each one exactly as he should. The internet is full of ideas but just to grab some at random, write with fingers in shaving foam with glitter on it, with a stick in damp sand, with a feather in salt poured out on a colourful tray, with a water pen on an aqua mat, with a facepaint stick on the palm of your hand, with chalk on a pavement, with a wet paintbrush on the side of a muddy car, with a felt tip on tracing paper over a printed version (check with his teacher what font is best). Just do whatever you can to make it wacky and engaging. If all else fails resort to bribery - one correctly formed letter equals one mini M&M. No one can expect his writing to make any sense if he's not confident in forming each letter to start with.

@Pickles89

I would be very worried. Not that there's something wrong with his ability, every child develops at different rates and his attainment at 7 isn't indicative of his long term academic ability (my brother had remedial help throughout primary, but was advanced for his age by year 8!) but more that he's being forced to run before he can walk by our stupid education system. It's absurd that he's expected to write multiple words when he hasn't learnt to form any of the letters correctly, as it's just going to make it so much harder for him to relearn. I would focus of supporting him with his letter formation (is he confident with their recognition?). Maybe pick 2 letters a week and spend 10 minutes a day on practicing them in as fun a way as possible. Sit there with him and make sure he's writing each one exactly as he should. The internet is full of ideas but just to grab some at random, write with fingers in shaving foam with glitter on it, with a stick in damp sand, with a feather in salt poured out on a colourful tray, with a water pen on an aqua mat, with a facepaint stick on the palm of your hand, with chalk on a pavement, with a wet paintbrush on the side of a muddy car, with a felt tip on tracing paper over a printed version (check with his teacher what font is best). Just do whatever you can to make it wacky and engaging. If all else fails resort to bribery - one correctly formed letter equals one mini M&M. No one can expect his writing to make any sense if he's not confident in forming each letter to start with.

He is a brilliant reader and can spell out words through the laptop or by speaking. He just can not write at the moment, you are right we need to go back to basics and make it fun. He hates writing because he feels he is going to fail. You have really helped, thank you.

Is this upset down? Can he read what he's written. If this was a true reflection of his writing then I would be worried. What has school said?

Completely agree with Pickles. You need to get right back to basics with letter formation.

What does his teacher say about his writing?

Practice little and often. You can make handwriting paper using normal lined and a highlighter pen to draw a guide for sizing short letters. Or pick up handwriting practice books. Consistency is the key.

If he’s in year 2 his last uninterrupted school year would’ve been nursery right? As they missed half of 2020 and 2021? I think the lockdowns and school closures are massively to blame but you can get some really good handwriting books from the works or Amazon.

OP I think the picture might be mirrored?

What does his teacher say? Yes I would be worried , not just because of the way he writes but I assume he can't read it either and the fact that he hates it so much .

How are his fine motor skills? Is there any difference if he uses the chunky/triangle pencils or a pencil grip?

On top of going back to basics with letter formation do some fine motor skills training. Play doh is great for this for example and a lot more fun .

Year 2 have missed so much school a lot of them will be behind generally, but also writing is often something that takes them awhile.

Yes he is behind the age related standards at the moment but I taught Year 2 for years and every year I’d have multiple kids at this stage of the year who wrote like that (or worse!)

Some of them just aren’t ready, especially boys, especially summer born (is he young in the year at all?).

How are his fine motor skills generally? Does he find writing tiring? Can he hold a pen properly? It might be worth as well as writing practice doing things like play dough, cutting, threading etc that encourage those fine motor skills. Here’s some more ideas: www.mrsdscorner.com/finger-gym-daily-activities-fine-motor-exercises

In my experience for a lot of children it takes awhile for writing to ‘click’ often it’s around the spring term but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not till later for this cohort since they’ve missed so much school.

Agree with others that motor skills to be worked on first, then letter formation, then writing words. Work on strengthening the shoulder muscles (dancing, waving etc) then the arms (mixing cake batter, mud pies etc) then the fingers (spreading elastic bands over a tin can, play dough etc). He will get there, with your help. Well done for picking up on it.

He hates writing because he feels he is going to fail.

I can't tell you how much I hate the stupid system in the UK. It makes children feel like failures from the off, trying to rush them all through at the same rate, not recognising them as individuals. I'm a nanny and my last little munchkin was struggling with self esteem right from reception, crying at night because he was being labelled as 'not up to standard'. There's nothing that kills motivation and the love of learning faster.

It's great your little boy is doing well with reading. Do whatever it takes to keep things fun and relaxed. It's laying the foundation for how he'll feel about education for the rest of his life. Good luck!

I dont know how your child who seems to be bright in other areas has got to year 2 without being picked up on his letter formation of letter a.
Your son is working below the expected standard but I think this may be a mixture of missed learning due to covid and maybe low expectations from teachers. I teach reception and I really try not to let my children get into bad habits with letter formation from the start. That is going to be very hard to break as he had obviously been doing it incorrectly from the start. The way he's forming letters is going to make writing very difficult for himself as it won't flow and is very disjointed. I'd start with letter formation basics, starting and ending in the correct place and going the correct way. He also needs wider lines and to have the letters sitting on the line properly, that will make it much more readable.

@Russell19

I dont know how your child who seems to be bright in other areas has got to year 2 without being picked up on his letter formation of letter a. Your son is working below the expected standard but I think this may be a mixture of missed learning due to covid and maybe low expectations from teachers. I teach reception and I really try not to let my children get into bad habits with letter formation from the start. That is going to be very hard to break as he had obviously been doing it incorrectly from the start. The way he's forming letters is going to make writing very difficult for himself as it won't flow and is very disjointed. I'd start with letter formation basics, starting and ending in the correct place and going the correct way. He also needs wider lines and to have the letters sitting on the line properly, that will make it much more readable.

Mostly covid. Our y2 cohort have the worst handwriting and habits I've ever seen as a class. They missed most of reception, y1 followed the EYFS stage curriculum plus the January lockdown, plus lots of 10 days self isolation due to Covid in their bubble. They're massively struggling (in many areas) now being dumped in y2 with things back to "normal".

He does complain that it hurts to write and has a very bendy thumb that doesn't help.
Have tried grips but doesn't seem to help him, he is one of the oldest in his year.
We do lots of hand and finger exercises, pegs,play-doh, picking up money and putting it a jar etc.
He is the same with anything that you have to use his hands for (scissor work is a particular problem ).
He has come so far as this time last year he couldn't even read and now he is on diamond.
He will get there I'm sure he just needs a bit more help, I will go back to letter formation with him.
Thank you 😊

I know this is a really old post but does he still have issues? You say he has an unusually bend thumb - have you thought about hypermobility?