Poor writing and presentation, slower to learn?

[Cortina]

Firstly I personally don't believe this for a moment but have been surprised to see how it appears to be prized ahead of other attributes by primary teachers. (Am sure not all primary teachers but there appear to be some).

Handwriting matures at it's own rate surely? It needs teaching to acquire fluidity but if a child doesn't 'get it' relatively quickly why is this often seen in such negative light?

I appreciate poor handwriting might hold children back but there appears to be this ingrained attitude with some teachers?

I have had reports for one of mine that say 'handwriting is still well below the standard we would now expect'..and so on.

Well I've never heard of handwriting and maths/literacy etc ability being linked, so I'm not sure about your thread title.

The report you've had seems entirely reasonable tbh - your child has poor handwriting considering his/her age! What else do you want the teacher to say?

Handwriting and presentation are important to a point - teachers will need to be able to read your child's work in order to assess how they're doing. But once it's at least legible it doesn't need to be perfecty crafted copper-plate writing.

Oh and I'm speaking with the benefit () of having a child with extremely poor hamdwring - year 4, but most of the current year 1 have better handwriting! (He has some motor skills difficultieS).

Oh no. DS is in trouble then. He is a very flexible boy and this causes uncoordinated little legs and also affects he fine motor skills for writing. But, it has nothing to do with the processes that happen up in his brain. He is clever boy but his writing is a bit behind. However, in reception, I'm not worried about it. He will come along when he is ready (physically). We got him a Wii to strengthen his little hangs/arms/fingers. But, he is still a bit behind.

'hamdwring'?!!! I meant handwriting of course!

Am glad you've not heard of them being linked titchy, did not mean to cause offence by thread title.

I was honestly interested. I went to a parents evening recently for one of mine and was shown the books of other children who had beautiful writing and presentation. Great to see but it seemed like some sort of 'ability' bench mark.

The children are grouped in terms of ability and ability is gauged - at least in one of our schools in year one - in part by this sort of presentation.

Thinking more about it I suppose this is correct. But the danger comes if mind sets are fixed and things are not seen more broadly.

Just to add I believe 'DC's handwriting is now well below the standard one would now expect' isn't a particularly helpful, or empathetic remark. It does suggest, to me at least, that the teacher is perhaps frustrated and hostile about this situation.

I would prefer 'DC appears to struggle with fine motor control. I would like to discuss this further to see what is the most helpful strategy to pursue' or similar.

One of mine had awful handwriting until this year when it's just come on leaps and bounds with no special help at all. I think they just get this at a different rate. I've never pushed them on the neatness, just the legibility of handwriting, but I come from a family where my mum's handwriting looks lovely on the page but I can't read it, whereas my Dad's (and my brothers) looks awful but really easy to read.

My ds1 has always had dreadful handwriting and poor presentation, but has always had very understanding teachers. It has always been mentioned in reports and at parents' evenings, but his teachers have always said that they didn't want him to concentrate too heavily on the presentation at the expense of the content. He is GAT in most subjects so there is clearly no link between ability to learn and handwriting.

He is nearly 13 now and still has dreadful handwriting and presentation, despite my attempts at trying to improve it - he just doesn't think it is important! And I must say in my experience it does seem to be more of a boy thing than a girl problem.

Must add, my dh has awful handwriting too - almost illegible - but he made it to uni and got a good degree!

And isn't it compulsory for doctors to have dreadful handwriting? I know my SIL does!