According to Myles L. Cooley, Ph.D., author of Teaching Kids with Mental Health & Learning Disorders in the Regular Classroom [Free Spirit Publishing, 2007, p. 124], at least 10% of children have some form of writing disorder. It is also the most common form of learning disability among students with ADHD. Children with a writing disability will display symptoms and behaviors that are important to catch at a young age.
Once dysgraphia, or another type of writing disability is identified, a teacher can then begin to structure student’s lessons so that it is easier for him to succeed in the regular classroom. Luckily, perfect penmanship isn’t as important now as it used to be. In fact, many schools do not spend much time on cursive writing, and also allow the use laptops or other computers for writing assignments.
Symptoms of Writing Disorders
There are many warning signs that parents and teachers can look out for in children with writing disabilities. Listed below are a few of those handwriting issues that may indicate a child has coordination problems or dysgraphia:
- Handwriting is poor and hard to read
- Letters/words are spaced inconsistently
- Child is not holding pencil properly
- Child’s wrist is arched or in an awkward position
- Writing takes a great effort
- Handwriting is slow
- Child complains that hand or arm is tired after writing
Teachers may also want to look out for problems with expression. These writing disorders may be displayed in any of the following ways:
- Problems with grammar and spelling
- Cannot understand punctuation rules
- Skipping words or letters while writing
- Sentences are often too long or incomplete
- Longer writing assignments are disorganized
Another behavior to look out for in children with writing disabilities is the avoidance of writing at all costs. Most of these children will complain that they hate to write, and find that they have to expend so much energy writing every word, that they never seem to express their ideas completely.
Classroom Strategies to Improve Writing
Accommodations for students with writing disorders should address the particular symptoms that they are experiencing. It is important that if a student has trouble with the mechanics of handwriting, that proper handwriting technique should be encouraged. If on the other hand, the child has trouble expressing ideas, techniques should be offered which teach organizational strategies. Here are a few teaching tips that may help.
Handwriting Mechanics:
- Teach proper handwriting techniques, such as how to hold a pencil correctly, sit properly in the chair, slant paper, and how to form the letters one at a time.
- Model correct letter formation using tracing.
- Provide many opportunities for students to practice their handwriting during classroom lessons.
- Keep writing lessons short and frequent, with breaks in between.
- Use technology to teach handwriting of letters, numbers, words, and sentences.
- Use pencil grips, slant boards, and other assistive technology.
- Use paper with a wider rule.
- Teach students to inspect their work for spacing problems, misspellings, and other issues.
Composition Techniques:
- Use diagrams and clustering techniques (bubble diagrams) to teach how to brainstorm and organize ideas.
- Use mnemonic devices to teach the steps of proper writing and composition.
- Provide graphic organizers (pre-written outlines) to help with organizing book reports and/or creative stories.
- Allow the use of computer programs for doing composition outlines.
- Always assign topics that will be interesting to the child with a writing disability.
There are many ways to help a student with a writing disability in the regular classroom. Remember, however, that many children who have dysgraphia will also need to work with an occupational therapist or other expert to practice handwriting and improve fine motor skills. Further progress will be seen when a child with a writing disorder receives this extra help in addition to the exercises and lessons they are given in school.
Further Reading:
Handwriting and Students With Autism
Early Special Needs Handwriting Lessons
How to Help a Student With a Math Disability
Other Source:
Carter, Nari, Prater, Mary Anne, Dyches, Tina T., Making Accomodations and Adaptations for Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities. OH: Pearson Education Inc., 2009.
Karen Plumley - Karen Plumley is a writer specializing in parenting and education. She works for Parenting NH and the Hippo, NH's most widely read ...
