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DYSGRAPHIA. a.k.a. I HATE TO WRITE SYNDROME. a.k.a Crummy handwriting. Components Types What it looks like How to fix it When to give up. Handwriting is a HUGE consumer of. Energy Stamina Time Ideas Expression. Mental functions of handwriting. Organization (sound to symbol)
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DYSGRAPHIA a.k.a. I HATE TO WRITE SYNDROME
a.k.a Crummy handwriting • Components • Types • What it looks like • How to fix it • When to give up
Handwriting is a HUGE consumer of • Energy • Stamina • Time • Ideas • Expression
Mental functions of handwriting • Organization (sound to symbol) • Memory (visual and motor) • Attention • Motor skill (developmental or delayed) • Many aspects of language used All of these skills require developmental readiness and can be improved with practice.
Typical handwriting errors in dysgraphia • Size errors • Placement errors • Slow • Microscopic, writing too small • Macroscopic, writing too big • Mixture of upper and lower case letters
More: • Cramped fingers on writing tool • Odd wrist, body and paper positions • Excessive erasures • Too much or too little pressure on writing tool • Inconsistent letter formations and shapes • Unfinished cursive letter formation • Copy or spontaneous writing can be illegibile
Down sides of poor handwritng • Frustration • Shame • Anger • Accused of being lazy • Accused of being sloppy • Accused of being careless
REMEMBERHandwriting is a huge consumer of • Energy • Stamina • Time • Ideas • Expression
Some things to try: • Use warm up exercises in writing/coloring • Instruct and practice using appropriate grip • Practice formation of symbols (square, circle, diamond) • Practice, practice, practice to increase fluency • Give direct instruction to improve writing organization • Teach and reinforce correct letter formation • Consider pencil grips • Use lined paper
Upper elementary strategies • Shorten the assignments if possible • Increase time to do the work • Grade first on content and then on quality • Avoid negative reinforcement • Allow oral presentation from the student • Give tests in untimed conditions
Middle school and on… • Develop computer and word processing skills • Borrow notes • Student records lectures to make notes later • Student uses a scribe
All kids • Teach • Practice • Reinforce • Set high expectations • Be willing to make compromises • make some editing marks rather than recopying the whole thing. • Try accommodations including grips & customized paper • Practice, practice, practice
Kids with suspected fine motor issues • Teach • Practice • Emphasize similarities between letters • Teach formation of letters by similar letter groups (c, a, d, g, o)…versus alphabetical order, if possible • Include sensory methods • Rainbow writing • Auditory rhymes • Writing in sand • Writing in clay
Resources • http://www.resourceroom.net/readspell/dysgraphia.asp • http://www.margaretkay.com/Dysgraphia.htm • http://dyslexia.wordpress.com/2007/02/15/dysgraphia-when-handwriting-is-illegible/ • http://www.newsweek.com/id/67956/output/comments • http://hwtears.com