Very Poor Handwriting
 

Both of my boys have very poor handwriting (ages 9 and 13). Some of
their teachers comment on it, but some don't. My older son
occasionally misses some points on tests because the teacher can't
read his answers. Now that he has started more advanced math, he also
misses negative signs, forgets parentheses, stuff that really makes a
difference!

They also are both very sloppy in the way they arrange work on their
papers, especially math problems. They might put problem 1 in the top
right, 2 in the middle, 3 on the bottom right, then 4 on the top
left--if you see what I mean. So, is this just general laziness,
indicative of some bigger problem, something they will outgrow, or
something that only bothers me as their mother! Any strategies for
improving this? They both HATE to write as it is and so making them
sit and copy sentences or letters seems the wrong approach.

Chris

I have read that the reason so many kids can't write properly is because
they are so used to using a computer. That may if what I have read is true
make the problem worse or at least not help any.

Jason
"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...
(Chris Himes) wrote:

Both of my boys have very poor handwriting (ages 9 and 13). Some of
their teachers comment on it, but some don't. My older son
occasionally misses some points on tests because the teacher can't
read his answers. Now that he has started more advanced math, he also
misses negative signs, forgets parentheses, stuff that really makes a
difference!

They also are both very sloppy in the way they arrange work on their
papers, especially math problems. They might put problem 1 in the top
right, 2 in the middle, 3 on the bottom right, then 4 on the top
left--if you see what I mean. So, is this just general laziness,
indicative of some bigger problem, something they will outgrow, or
something that only bothers me as their mother! Any strategies for
improving this? They both HATE to write as it is and so making them
sit and copy sentences or letters seems the wrong approach.

I personally would teach them to type and have them do work on the
computer for work they can do at home. So they could learn to write
without actually writing if you see what I mean. If they were more
able to put their thoughts on paper, it might make the actual writing
(when they have to do it by hand) easier for them.

But I see nothing wrong with making them copy their math over as many
times as it takes if it is not arranged logically and/or if they've
forgotten essentials of the problem.


grandma Rosalie

Chris Himes wrote:
Both of my boys have very poor handwriting (ages 9 and 13). Some of
their teachers comment on it, but some don't. My older son
occasionally misses some points on tests because the teacher can't
read his answers. Now that he has started more advanced math, he also
misses negative signs, forgets parentheses, stuff that really makes a
difference!

They also are both very sloppy in the way they arrange work on their
papers, especially math problems. They might put problem 1 in the top
right, 2 in the middle, 3 on the bottom right, then 4 on the top
left--if you see what I mean. So, is this just general laziness,
indicative of some bigger problem, something they will outgrow, or
something that only bothers me as their mother! Any strategies for
improving this? They both HATE to write as it is and so making them
sit and copy sentences or letters seems the wrong approach.

Are they unorganized in other areas of their life? It could certainly be
how their brain works, especially since they are so unorganized with how
they put it on the paper. If that is the case I'm not sure copying things
over and over would make much of a difference but I do think there are some
ways to help them. I'm not sure who you'd go to in order to discuss it?
I'd probably start by bringing it up with the school psychologist or speech
therapist and see what they think. I've read a couple books about language
development and how our brains process information and then puts it back
out. The difficulty you describe can sometimes be indicative of a glitch
somewhere. If that is the case there are probably other areas of their life
that are effected and could be helped.

Or, they could just have messy handwriting ;-) Maybe they'll be doctors
when they grow up, lol.

--
Nikki

Chris Himes wrote:

Both of my boys have very poor handwriting (ages 9 and 13). Some of
their teachers comment on it, but some don't. My older son
occasionally misses some points on tests because the teacher can't
read his answers. Now that he has started more advanced math, he also
misses negative signs, forgets parentheses, stuff that really makes a
difference!

They also are both very sloppy in the way they arrange work on their
papers, especially math problems. They might put problem 1 in the top
right, 2 in the middle, 3 on the bottom right, then 4 on the top
left--if you see what I mean. So, is this just general laziness,
indicative of some bigger problem, something they will outgrow, or
something that only bothers me as their mother! Any strategies for
improving this? They both HATE to write as it is and so making them
sit and copy sentences or letters seems the wrong approach.

It can be a part of a bigger issue--could be something
like dysgraphia--or it could just be inattention to detail.
Sorry, I'm short on details for what to do about it, but a
web search on "dysgraphia" will probably turn up a lot of
stuff. Dysgraphia may be associated with other issues
(like ADD/ADHD) or with other learning challenges or may
stand largely alone.

Best wishes,
Ericka

There are a lot of things which can cause problems with handwriting, which
may not be the child's fault, so, if it's really making school difficult,
it may be worth it to get them evaluated and see if there's a reason. If
there is, an occupational therapist may be able to work wonders in only a
few sessions, and a 504 plan can provide modifications.

Regardless, a keyboarding class is in order. As they get older, handwriting
will be less and less important, and typing more so, and by college level,
taking a laptop with you to classes is hardly unexpected or unusual and can
be much easier than taking notes.

I have serious problems with handwriting (mild Cerebral palsy, plus
visual-spacial perception problems) and typing is the single most useful
accommodation I had, even back in the days when it meant using an actual
typewriter, or in college when a portable computer required a luggage cart
to carry it around campus and an electrical outlet to plug it in. Now with
Alphasmarts (small keyboards with LCD screens of a few lines high, which
save the work and transmit it to a computer for printing) and laptops, there
is little reason why any child should struggle with handwriting.

Chris-
The disorginization and the sloppy handwriting may or may not be part
of a bigger problem. Are they in general characterized as being
messy, or unorganized, forgetful, unattentive to details, or have
trouble with spatial relationships? If so, you could mention it to
their teacher, or school psychologist. But my guess is at this age,
it *probably* isn't part of a larger problem if they have been
generally succeeding. JMHO.

A good strategy for organizing space when working with math problems
is to fold the paper into equal parts and then to pre-number the boxes
in order (l to r, or t-b in columns) this will give a visual sense of
order to follow. Forgetting the () and the +/- signs is something
they are going to need to train themselves to go back and re-check
their work. Many times students just rush through the assignment (for
a variety of reasons) and fail to recognize the oversight.

Hope this helps...and remember just how sloppy MDs writing is in
general, maybe you have future doctors on your hands :-)

(Chris Himes) wrote in message om...
Both of my boys have very poor handwriting (ages 9 and 13). Some of
their teachers comment on it, but some don't. My older son
occasionally misses some points on tests because the teacher can't
read his answers. Now that he has started more advanced math, he also
misses negative signs, forgets parentheses, stuff that really makes a
difference!

They also are both very sloppy in the way they arrange work on their
papers, especially math problems. They might put problem 1 in the top
right, 2 in the middle, 3 on the bottom right, then 4 on the top
left--if you see what I mean. So, is this just general laziness,
indicative of some bigger problem, something they will outgrow, or
something that only bothers me as their mother! Any strategies for
improving this? They both HATE to write as it is and so making them
sit and copy sentences or letters seems the wrong approach.

Chris

"Nikki" wrote in message ...
Chris Himes wrote:
Both of my boys have very poor handwriting (ages 9 and 13).

They also are both very sloppy in the way they arrange work on their
papers, especially math problems.

Are they unorganized in other areas of their life? It could certainly be
how their brain works, especially since they are so unorganized with how
they put it on the paper.

They are both very bright, good readers, excellent students. My older
son especially has a very good spatial sense in other ways. He is an
excellent chess player, for instance. But, they both seem (to me) to
have a lot of trouble putting things in time order, or describing a
process, for instance.
Which could be related to the other things.

Since they really hate to write, when they start a set of problems
they often will number the paper first, and then if things don't fit
in the space they provided, just put the other part of the problem
somewhere else on the paper--they would never REWRITE the problem or
start over!!

I think they don't really see the point of being neater, don't care,
or just want to get it over with...but I would hate to be yelling at
them for something they don't have a lot of control over.

Chris

(Chris Himes) wrote in message om...
Both of my boys have very poor handwriting (ages 9 and 13). Some of
their teachers comment on it, but some don't. My older son
occasionally misses some points on tests because the teacher can't
read his answers. Now that he has started more advanced math, he also
misses negative signs, forgets parentheses, stuff that really makes a
difference!

They also are both very sloppy in the way they arrange work on their
papers, especially math problems. They might put problem 1 in the top
right, 2 in the middle, 3 on the bottom right, then 4 on the top
left--if you see what I mean. So, is this just general laziness,
indicative of som

It may be a matter of needing more practice or it may be dysgraphia as
Ericka mentioned. The special ed dept at your school may be able to
help. FWIU, there are some vision problems that can interfere with
handwriting also.

From a practical side, I find having my son do his math problems on
graph paper really helps. After a few weeks of doing it this way he
went back to regular lined paper and his work remained neat.

If you are interested in re-teaching your sons handwriting and they
don't balk at it, this site/program http://www.hwtears.com is quite
good.

Karen