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