How much hand writing required for a 4th g boy w/ dysgraphia & visual/motor dysfuncti

[farmmom4him]

on?

I have a child that we are doing home therapy with for the visual/ocular motor issues, but am trying to get a realistic idea of how much to expect of him. He tends to have a "lazy" attitude with many things--from taking a min to get a drink of water, to chores, to school work--making it hard to judge rather the school issues are from a disability or from laziness.

He has been seen by a vision therapist, but we can't afford the therapy, so I bought an ocular motor book that the therapist recommended and am doing exercises from it. The dysgraphia is id directly related to the vomd.

He has a HIGH interest in animals and studying them. So, I thought making him a natural journal would help him do some drawing and a bit of writing, but he just won't use it. I custom made it with check boxes for identification things.

His spelling is horrible, and I just got phonetic zoo as it was recommended to me.

So, how much would you expect at this age? THANKS!!!

[siloam]

on?

I have a child that we are doing home therapy with for the visual/ocular motor issues, but am trying to get a realistic idea of how much to expect of him. He tends to have a "lazy" attitude with many things--from taking a min to get a drink of water, to chores, to school work--making it hard to judge rather the school issues are from a disability or from laziness.

He has been seen by a vision therapist, but we can't afford the therapy, so I bought an ocular motor book that the therapist recommended and am doing exercises from it. The dysgraphia is id directly related to the vomd.

He has a HIGH interest in animals and studying them. So, I thought making him a natural journal would help him do some drawing and a bit of writing, but he just won't use it. I custom made it with check boxes for identification things.

His spelling is horrible, and I just got phonetic zoo as it was recommended to me.

So, how much would you expect at this age? THANKS!!!

How old is he? I don't require a lot of witting till about 3rd grade. All my kids show motor delays (can't trace or draw a straight line), so they would do the Explode the Code books, and dictation daily as well as one page in their handwriting books. Beyond that I do as much as possible orally.

Heather

[bclerkin]

Maybe watch and time him for when he becomes disinterested, then using that time as a base, encourage him to continue past that time in small increments, increasing that time weekly

[farmmom4him]

He will be 10 end of September. I used ETC with him, and it worked wonderfully. He is reading on a 7th grade level. ;)

Would you try and teach this child cursive? If so when?

THANKS so much ladies.
Betty

[siloam]

Maybe watch and time him for when he becomes disinterested, then using that time as a base, encourage him to continue past that time in small increments, increasing that time weekly

Generally I have them do 2 pages in K, 3 in 1st, 4 in 2nd...if that helps. They don't learn to read fast, but they do learn to read.

I would also recommend All About Spelling because it uses tiles, so the child doesn't have to do a lot of writing and because it phonics based it reinforces reading. My 3rd dd, who is dyslexic, has improved in reading fluency and has stopped some little habits like adding l and r randomly to words when they weren't there. It would allow him a way to move forward despite his writing, KWIM? I also use a box of sand to do spelling and such in. Writing words with their fingers requires less control, and is often seen as fun.

None of my kids have been formally diagnosed with anything. I do know that none of us can trace a straight line or draw a straight line (myself included). I am having my kids learn cursive, and to date my oldest dd's handwriting is much better when doing cursive than when she prints, so I am sold on cursive now. I really like the program called Cursive First, which I haven't used, but is where I got a lot of the idea of using sand, sand letter cards, and other multi-sensory tools. The program uses the concepts of an upstairs and basement to explain the three lines used in handwriting (the dotted line would be the main floor), and she uses the places of numbers on a clock to explain where to start letters. I think the imagery is a good tool to use with kids to make it more understandable and fun.

Heather

[Dobela]

We use Handwriting without Tears and love it. It was designed by an occupational therapist for children who had difficulty writing. The cursive strokes are simple, without all the loops and whirls. My son is doing very well with it. It doesn't look fancy, but it is easy and legible. Another friend has a son with writing problems and used Italic for him. It worked for the same reasons - flowing letters without a lot of fuss.

[Verity]

He will be 10 end of September. I used ETC with him, and it worked wonderfully. He is reading on a 7th grade level. ;)

Would you try and teach this child cursive? If so when?

THANKS so much ladies.
Betty

My aspie 10 year old has fine motor problems as well, you can hardly read his print writing (he can't even read it), he is slow and it is literally painful. We started Handwriting Without Tears cursive with an OT who is doing handwriting classes weekly and it's amazing how well he is doing in such a short time. According to her, this type of cursive is actually easier than print and he seems to be just "getting it". That rarely happens in his life and it is awesome for me to see.
Good luck!