Dysgraphia - how do you teach writing and spelling?

[GretaLynne]

Hi Everyone,

My dd (8, soon to be 9) has never been evaluated, but an acquaintance recently told me a few things about her dysgraphic son, and it sounded exactly like my dd. She writes numbers and letters just fine when she's copying. But when she's doing a math problem, she'll often write the numbers backwards. And when she's writing down a narration, she uses a strange mixture of upper and lower case letters, runs her words together, misspells terribly (even words that we've covered in her spelling program) and her handwriting is just generally bad. I've realized recently that her handwriting and spelling are worse than many kids who are quite a bit younger than her. We were at Costco this weekend and she wanted to fill out a comment card asking them to start carrying clothes in her size. I am quite sure that no employee could possibly make out what she had written.

So, assuming that evaluations and OT aren't an option for us (my dh is so stressed about money I can't imagine being able to talk him into this), what can I do at home to help her?

We've been doing copywork and dictation for handwriting practice, and using Sequential Spelling to try to improve her spelling skills (it seems to work during the lesson, but doesn't get applied to other writing). I have a Handwriting Without Tears book that we haven't used in months, so I'm thinking about bringing that out again. I'm considering teaching her typing, to let her avoid the issue when it's possible to do so. But of course it isn't always possible, so I really want to help her improve her handwriting.

Any thoughts on where I should go from here? Good books to read about this topic? Good resources to use with her? Is an evaluation something that I should really push for?

Thanks for ANY help. I'm feeling out of my league here. I don't know what to do!

[Laurie4b]

You are describing dyslexic dysgraphia, which is not the kind OT's treat. With dyslexic dysgraphia, the handwriting only degenerates when the child is also trying to simultaneously write, spelling, capitalize, punctuate, and put down thoughts. During copywork, the writing is fine, showing that the issue isn't one of fine motor skills. HWT won't help because it's not a handwriting problem. It's a dyslexia problem.

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23896&highlight=overteaching+spelling Here's a link to a post I reposted on this board from the old boards. I used a tried and true remediation method--overteaching--and combined it with the "most frequent word" list and developed a method that has worked with my two sons with dyslexia so that they spell those words correctly and automatically. The first 300 words on the list comprise 65% of written English. If you combine these words with words that are phonetically regular words, it really clears up their spelling--at least enough for Spellcheck to catch. If you have questions, feel free to post them. The post is a combination of the outline I use at a workshop I teach plus posts from this board.

[GretaLynne]

Laurie, thank you so much for this information! What a huge help. I am glad, on the one hand, that we don't need OT. (Finances). On the other hand, that's even scarier, because it's all up to me now!!! :eek:

I have printed out the post that you linked me to, and I will do some planning tonight and start this tomorrow.

I can't thank you enough!

[MicheleB]

You are describing dyslexic dysgraphia, which is not the kind OT's treat. With dyslexic dysgraphia, the handwriting only degenerates when the child is also trying to simultaneously write, spelling, capitalize, punctuate, and put down thoughts. During copywork, the writing is fine, showing that the issue isn't one of fine motor skills. HWT won't help because it's not a handwriting problem. It's a dyslexia problem.

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23896&highlight=overteaching+spelling Here's a link to a post I reposted on this board from the old boards. I used a tried and true remediation method--overteaching--and combined it with the "most frequent word" list and developed a method that has worked with my two sons with dyslexia so that they spell those words correctly and automatically. The first 300 words on the list comprise 65% of written English. If you combine these words with words that are phonetically regular words, it really clears up their spelling--at least enough for Spellcheck to catch. If you have questions, feel free to post them. The post is a combination of the outline I use at a workshop I teach plus posts from this board.

Laurie,
THANK YOU for this info. It was something I was trying to figure out with my own son, since the OT said he didn't have handwriting problems. I didn't realize dyslexic dysgraphia was a whole different animal!

[Ottakee]

Check out Apples and Pears Spelling. http://www.soundfoundationsbooks.co.uk/ Scroll down until you see it. It is from England and a bit pricey---but WAY less than even 1 tutoring session or therapy session. It is designed for kids with dyslexia and really works to apply the spelling to other subjects.


It is working here and working well. We do about 1/2 level a day since the writing is hard.

[GretaLynne]

Thank you Ottakee for the link. I'm on my way to check that out.

Also, just a general question for Laurie or anyone . . . I'm browsing some articles online, but I'm having a hard time understanding exactly what dyslexic dysgraphia is. Is this something distinct from dyslexia, or is it a type of dyslexia? I'm just trying to understand if I should be approaching this with a view to addressing her *writing* problems, or if there is a bigger picture here that I need to be aware of.

[Laurie4b]

It is a symptom of dyslexia. It is easier to remediate a child with dyslexia in reading than to overcome the reflections of the dyslexia in the written language. For instance, my oldest son with dyslexia reads above grade level. His spelling is at or somewhat below grade level (but way below his mental ability). I don't expect to be able to remediate him perfectly in spelling. Spellcheck will have to be used to compensate.

It's pretty likely that your dd has dyslexia given your description of her written work. It may not be apparent if she is smart (a lot of smart kids develop their own strategies that can cover it up). When smart kids with dyslexia are older, often the spelling errors and slow reading are the only ways that someone could tell without specific testing.

[GretaLynne]

Thank you for explaining Laurie. My dd is very bright (especially in math, science, and art), but reading has simply not come as easily or naturally for her as I'd hoped. She reads on grade level, slightly above, but is nowhere near as fluent in reading (nor does she enjoy it nearly as much) as either her father or I were at her age. I don't know how she reads, but I don't think it's phonetically, because she hates phonics with a passion, and tests very poorly in it (below grade level). But in tests of just reading comprehension, she tests a couple of grades above her grade level. So I guess, like you said, she has developed her own reading strategies to get around it.

Well, again, thank you for your help. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of this. So I'm very grateful to have this community!

[Laurie4b]

Yep. That sounds like a smart kid with dyslexia. It would be a good idea to work on remediating the dyslexia, because she is right at the age where her coping strategies won't allow her to keep up much longer. You will want to work on phonemic awareness, and then teach her strategies for decoding longer words. REWARDS intermediate by Sopris West (publisher) works really well. I used REWARDS secondary with my oldest dyslexic son (there was no intermediate at that time and he was a bit older) and he jumped 4 grade levels. The program takes a couple months.

If you can manage an evaluation to document this now, it may be helpful later to get her accomodations on SAT's, etc and even in college. (For instance, she may be granted extended time on reading tests.) Since finances are an issue, the first place to try would be the public school. Write (don't call) to the director of exceptional children, state that you suspect that she has a learning disability in reading , list some of the symptoms (don't say she reads on grade level, just list symptoms), and ask for an evaluation. At the least, this should get you a free WISC-IV and a free achievement test.

[GretaLynne]

Laurie, I think I would be hopelessly lost without you. Thank you and bless you for all your help!

[GretaLynne]

Well, joyous news. (That was sarcasm.) I just found out that as of 2007, my state decided to deny special ed services to homeschoolers, even though it still provides them to kids in private schools!!!! I'm trying to figure out how they justified that in their minds, how it could be perceived as anything less than blatantly unfair. I pay the same taxes as everybody else, but my child isn't given the same services as other kids who opt out of public education. How is that right? But I guess fairness and justice weren't really their concerns. I'm still sending that letter you recommended, but obviously nothing will come of it.

So, the question becomes, what next? How do I find an affordable (is that even possible?) and reputable professional to evaluate my dd?

[philda62]

Laurie,
Thank you for this information. I am going to print it out and try it for my 8yo son.
Gilda