DS8 copying/writing problems

[buzzlady]

DS8 has been having "issues" in school since K. I had him tested in 1st grade and the results were average/above average. He does receive OT for fine motor skills but it doesn't seem to be helping. His writing/spacing/size of words is a big problem. If I sit with him one on one he does do better. I have had his eyes checked and he does wear glasses for reading/desk work. The eye dr. said that he did feel that his perception wasn't 100% and gave him exercises for his eyes. Does anyone know of a condition or who to go to next. The school is absolutely NO help at all. I had to fight for him to even receive the OT. This is a paper that he brough home today that he copied from the board. I'm lost as what to have checked further - his vision or his fine motor skills or something else.

 

[hydster]

When we took my 9 year old to meet his teacher a couple of weeks ago I told her that he had issues with being able to write and make it legible. His writing looks a lot like your sons writing. His teacher told me that boys usually lack a strength in a muscle in their hand. She suggested that we get him one of those stress balls to squeeze while he is watching tv or sitting in the car to help strengthen that muscle and that once it got more strength that his handwriting would improve.

I haven't been able to go get him one yet but I have noticed that he doesn't seem to have that muscle control in his hand. He always had a hard time with buttoning and snapping things and the teacher said it was that he was lacking in fine motor skills so she suggested that we have him do some activities that would help improve the fine motor skills like stringing beads on a wire, picking up small items with tweezers, and even having him use silly putty to make items.

I hope you figure it out soon! I think tonight will be our shopping night to find one of those balls since you just reminded me about it.

Heidi

 

[Royalbear]

Is your DS this way even when he writes on his own? I picture him trying to copy only while looking at the board, not at his pages.

His lettering looks good, so I am not sure that fine motor skills is a problem.

Maybe his vision has him seeing things the way he copies it. Can he pick out which is better formatting?

I think I would have him practice formatting words. (1 column, 2 columns, 3 columns) Then move onto spacing word in a paragraph.

Good luck!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The only thing I can think of is ADD can affect handwriting. I have heard of that but I do not know how true this statement is.

 

[Tinkbell]

How are his grades otherwise? I teach first grade and some children just don't have the attention span to copy long passages perfectly. Also, the paper the teacher used is not great for handwriting practice. 8 year olds usually benefit from handwriting paper with the dotted lines in the middle. My first graders use the "two finger" space rule between words when we begin. Once they get the idea, we go to "1 finger space". By the end of first, they can space without help.

 

[JulieWent]

Would it be okay to ask what kind of issues? (I ask because there are several LD's that manifest with fine motor skills problems, but they also travel with some other very specific difficulties.)

Julie

 

[DISshopkeeper]

DS18 is LD. He has spatial issues and a perceprtual problem as well. Your son's handwriting is better than mine. He had OT up until 6th grade. Beyond that they say it does no good. To this day, my DS can NOT draw a triangle. It just does NOT compute. He's a senior in high school now.

What sort of "testing" did he have? Was it a full-scale psychological testing???? That would be at LEAST 5-6 hours of testing.

 

[Bojangles]

I don't think it looks all that bad. He looks like he rushed through it and didn't make sure his spelling was right and left out a word or two. If you want to work on his spacing, give him a popsicle stick to use between his words. Buy some lined handwriting paper like they use at school and practice his letter size at home.

 

[shleybird]

This looks alot like my 8y/o's handwriting. He has had all sorts of behavior problems since starting school, but only while at school, no problems at home. Last spring his teacher really pushed the school to test him, turns out he is in the gifted range for IQ, but his handwriting is at grade level. Three years this kid has been bored to death. Oops they just thought he was hyperactive.

Make sure that they have tested everything. Because of my son's huge difference in IQ verses writing ability, he now has an IEP, and qualify's for LD. We have not had one behavior problem so far this year. They are teaching him to use a computer for some of his writing skills, and they are working on ways for him to excell rather than just trying to keep him quiet.

 

[Cindy B]

I see similiar writing in my 6th grade students. The paper isn't great that the teacher used--it doesn't help with the proportion of letters/words.

My sons handwriting was terrible, and just recently, (like in the past few days!), has gotten much better. We bought him a desk, and that helps him so much. This desk is used for homework, and now that he has a space for writing, he takes his time.

Some students can't visually copy something down without issues. I am getting this now with some of my 6th graders. They lack some ability to visually look at something, and write it down in a notebook. -- somethings get lost in the transcription.

 

[mudnuri]

This may be a long shot- but here goes anyway!

The other day DD8 came home and told me her desk has to be "made taller" I asked her why- and who said etc.. well, this is whats going on in her school.

They have a writing instructor ( I didnt even know this) who spends 3/4 hour every other day in each classroom on proper pencil holding etc.. technicque etc.. well, DD's desk is too low for her arms/body to sit correctly.

She told me that Mrs. E thinks thats why her writing is sloppy most of the time. When she sits at the kitchen table doing her homework- it is very neat and legible, but her school work is a totally different story.

Maybe check on the height at which he's sitting??

( I told you it might be a long shot!)

Brandy

 

[campingcorgi]

Oh my goodness--that's the same poem my first graders are doing tomorrow!

Here are some suggestions I would give parents of my children:

Let him play with playdoh, tear paper, play with clothespins, cut coupons, string beads and buttons--all these will help build the muscles in the hands.

See if the teacher can let him copy from a sheet at his desk instead of from the board for handwriting. His visual problems are probably making it difficult for him to find his place when writing so he is really struggling to get it copied and can't put much effort into the quality of the writing. He may also need shortened writing assignments so he can do a little well rather than a lot not so well. Keep in mind that he will have to copy some things from the board but for handwriting practice a copy sheet can really help.

Keep having him practice at home and watch the formation of every letter. Help him be sure he is forming each letter correctly--not just trying to make them look right. Sometimes kids will draw the letters rather than write them until they have had enough practice. You can write some short poems with a yellow highlighter and let him trace over the letters.

Stay on top of his visual problems--that would be my top concern.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by campingcorgi
Oh my goodness--that's the same poem my first graders are doing tomorrow!

See if the teacher can let him copy from a sheet at his desk instead of from the board for handwriting. His visual problems are probably making it difficult for him to find his place when writing so he is really struggling to get it copied and can't put much effort into the quality of the writing.
Stay on top of his visual problems--that would be my top concern.

Some of my students do so much better copying from a transparency or a hard copy at their desk than glanicng across the room to the board.

The visual field is much less and copying is better for them in that aspect.

I also sometimes spell out the words, and they just follow my voice, and not look at the board. With some kids that works better than looking up at board, looking at notebook, writing in notebook, looking up again.

If I orally state and spell the words they do fine with that. It all depends on the kid.

 

[huey duey & luey]

I am (not currently) a school based OT. Copying from the board is actually a fairly complex skill, involving fine motor and perceptual motor skills. It takes a lot it maintain his place as well as staying on the line, spacing sizing and proper case (upper and lower). I would have him seen by a developmental optomotrist , they will check thing other than acuity. To help know I would highlight the lines of the paper. How is his seat in school? It should be facing the board in the middle of the front row. As far as spacing. tell him to place his pinky in between each word. I would also ask his OT about the possibility of a slant bord (a small easle on his desk). This actually provides a better visual field, as well as porper wrist extension and support which is needed for more mature fine motor control. HTH feel free to pm me with any ?
Tara

 

[lvs_eeyore]

You said he wears glasses for reading and deskwork but the board would be distance. Could he have a problem actually seeing whats on the board since he is wearing reading glasses? I know I cant see distance when I wear mine. Could this be part of the problem with the copying?

I have a ten year old gifted son with ADHD that has fine motor problems. His printing is horrible. It is still messy and his spacing is not good. Now when he writes in cursive. which they have started doing this year. his handwriting is BEAUTIFUL. His teacher has requested that all his work be done in cursive and he loves this idea.

 

[ElizK]

My daughter has dysgraphia, which is a learning disability associated with writing. It affects the same part of the brain as dyslexia, but she has no reading problems. Have you talked to your pediatrician about this? He/she can refer you to whoever can help/ evaluate. The school should test for learning disabilities. Put the request in writing. If your teacher agrees that there may be a problem, ask her to request the evaluation. There's a book called ADHD:the Great Misdiagnosis by Dr. Julian Haber that was very good. Has lots of info about LD's. Hope this helps. Feel free to PM me if you want more info. Good luck. It's a tough road to travel.

 

[buzzlady]

Originally posted by JulieWent
Would it be okay to ask what kind of issues? (I ask because there are several LD's that manifest with fine motor skills problems, but they also travel with some other very specific difficulties.)

Julie

His issues were in K his fine motor skills and not being able to follow directions correctly. It never was any kind of behavioral problems. Still, at times, he needs to be given explicit directions and at times he can go and get whatever it is without explicit directions (he has a hearing test on Fri.) First grade it was still his writing/spacing/copying and he just couldn't get math facts. He was even having problems copying words from the top of the page into a sentence on the same page (that he seems to be much better at now). Second grade it was still the writing (he was in an inclusive class although he wasn't classified). He seems to have gotten the math better now. I already spoke to his teacher this year and she doesn't seem to think that there is any kind of learning disability. She says that he seems to pick up the work without any problems. He has a great attitude about his school work and always gives 100%. I think that it's more frustrating for me to see him struggle at times.

 

[Otto's Doll]

My 11DS also has Dysgraphia. Do a search on it, and it will list the traits you can look for. He was diagnosed in 3rd grade after a long and frustrating year. He has been tested for OT, but does not qualify. The school was good about making adaptations, AFTER I researched his problem, and printed all the info out that I could find, and took it in to the school. We all worked together to find solutions, which included copying what I wrote, finding and correcting his own errors, and using the computer. He also was involved in a writing lab for 1 hour every day last year, and that helped more than anything else. He has no other academic problems, in fact he reads on a 10th grade level, and is in advanced classes now. The Middle school teachers here are very good about working with him, and making sure he has copies of the notes given in class. PM me if I can help or answer any other questions. Hugs to you both.

 

[JulieWent]

Here is a link to check out:

www.nldontheweb.org

My son manifested with a lot of the symptoms that you've noted, but there's a lot more involved with this LD. My DS has a very slight NLD, but has been helped by OT and a lot of tender loving care from some spectacular teachers.

Sounds like you might just have some fine motor skills problems, though, like everyone above stated.

Julie

 

[SnowAngel]

My dd 7 is like that also but says when she tries to be neater she never finishes her work on time. BUT I know she can write neater and quicker, seen it when helping her with her homework