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#439592 07/30/08 09:39 PM
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Lynn_B Offline OP
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One of the things we're clearly dealing with in our 9 yo is dysgraphia. Jury's still out on other issues (which is highly frustrating, but I guess it does take time to score all the evaluations the psychologist gave--for everything it seems like).

Any good resources for dysgraphia? I find a lot of info on the web about what it is... and then they sort of just drop it. At the suggestion of the psychologist, we've picked up "Writing without tears" and have added keyboarding exercises into our daily routine because handwriting is just driving us nuts.

Suggestions?

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Lynn_B #439613 07/30/08 11:16 PM
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Hi Lynn.

I can't say that this is specifically for dysgraphia, but I do know that one of the techniques used by Montessori schools is to have kids practice 'writing' letter with their fingers on cut-out letters made of sandpaper.

The idea is that the added stimulation of the sandpaper will trigger additional memory cues.

You instruct the child hand over hand on 'writing' for the first few times, then they practice on their own.

The other thing I try occasionally with my little guy with Aspergers is to get a stencil and have him practice writing using that tool. Any time he gets to handle something, he's happier.

Hope that helps.
Ciao
Anna


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Just find more info that you may find useful from Wikipedia:
Wikipedia - Dysgraphia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysgraphia#Treatment

Quote:
Treatment

Treatment for dysgraphia varies and may include treatment for motor disorders to help control writing movements. Other treatments may address impaired memory or other neurological problems. Some physicians recommend that individuals with dysgraphia use computers to avoid the problems of handwriting.

Occupational therapy could be considered to strengthen muscle tone, improve dexterity, and evaluate eye-hand coordination. Dysgraphic children should also be evaluated for ambidexterity, which can delay fine motor skills in early childhood.

Often small things can help a student with dysgraphia, such as allowing them to use a preferred writing utensil or allowing them to submit typed work instead of hand written documents.

Suggestions for teachers and parents:

1. Use small pencils (a typical pencil cut in thirds) golf pencils, or trianular shaped pencils all promote a functional grip. Jumbo pencils are useful for individuals with tremors or some types of cerebral palsy.
2. Ensure solid handwriting instruction has taken place. The student should be able to tell you how each letter is made using the same vebiage as his teacher.
3. Before the student begins to compose a paper, have them engage in prewriting activities such as webbing, or verbalizing what they will write about.
4. Use pre-lined paper that has yellow highlighting where the words are supposed to go
5. Allow students extra time to complete in-class assignments; otherwise they won't get the benefit of the instructional practice
6. Get students keyboarding early on
7. Allow students to use laptop or other computer for class work
8. Allow children to dictate to an adult; they can then recopy if necessary
9. Allow children to dictate into a tape recorder; they or an adult can transcribe later. This allows the creative output process to occur without being stopped by the execution problem.
10. Have compassion and know that this issue has nothing to do with intelligence or behavior.


Reading it reminded me of a couple of other things we've tried - coloured pencils made a big difference, amazingly. Also, giving him something to look at as a guide was a big improvement too, and not just for writing.

His teacher sent home a colouring book that had full-colour stickers of each page in the colouring book. He loved it. It seemed to calm him right down and he actually stuck with the task of colouring and didn't mind coming back to it later, since he didn't 'lose his place'.

Hope that helps
Ciao
Anna


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Lynn_B #439870 07/31/08 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted By: Lynn_B
One of the things we're clearly dealing with in our 9 yo is dysgraphia. Jury's still out on other issues (which is highly frustrating, but I guess it does take time to score all the evaluations the psychologist gave--for everything it seems like).

Any good resources for dysgraphia? I find a lot of info on the web about what it is... and then they sort of just drop it. At the suggestion of the psychologist, we've picked up "Writing without tears" and have added keyboarding exercises into our daily routine because handwriting is just driving us nuts.

Suggestions?


I found some helpful resources that are linked from the articles below - including one that is specifically directed toward teaching children with special needs using Handwriting without Tears.

Printing and Cursive Handwriting
for Children with Special Needs
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Pamela Wilson - Children with Special Needs Editor
Visit the Children with Special Needs Website
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Lynn_B Offline OP
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Thank you!


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